In Mwanza the Tampere Cultural Week was celebrated during the last week of October and in Tampere the Mwanza Week is taking place right now, in mid-November. Mwanza-Tampere Weeks have been part of the project for a long time and they serve as a means to embrace eachother's cultures, celebrate the long-lasting co-operation as well as raise awareness on the project. Especially schools involved in the co-operation in Mwanza and Tampere have a central role in arranging activities during these cultural weeks.
Tampere Week in Mwanza
3 members of the Tampere Project Steering Team (PST) had the priviledge to take part in the Tampere Week main activity which was organised on the 29th of October 2013 in Mwanza. The Mayor and the City Director of Mwanza as well as both of our Project Steering Team Chairs Mr Mlinzi and Ms Anttonen were present. Many speeches were given in the honour of the project and especially the Mayor of Mwanza emphasised the sustainability of the long-lasting co-operation between Mwanza and Tampere.
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| Sahwa pupils performing in Tampere Day. |
Pupils of Sahwa Primary School performed a beautiful dance show wearing self-made feather outfits. The dance choreography executed the theme "environment", which is emphasised in the school co-operation through composting and other environmental activities. Pupils from Igoma school articulated a dialogue about the project results and how different activities have impacted their school. What a well practiced and beautifully performed show from both schools!
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| The Mayor and PST Chair handing over the fire truck. |
The peak of the day was the handing over of the new fire truck to Mwanza Fire Brigade, which was donated by the Regional Rescue Department of Tampere. The Mayor of Mwanza and the Tampere PST Chair Ms Anttonen cut the ribbon around the truck and handed over the keys to the Mwanza Fire Brigade. It was a very important and precious moment! A new fire truck is much needed in Mwanza in order to keep the city safe and to protect its people.The Mwanza Fire Brigade also demonstrated how to extinguish fire and spray water with the new fire truck. What a show!
Mwanza Week in Tampere
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| Girls from Etelä-Hervanta School performing a dance show. |
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In Tampere the main event of Mwanza week took place today, on the 13th of November in Sampola School. Pupils of different age groups from different schools performed wonderfully practiced songs in Finnish, Swahili and English accompanied by a band which included Tanzanian drumming, too. The whole auditorium blared when 500 children sang and played together a Tanzanian children's song "Simama kaa"! Few girls from Etelä-Hervanta School had also practiced an African Style dance show which was full of energy. Tanzanian musician Menard Mponda spiced up the show with Tanzanian drumming and dancing.
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| Kanjoni and Maijalanpuisto pre-school pupils singing. |
The concert culminated to the release of a new children's CD which is made by a few teachers and musicians in Tampere. There are 5 Tanzanian or Tanzanian influenced songs on the CD which are easy to learn and will be used as global education material in schools. The school co-operation has also produced a calendar for 2014 which presents pictures taken by pupils in both Tampere and Mwanza schools.
During this Mwanza Week there is also an exhibition at the City Hall of Tampere. The exhibition presents activities and results of the project through pictures and other info materials.
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All in all, the Tampere-Mwanza Weeks in 2013 have been very succesful in both cities and it was a pleasure to be part of them! Thank you all who helped organise these events and to all those who took part in the activities! Tampere-Mwanza Weeks in 2013 celebrated the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the project and gave motivation to carry on! Kiitos paljon! Asante sana!
All pictures taken by Ruusa Gawaza
