Kilidu is a small hamlet located some sixty miles north-west of Mtwara. It sits on the border between Lindi and Mtwara regions, although this particular fact needed some research to establish as none of the people I asked seemed to know nor particularly care. Kilidu doesn’t ‘officially’ exist.

It isn’t registered as a village and as a result receives no attention or investment from the government. And yet there are seventy traditional houses, housing, perhaps, three hundred people. The area surrounding Kilidu in a radius of five miles, on this remote plain, often flooded in the rainy season, is home to perhaps a further one thousand people. As many as 1500 people scratch the most meagre living. Health services, primary school and even fresh water are reached at Kitere, a three hour walk away. As a result, children don’t go to school; sick people don’t get to clinic; and disease, spread from unclean water, is rife.

Land here is owned by the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer and the nuns plan to cultivate this land to feed their assistance projects in other towns and villages around the region. Following the intervention of Mtwaralinks, we were able to secure sponsorship to provide a new solar powered pump for the bore hole and, most recently, this year, a brand new single classroom kindergarten. These are both the result of the generosity of Mr Charles Watkinson and his Leeds based engineering company, Corrocoat. Cash from Mtwaralinks is now going to be used to employ a Montessori trained nursery teacher for the kindergarten as well as teaching aids and other resources needed for the school. The kindergarten will also be used an informal school and community resource.

For the future, the community and those living in the surrounding area, need a clinic. Families need access to medicine; mothers and babies especially need access to medical care. A small clinic, staffed by qualified personnel, will save many lives and ease much suffering. To build a small clinic will cost about £20,000. A medical officer’s salary and living costs will be in the region of £2000 per year.

This small community is getting larger year by year. With your help we have already provided fresh water and a small classroom/community hall but unless we help them get health services, our assistance will be as nothing. We must find a way of building the small clinic and raising the cash to employ a medical officer. I hope you can help.