The Scripture Union Iyela Centre, Mbeya

Kindergarten Building - March 2009

The Centre Director's House - March 2009

One of the classrooms - March 2009

The computer training room in the local market - March 2009

The well-used kitchen stoves at Iyelt - March 2009

Inspired by the success of the Imbaseni Centre, Scripture Union staff and volunteers at Mbeya in the south of Tanzania had the vision of establishing a self-sustaining centre at Iyela, 2 km from the centre of Mbeya. 

Using their own resources, land was purchased, bricks made in the traditional manner and plans were shared with the Imbaseni Trust.  As a result, the Trust was able to make significant grants over the past 6 years to enable the building work to progress.  

Computer courses in a nearby facility have been operating for some time as a means of income generation, and these were recently upgraded thanks to a shipment of much needed newer computers from Scotland.

The vision is to provide vocational training, pre--school education and a conference centre.  Though there is much building work still to be done, there is tremendous local enthusiasm for the project and a real desire to see it carried through to full self-sustainability.

Thanks to magnificent support from George Heriot's School in Edinburgh and other donors, the work is now progressing faster than ever before. The director's house is largely complete and waiting for a suitable occupant who can take the entire project through to completion!

Assistant Director's house- March 2009

SU staff worker Bryceson with maize growing at the centre- March 2009