The main purpose of their visit to the UK is to promote awareness of, and gain funds for, the building of a vocational training centre in Arusha that will incorporate a secondary school and a residential vocational training centre.
In Africa, at equivalent to year 7, all pupils must take a national exam - those that pass may continue to secondary school (provided they can afford to pay the fees) but for those who fail the exam there is little opportunity for them and many are drawn into gang lifestyle, prostitution and drugs. The proposed vocational centre will provide opportunity for students to learn the practical skills that will enable them to provide for themselves and their families, whilst the secondary school will cater for the more academic, building and equipping the youth for the future of Tanzania.
During their 10 week tour, the Band have visited schools and churches in Gloucestershire. As well as giving concerts, they have taken part in church services, school assemblies and been involved in school lessons. The seven members of the Band speak excellent English in addition to their native Swahili, and their music is traditional African rhythm, played on drums with singing and dancing.The primary target for this visit was to secure funding for a water supply to the seventeen acres of land recently acquired; this has been met through a local charitable trust following a recent concert and so all additional funds will be used to accelerate the building process.
Anyone who has had the good fortune to see and hear the New Life Band could not fail to get with the beat of their infectious rhythms, songs and dance!
We wish them well and God's speed in all their ministry work.
