Mara Cluster Project - Tanzania
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Nora Hajian is part of the Mara Cluster Project in Tanzania's Mara region (north-west, by Lake Victoria). This is an SIL International project, and Nora is a seconded member from Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada. She has completed the first phase of orientation and language training in Dar Es Salaam, and is now finally in Musoma, where she is learning to do her new job and continuing with bi-weekly Swahili sessions.
The Mara Cluster Project involves 8 minority languages (at the moment) and has been active since 2005. The main office for the project has around 30 Tanzanian staff and 8 international staff. The work involves linguistics (the department Nora serves in), Bible translation, literacy programming and scripture engagement. Capacity-building in the form of training locals to work within the project is also a major aspect of the work in SIL's Musoma office. Click here to explore SIL Uganda-Tanzania Branch's webpage on the Mara Cluster Project! |
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Nora sends out newsletters (quarterly) and updates (ideally, on a monthly basis). Email her at nora.hajian@wycliffe.ca to sign up for either of those.
About Nora
Nora is a graduate of both the University of Western Ontario, earning a Master's degree in Librarianship, and Trinity Western University, earning a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics. She was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon. She is a committed follower of Jesus Christ, and a member of the Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene, and has volunteered in various capacities over the years. Nora became a member of Wycliffe in late February 2017 and was officially invited to her first overseas assignment in late November 2017. From September 2018 to April 2019, she served as a Teaching Assistant at the Canada Institute of Linguistics, preparing Trinity Western students for Bible Translation work.
Despite some early work-permit difficulties, Nora received her work permit in January 2019 and started orientation in August 2019 in Dar Es Salaam (on the coast of Tanzania). In September, she started Swahili training (so she can communicate with the Tanzanian workers in the Wycliffe office in Musoma), and now, she is in Musoma enjoying her new work as a lexicographer and linguist.
Work Details
Nora writes: At the moment, I'm working as a lexicography specialist by assisting the head lexicographer, who helps local communities produce dictionaries in the minority languages that are also going through Bible translation and literacy projects. So far I have been going through orientation and exploring the Ikoma database, but eventually I'll also be participating in lexicography workshops in the villages.
Ikoma is spoken by about 36,000 people. The Ikoma people group used to live within the Serengeti, but after it became a national park, the Ikoma relocated to the western fringe of the Serengeti, closer to Lake Victoria. The Ikoma are a bit more historically Christian than most other language groups in the Mara cluster (because they are suspicious of Islam), but they don't have a complete Bible in their own language. However, thanks to the partnership between the Ikoma and SIL, they have published the books of Jonah, Ruth and Luke in the Ikoma language, and more books are on the way: in fact, the entire New Testament is very close to be published.
Ikoma is spoken by about 36,000 people. The Ikoma people group used to live within the Serengeti, but after it became a national park, the Ikoma relocated to the western fringe of the Serengeti, closer to Lake Victoria. The Ikoma are a bit more historically Christian than most other language groups in the Mara cluster (because they are suspicious of Islam), but they don't have a complete Bible in their own language. However, thanks to the partnership between the Ikoma and SIL, they have published the books of Jonah, Ruth and Luke in the Ikoma language, and more books are on the way: in fact, the entire New Testament is very close to be published.
How Long?
Nora is going for an initial two-year term, followed by six months in Canada, followed by at least another two-year term. She is working as an SIL member while she's in Tanzania (SIL is Wycliffe's academic partner organization that manages the projects and provides linguistic training for Wycliffe members).
Funding
Nora's monthly budget for her position with Wycliffe Canada is $3,600, and at the moment those budgetary needs are being met. God and his people have also provided her with the funds needed to cover her one-time launch expenses, and she is very grateful for that!
How Can You Help?
In any ministry endeavor, those who are called by God will need the prayer support of God's people. The greatest thing you can do is pray.
Ministry also has financial costs, and Nora is no different than anyone else... she will have financial needs in order to fulfill God's call in this area.
If you are able to support this project, either one-time or on-going, your giving will be considered a charitable donation for income tax purposes. You can give directly to Wycliffe using the following project number when you contact Wycliffe:
FOR CANADIANS: Use Nora's Canadian project number 53993. You have several options on how you can send a donation.
You can send a cheque to Wycliffe at:
Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
4316 10 St. NE. Calgary AB T2E6K3
Make the cheque out to Wycliffe Canada, and add Nora's name and project number on the note line.
You can call Wyclifffe Canada at 800-463-1143 and set up on-going contributions.
You can go to https://www.wycliffe.ca/projects/hajian-nora/ and donate online. Enter in the amount you'd like to give in the field above the "Give Now" button, and, after you hit the button and go to the online donation form, you can fill in the details. If you would like your gift to be recurring on a monthly basis, there is an "I would like to make this a recurring monthly gift" slider near the bottom of the page that you can set to 'on'.
Finally, you can download, print, and fill out this form and send it to the address above.
FOR AMERICANS: Use Nora's international project number: 243039.
You can phone Wycliffe Bible Translators (in the USA) at 1-800-992-5433 to donate over the phone.
You can also send checks to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
PO Box 628200
Orlando, Florida 32862
Ministry also has financial costs, and Nora is no different than anyone else... she will have financial needs in order to fulfill God's call in this area.
If you are able to support this project, either one-time or on-going, your giving will be considered a charitable donation for income tax purposes. You can give directly to Wycliffe using the following project number when you contact Wycliffe:
FOR CANADIANS: Use Nora's Canadian project number 53993. You have several options on how you can send a donation.
You can send a cheque to Wycliffe at:
Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
4316 10 St. NE. Calgary AB T2E6K3
Make the cheque out to Wycliffe Canada, and add Nora's name and project number on the note line.
You can call Wyclifffe Canada at 800-463-1143 and set up on-going contributions.
You can go to https://www.wycliffe.ca/projects/hajian-nora/ and donate online. Enter in the amount you'd like to give in the field above the "Give Now" button, and, after you hit the button and go to the online donation form, you can fill in the details. If you would like your gift to be recurring on a monthly basis, there is an "I would like to make this a recurring monthly gift" slider near the bottom of the page that you can set to 'on'.
Finally, you can download, print, and fill out this form and send it to the address above.
FOR AMERICANS: Use Nora's international project number: 243039.
You can phone Wycliffe Bible Translators (in the USA) at 1-800-992-5433 to donate over the phone.
You can also send checks to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
PO Box 628200
Orlando, Florida 32862
Contact Nora!If you would like to contact Nora; maybe get on her email list, or if you have any questions, please enter your name and email address here and click on "Submit".
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