Margaret Green - personal statement

A Moment in time - Christmas 2024

As I sit here putting the finishing touches to the 34th Christmas Tree Fairy that I have made this year, I stop and reflect on a time when I did not know that the village of Tunguli existed.

It all began for me in April 2012 when I was part of a group on our first visit to Berega at the invitation of Revd. Isaac Mgego, Director of Berega Hospital. During that stay we visited Tunguli Health Centre in an even more remote location.

Since returning much has happened. The charity Mission Morogoro was formed and we decided our main focus would be in Tunguli.  A firm link has been established with members of our team making regular, self – funded visits. I have been lucky to be able to go on several occasions to see for myself the progress that has been made over the years. People often ask “What do you do when you go out?” We do a lot of listening and learning. We try to understand life in a very different culture to our own and most of all, I feel each one of us comes away changed. These people have very little but give us so much.

Back home I use my creative skills to raise money each Christmas and Easter by knitting items for sale. These vary from fairies, chocolate orange covers, key rings, dinasaurs, bunnies and socks!

This year I am hoping to raise enough for a Kanmed baby warmer. We were asked for this when we visited last October. Now that the village has electricity this could make a big difference for small premature babies born at the Health Centre. The baby could be stabilised in this warm cot before being taken by motorbike to Berega Hospital some distance away.

Although the folk in Tunguli would be bemused that in our country fairies are put on top of trees inside our houses and Christmas celebrations last for days if not weeks, I hope that my fairies may bring a little joy and hope in a small health centre in the remote village of Tunguli.