One afternoon...

The morning was busy, but also dragged (make any sense!?!). Had a meeting with labour office – found three potential candidates for the Sanitation Supervisor post. Interviews next Wednesday, so got to prepare some questions…

Then this afternoon was the Ramalla Community Meeting regarding sand filters. Was slightly annoyed because the guys hadn’t got the sandfilter and sand & gravel ready for Geiger. But hey, I went to the market and got a coffee and sandwich. We were late, but what’s new. And when we got to Geiger, no water, so we couldn’t sort the filter out anyway. Then the guys turn to me and say, ‘What shall we do?’ I can get frustrated, and often I do, but left it. We’ll try and sort it out on the way back from Ramalla.

Then to Ramalla. Was a lovely afternoon. We got given water and sodas when we got there. Then gathered the community together and met under the big tree (always find that hilarious). But it was great. Mohammed explained everything about hygiene and the sandfilters (well, that’s what I think he did, my Arabic isn’t that good!). Then I spoke a bit and asked for volunteers from the community: two children, two women and two men, and for them each to tell me something about sandfilters. I was really impressed. They did well; obviously the house-to-house visits are working! J Then we did a sketch, which was funny and simply great, especially considering we only went through it for 5 minutes before the started the community meeting!

THEN, when we were finished, Deng told us we were going to Nazara’s house for some small food, only ten minutes. When we got there, we were brought a meal!! With bread, rice, meat (lots of meat) and sodas! I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t even hungry, but had to eat. It was so lovely of them. Then they brought out chai! Wonderful people – are rare community – they’re not always so accommodating and helpful, believe me. Oh, and apparently, Ramalla used to be a really big community, but is very small because a lot of people left because of the war. That’s really sad, but apparently people are returning slowly.

I enjoyed the afternoon so much. The community were so enthusiastic about the filters. I’m not a fan of the office at all, but unfortunately paper work still has to be done. Need to finalise the surveys for the filters and latrines, write a letter to the community of Renk regarding latrines, raise some PRs, sort out contracts, label photos, write up trip reports…bother! That’s my evening filled then…knowing me I’ll do a list of things to do first!

Into the swing of it...

So, things are going ok...hoping to implement 100 sand filters before the end of the month, get at least 100 people to start digging their latrines...hopefully the geopysical survey for our water points will commence in December...and i've got to think of some ideas to make water & sanitation 'sexy'...answers on a postcard please!

All in all, I'm a pretty happy bunny at the moment...I think it has a lot to do with the Tearfund Retreat recently, the wonderful people I get to work with, and even more to do with God!!