Big success against the odds

Jan 26 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal

HE was told: “You are the worst tourist ever to visit Tanzania.”

Sean Murphy has taken some insults in the past two weeks, but given what his team have achieved in one of the poorest nations on earth, this latest piece of abuse seems slightly unwarranted.

Mr Murphy is leading a team of North-East men who this week completed their improbable goal of completely refurbishing a school in Mahida, a village in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, on the tightest of schedules.

And, given that the above abuse is coming from a drunk who is peddling the most appalling tourist tat imaginable, Mr Murphy remains in buoyant mood.

He said: “It is fantastic to see it all finished, it really is an incredible achievement for all of the team.

“There have been highs and lows, and times when we didn’t think it would be finished, but to reach our goal is just a terrific feeling.

“The group has been brilliant and there has been great camaraderie – you only hope that we can build such a spirit with future groups.

“It has just worked.”

The team returned to the North-East yesterday having successfully rewired the building, lined the ceilings, redecorated, painted the roof, glazed the windows and installed a toilet block.

And as an antidote to the drunken abuse – which was very much a one-off – the team have been lavished with praise from grateful villagers and local dignitaries, excited by the possibilities the new facility will bring.

Village councillor Sabas Assenga described the team as saviours in an official ceremony held in front of dozens of villagers, while another education official said the team’s approach to work had inspired the village.

On the final day of the project, the group also received a visit from the British Deputy High Commissioner Tony Brennan, who met the workers before examining their handiwork and unveiling an official plaque.

But despite the heady praise, Mr Murphy said the team gained most satisfaction simply from doing a good job for the village.

Speaking after the group had handed all their tools, work boots and numerous T-shirts to workmen who had helped them, he said: “I can honestly say that I have gained more satisfaction from these two weeks working here than 25 years within the Fairtrade movement.

“It was more relief than anything else to finish on time – it was finally complete literally 25 minutes before the High Commissioner arrived.

“I am very proud of the lads – we have shown with this pilot project that this is something that can work and can benefit a large number of people.”

Such was the bond built with the people in the village that Mr Murphy said that his organisation, Gateshead-based An Ethical Difference, would be concentrating solely on the village with further visits and projects already planned.

He added: “We have achieved so much, but you only have to walk around the village to see that there is much more to be done.

“There are things like building a new dormitory and possibly renovating or refurbishing the existing nursery. We will be coming back here.”

Other future objectives include establishing links between the school in Mahida and schools in the North-East, as well as raising funds to bring the internet to the African village.

Dan Quille is a director of Childreach International, the charity which helped organise the project.

He said: “It has been an amazing achievement by the team that with all the challenges thrown at them they have completed the project on time and under budget. The children of Mahida are going to benefit from their hard work for years to come.”

Page 2: Banana farmers helped