Althea Stevens, our UK Co-ordinator, is currently visiting our Tanzanian base in Emau Hill. Here she gives an update on the transport difficulties that Tukae faces there.

One of the biggest problems for Tukae Tanzania is keeping its cars on the road and in good condition. The roads up to Emau Hill are deep in mud when it rains or set hard when it's dry. There are areas where the road is solid rock; it's slippery and difficult for drivers, who need to be experienced in these conditions. Repairs are a constant issue, with one or other car in the garage in Tanga on a regular basis.

People in the UK regularly ask me why it matters - why can't people walk? How did they manage before Tukae was here? The answer? Our vehicles are our lifeline and without them Tukae, and especially our volunteer programme, could not function. If there were no cars we could not get volunteers in and out, and the resources we need to support them. Running a volunteer programme requires considerable support. We do it because the local people need us to - volunteers are vital for our education programme and for much of the work we do here - in turn we have to make it happen.

Vehicles are vital for the health and safety of our volunteers, our staff, and for the people in the village. If one of them is ill then we may need to take them to hospital in Tanga. Without adequate transport to good medical treatment - and our health posts cannot provide more than basic treatment - people don't get better, or they die. There is no doctor where we are, just health workers.

Tukae often has a dozen or more people at Emau Hill; UK staff, visitors, Tanzanian staff, and volunteers. They all need to be fed but there is no shop around the corner or down the road. There is nowhere to buy flour, corn meal, rice, bottled water, charcoal, medicine, diesel, or car parts. For some supplies we can go to Muheza 35 kilometres down the mountain but it is more likely that the item we need will be in Tanga, another journey of more than an hour.

One of our old cars has just reached the end of its useful life and it's not worth repairing. We expect seven teaching volunteers to join us in January and the remaining vehicle, a Toyota, is just not big enough to move all the people around. It has become imperative that we buy another car. If you would like to help support this essential project please send donations using either of the buttons on the top right hand side of this page or send a cheque payable to Tukae to 22 Hilgrove Road, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 2QZ.