North Coast couple finds blessing in trips to Tanzania

Two decades ago, Mike and Mary Davies were encouraged by Father Nicholas Nilema at our Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Seaside to join a mission to his home country of Tanzania.

The couple, who are best known as the owners of local Subway and Beach Burrito franchises and for their volunteer work, have been regularly going back to East Africa ever since.

Mike and Mary Davies

Mike and Mary Davies are shown with a camp manager of Zara Tanzania Adventures.

In their latest trip in January alongside seven others, the main goal was to help remodel the kitchen for the Mango Primary School outside of Moshi. The school's kitchen had been exposed to the elements and lacked a space for students to wash their plates.

The school will have roughly 500 students enrolled by the end of the year.

“The walls were up when we arrived, and we participated in construction of the burn boxes, the chimneys, moving bricks, doing a little bit of everything,” Mike Davies said.

In preparation for the trip, the group packed 10 computers, a copy machine, three solar panels and a solar exhaust fan to donate. They also brought pens, pencils, soccer balls, children's clothing and medical supplies.

Soccer balls are a particular favorite of Mary Davies. While traveling to different locations, she has seen many children playing with makeshift balls made out of plastic bags.

“We always, always, always bring soccer balls. It's very popular … And so we'll see them playing on the field or something (and say), 'Stop the bus.' Because we always carry soccer balls with us and then run out and say, "Can I have yours if you want this one?” Mary Davies said.

The materials are given to different organizations and schools, including Mangi Sina Secondary School, where the group helped train teachers to use computers. The copy machine was requested by the Mango Primary School principal.

“It was like giving him gold. I mean it was, just because they write everything on the chalkboard. There's everything — every lesson — everything is written on the chalkboard,” Mary Davies said.

In between their volunteer work, the group might be off sightseeing in Zanzibar or on a safari.

“One year we climbed (Mount) Kilimanjaro ... We've been to Zanzibar several times … (and) we always go on safari for this trip. We did five days, four nights. So we're lucky enough that we are very near to three of the best parks and national parks in all of Africa,” Mike Davies said.

While the trips have roots in the church, anyone can join. Over 23 years, Mike Davies has make 10 trips and his wife has taken nine.

“The best part of all that is the people we get to meet, so many people, and I want to say you see these 450 kids and they're all so excited to participate," Mike Davies said. "And then the teachers at Mangi Sina and Mango, they're just overwhelmed with gratitude for you, knowing what we can do for them, so it's a real blessing for us.”