Visitors to the Factory

Earlier this month, the husband and team at EGL were very happy to welcome some visitors from the United States, and provide them with a tour of our little garment manufacturing operation in Bukoba. 

The visitors included:  Dr Pamela Sawa from the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Smart Baitani (Co-founder of COSAD), Dr Susan McCormick Hadley (COSAD USA board member), Brittany Leitch, country director of COSAD TZ, and Pastor Ben Swanson (COSAD USA Board member). Their visit coincided with the Grand Opening of several Bukoba based projects run by COSAD, namely the COSAD Clinic, the Imuka Recording Lounge and the Bukoba Business Lounge.  All fantastic achievements. So we were indeed fortunate that they were able to spare some time to fit us into their otherwise very, very busy schedule. 

COSAD is a Minnesota based non-profit organisation founded to build partnerships that create sustainable community development through the support of projects involving micro-enterprise, health, education and culture in Tanzania, thus empowering Tanzanians to become economically independent. Each project will be run as a local, private business for profit, to support COSAD's other existing programs and goals.  For more information on, or better still to support a COSAD initiative,  click on the links. 

The visitors were impressed by the EGL crew and made very positive comments about the quality of our garments, and the conditions in which EGL employees work. At the same time they were appreciative of our efforts to provide training, employment opportunities and some kind of economic security for our staff.  And we, as usual, were proud of our team.

THE MWENGE TORCH

The Uhuru Torch (“Mwenge”) is one of Tanzania’s national icons. Originally lit on Mount Kilimajaro following independence in 1961, the Mwenge symbolically shines the light of freedom, hope, love, respect and unity across the nation. Each year, commencing its run from a different district, the torch is carried through all the regions and districts of Tanzania for all to see. This year the Kagera Region were chosen to be the leaders of the National Torch Race and Endeavour Group Ltd (EGL) were proud to be chosen as one of the local industries / businesses to receive the Mwenge.

People will travel some distance especially to see the Mwenge, greeting it with much enthusiasm, sharing in its spirit of goodwill and national pride. So this is what was happening outside the factory on the day, while waiting for the Mwenge to arrive.

With much excitement and officialdom, it arrived - on time!!!! Readers familiar with the Tanzanian concept of time will understand the reason for the excessive use of exclamation marks.

The husband made a short speech, welcoming the Mwenge and providing a potted history of EGL, explaining our mission to address youth unemployment, as well as empower women by providing training and skills for employment within the garment factory environment.  

This was followed by a quick tour of the factory. EGL's goal is to provide industry training to our employees that will enable them to consistently produce garments that meet international quality standards with on time delivery. Opportunities for advancement within the business are provided and fair work practices are upheld, at all times.

The husband received a certificate to acknowledge EGL's involvement in the National Torch Race, and we are all pretty proud about that.

Then it was time to leave.   

Well it was a short visit, but the grounds liked nice with the decorations, although the husband didn't take a photograph to show any of that. Off the Mwenge went followed by its convoy of officialdom to the next visit. 

And we were left quietly proud, quietly proud ... Thank you, God... Amen