Well, I’m back from Juba and Kajo Keji, and it was ace!! I loved it. It was green, beautiful and the climate was good. Not that I’m complaining about Renk. The people were great too, so welcoming, but that’s Africa.
It was quite a trip to Kajo Keji. Had to get a bus to Khartoum (5 ½ hours), then flew to Juba (4 hours), then flew to Kajo Keji (30 minutes). Flying was great! In the smallest little plane. Couldn’t believe a little propeller at the front of the plane would allow us to take off, let alone stay in the air! It was wonderful seeing South Sudan from a plane – gives you a better idea of what it’s really like.
Kajo Keji is so small. Flying in was what I always imagined aid work to be like. In the middle of no-where, flying in to a remote village somewhere. We got quite an audience when we landed – I think the arrival of a plane is as exciting as it gets in Kajo Keji J
So, we spent the next five days talking about sand filters, screening material, making sand filters, talking about sand filters, screening material, making sand filters…you get the idea. But it was great. a really good group of people attended, and the majority of them volunteers, which is fairly rare in Sudan. And they’re all really keen to set up a sand filter programme. The only thing is, funding… It’s such a shame that everything comes down to money.
I had a great time. And then two very good nights in Juba – got to eat pizza and meet new people, which is always good.
Now I’m back in Renk…trying to find a CBO (Community Based Organisation) to take on a sand filter project, get institutional latrines underway, carry out a survey on year 1 water activities, get someone to come and train the government on our water quality testing kit, mobilise communities to want sand filters…
Oh the joys. It’s good work. Challenging, but I’m learning lots, getting to meet new people all the time, and experience a new culture. What is there to complain about?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Friday, November 02, 2007
Girl power - not!
Thursday 1st November 2007
It’s November!! Yey!! It’s nearly Christmas. Can’t wait!
The rest of our time in Pariak was good. But frustrating too. I wanted to train two people to sight latrines, one male and one female. But the Shieke said no, he wanted to guys. And Charles, my Sanitation Supervisor, didn’t bother trying to convince the Shieke otherwise. Charles just told me that it’s their culture and tradition and we can’t change it. That really annoyed me. No one seems to be bothered that women don’t get a voice, even though it’s the women who look after the house, clean it, get the water, do the cooking. They’re the ones who know where a latrine should be!!
So the way I got around it was by training the guys to speak to the women in the household first to ask them where they wanted the latrine. I bet you any money they don’t do it…or am I just being pessimistic???
Then we had arranged a community meeting and unfortunately the water tanker arrived at the same time. So all the women had to go and collect water. I tried to show them how to clean their jerry cans by putting stones in them and shaking it. I think it was more humerous for the people watching then it was effective. Some white girl trying to get them to clean their jerry cans – and they probably don’t even understand why! Oh well, I can but try.
Oh yeah, the community meeting….well, no women showed up. I asked if they could come and I was told no because they have work in the home. I was really annoyed. So asked if three representatives could come, the men said yes, but never bothered to call them!! SO frustrating! And I’ve just got to accept that it’s their ‘culture’ and ‘tradition’…?
It’s November!! Yey!! It’s nearly Christmas. Can’t wait!
The rest of our time in Pariak was good. But frustrating too. I wanted to train two people to sight latrines, one male and one female. But the Shieke said no, he wanted to guys. And Charles, my Sanitation Supervisor, didn’t bother trying to convince the Shieke otherwise. Charles just told me that it’s their culture and tradition and we can’t change it. That really annoyed me. No one seems to be bothered that women don’t get a voice, even though it’s the women who look after the house, clean it, get the water, do the cooking. They’re the ones who know where a latrine should be!!
So the way I got around it was by training the guys to speak to the women in the household first to ask them where they wanted the latrine. I bet you any money they don’t do it…or am I just being pessimistic???
Then we had arranged a community meeting and unfortunately the water tanker arrived at the same time. So all the women had to go and collect water. I tried to show them how to clean their jerry cans by putting stones in them and shaking it. I think it was more humerous for the people watching then it was effective. Some white girl trying to get them to clean their jerry cans – and they probably don’t even understand why! Oh well, I can but try.
Oh yeah, the community meeting….well, no women showed up. I asked if they could come and I was told no because they have work in the home. I was really annoyed. So asked if three representatives could come, the men said yes, but never bothered to call them!! SO frustrating! And I’ve just got to accept that it’s their ‘culture’ and ‘tradition’…?
The glamorous life
Wednesday 31st October 2007
I’m in Pariak, Melut County. It’s 20:30 and we’re all in bed!! So I thought I’d write a few words, even though it’s pitch black and I should be doing my monthly report!
So, is being out in the field as exciting as what I thought it would be? We’re here doing the KAP Survey for latrines in Pariak. I have five guys with me, and Charles. We dropped the guys in Pariak and met with the Executive Director of Pariak Payam. He told us that the area wasn’t surveyed and he wanted it to be done before we do latrines. I felt quite cross. Why hadn’t he told us this before!?? Oh well, he phoned the engineer in Renk, and the guy said he would come tomorrow. Must remember to get the engineers’ phone number! Then we went off to Melut to meet the Executive Director of Melut County. Basically he told me everything that Charles told me – that he is happy: Medair will do Melut town and we will commence with Pariak and Falouge town. All good. Just need to find out the household numbers of Falouge town.
Then popped in to see Medair. Only Hannah was there. Would really like to work for them I think. But then the grass is always greener on the other side, right? Then back to Pariak. Spent some time with the Medair guys who are test-pumping a borehole. Was really interesting and learnt lots – and asked lots of stupid questions! Submersible pump at bottom. Then three tubes/wires – power to generator, tube for dipper and pipe for water. All really interesting.
All was good until it became dark and there is no water for bathing. We went and had food – fool and tomatoes, then hired beds (1 SDG each!), then they all went to bed. I managed to wash with one 600 ml bottle of water (water which I took from the bucket where people wash their hands before they eat) and a bucket I had borrowed from the Police. There are so many mosquitoes here and they are vicious!!
Now in my mozdome, outside, by the Police, by the main road, and my feet are itching like crazy – I’m sure there are things inside my mozdome!! Oh, what a glamorous life I lead! But these people are so so poor. No water (gets delivered by a tanker from the river - when they remember), no toilets, and we've just built a school and health care centre. Hopefully in a couple of weeks all the people will have latrines too...
I’m in Pariak, Melut County. It’s 20:30 and we’re all in bed!! So I thought I’d write a few words, even though it’s pitch black and I should be doing my monthly report!
So, is being out in the field as exciting as what I thought it would be? We’re here doing the KAP Survey for latrines in Pariak. I have five guys with me, and Charles. We dropped the guys in Pariak and met with the Executive Director of Pariak Payam. He told us that the area wasn’t surveyed and he wanted it to be done before we do latrines. I felt quite cross. Why hadn’t he told us this before!?? Oh well, he phoned the engineer in Renk, and the guy said he would come tomorrow. Must remember to get the engineers’ phone number! Then we went off to Melut to meet the Executive Director of Melut County. Basically he told me everything that Charles told me – that he is happy: Medair will do Melut town and we will commence with Pariak and Falouge town. All good. Just need to find out the household numbers of Falouge town.
Then popped in to see Medair. Only Hannah was there. Would really like to work for them I think. But then the grass is always greener on the other side, right? Then back to Pariak. Spent some time with the Medair guys who are test-pumping a borehole. Was really interesting and learnt lots – and asked lots of stupid questions! Submersible pump at bottom. Then three tubes/wires – power to generator, tube for dipper and pipe for water. All really interesting.
All was good until it became dark and there is no water for bathing. We went and had food – fool and tomatoes, then hired beds (1 SDG each!), then they all went to bed. I managed to wash with one 600 ml bottle of water (water which I took from the bucket where people wash their hands before they eat) and a bucket I had borrowed from the Police. There are so many mosquitoes here and they are vicious!!
Now in my mozdome, outside, by the Police, by the main road, and my feet are itching like crazy – I’m sure there are things inside my mozdome!! Oh, what a glamorous life I lead! But these people are so so poor. No water (gets delivered by a tanker from the river - when they remember), no toilets, and we've just built a school and health care centre. Hopefully in a couple of weeks all the people will have latrines too...
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