Dodoma Yosso Sports Centre

In the summer, someone reading this blog, just like you are doing now, picked up on Issa’s story. Dominik was inspired by him and decided he’d like to help. He contacted me out of the blue and we met in London in September. At first he said he’d like to donate a sum of his own money to buy some footballs and sports equipment for the boys to enrol in this year’s local championship. I was pleasantly surprised especially as this came recently after Pepsi did not offer any sponsorship. So on my return to Dodoma I got together with Issa and drew up a serious budget which included not only the sports equipment he needs but his plan to build a canteen for the teenagers to gather safely and eat together. It was a good exercise for both of us to map out a more concrete summary of Issa’s goals for Dodoma Youth Sports Centre. I sent Dominik the document with more photos and information. Two days later we received BRILLIANT news. Dominik did not only honour his pledge to donate but he’d proceeded to fundraise among his work colleagues and friends even placing a collection box at his flat party! He raised over ten times the sum he had originally offered which means that the canteen and brick built centre can replace the open shed where they currently meet. There are enough funds to cover most of the equipment and the building materials. I will endeavour to continue fundraising for the extras next year when I run the Great North Run with my brother.

It was moving to see Dominik’s peers’ comments and words of encouragement in the emails he forwarded. Delighted and still not believing our luck, Issa and I immediately began the process of registering as an official charity. This type of paperwork is a serious hurdle in Tanzania. To this day we continue to work our way over it. Suddenly the date I am due home seems premature. But there is little I can do about that now. So I get Levina and Thomas on board, who together will support Issa in kick starting Dodoma Yosso and overseeing the construction of the premises, the purchase of the equipment and the registration of the team in the local football championship next year. It’s a challenge to feel held up by bureaucratic barriers so soon in the process but the key is to be patient and gracefully take one step at a time. In a way, Dominik made sure the hardest step became the easiest i.e. that of securing enough funds to get going.