Monday, February 21, 2011
Scarves for the Widows Co-operative Koutulai, Uganda
ICE/EFOD site visit to Uganda January/February 2011
Nothing prepared me for the welcome we received when we visited Koutulai. We were swamped by grinning women ululating their greetings to us on the opening day for the mill centre. Aside from the provision of key infrastructure that improved the quality of these people’s lives, the profound change in attitude to the group of widows and orphans was immense. In this type of community I was told that widows and orphans are seen very much as a burden on any village since they require support and have little means to make a contribution. Not so the Widows Co-operative at Koutulai! The charities SaltPeter Trust and the Engineers for Overseas Development (EFOD) †, recognised a need and decided to invest by providing a grinding mill which the women use to cater to their own needs. It also enables them to grind a little extra which they can sell on for a small profit. This is appreciated by the local villagers. In addition a borehole has been sunk and the whole village enjoys the benefit of this local free water supply, essential to healthy living. When visiting I was also shown the new latrine block that uses Ecosan lavatories which separates the solids for the waste, using solar cells to dry the material creating a safe compost. This can then be used for the crops such as cassava and maize which is subsequently ground in the mill. How’s that for sustainable living!!
I was given the opportunity to say a few words during the prayers and speeches and told the group of how you were interested in their work and had given me gifts to pass on to them on your behalf. Many of their gifts have been practical and of course very necessary but they so appreciated the scarves you so kindly donated (as you will see in the photographs). Amongst much singing and dancing (when we joined in it turned into a real party with a swing!!) they accepted the gifts and asked me to say a very big thank you to you in return.
Sally Sudworth (Chair ICE Wales Cymru)
February 2011
† EFOD started as an ICE charity organisation and due to its success is now a charity in its own right with several practicing groups of engineers around the UK
Monday, February 7, 2011
pig on a motorbike
Travelling back through Kampala on our way to teh Entebbe airport we witnessed a most astonishing event which broke all records of what could be seen on a motorbike. We saw a man trussing a full sized live pig to the back of his motorbike and then proceeded to weave his way through the heavy traffic!!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Barnaby Bear goes to : CASSO orphanage;Widows Co-operative at Koutulai; Murchisson Falls Safari
Wednesday 2nd Feb: CASSO Orphanage
I really enjoyed visiting the orphanage and meeting Susan who is the manager. At present there are 37 boys and girls but they have the capacity for 80. They have limited budget at the moment but when they received more money they will give more boys and girls a home. All the buildings are brightly coloured and there is a really friendly atmosphere there. I made lots of new friends and they really wanted me to stay and thought that I had come to live with them permanently.
They sleep two people to a room but when more children come to stay that will increase to four children to a room. The bedrooms feel nice and cool and spacious because of the high ceilings and the beds are nice and big and comfortable.
The latrines are really clever and are called ECOsan toilets. They have solar panels that heat up and dry the solid waste and this makes it safe and clean like a compost. They spread this on their vegetable garden and they grow eggplant (aubergines), onions, tomatoes and greens.
I gave some toys to Susan as gifts for the boys and girls.
Thursday 3rd February: Widows Co-operative at Koutulai
We made a trip south to Koutulai to visit the widows and orphans at this village which is on the road to Mbale. They have a new sustainable development which is a great example of how we need to live in the future by using less energy and materials. They use the mill to grind cassava and other crops and are able to produce a little extra to sell. They also have latrines with the Ecosan system which means that they have a good supply of fertiliser to grow their crops.
At the ceremony there was singing and dancing, prayers and speeches. The musicians played locally made instruments made of timber, goatskin and strings which looked a bit like harps. They served up a delicious lunch of beans, chicken, rice, matoki and goat stew.
We took gifts of beautiful scarves to give to the widows and they were really happy to receive them; they really appreciated us dancing and celebrating with them.
Saturday 5th Feb: Murchisson Falls Safari Park
We have seen hippo, buffalo, giraffes, elephants, snakes and antelope. The tracks are very bumpy and long but the scenery is stunning. Paraa Lodge is an amazing game lodge where the food is wonderful and we can see the river Nile form our bedroom balcony. I sat gazing at the night sky last night and could hear the cicadas and frogs calling. I could see thousands more stars than back at home in Aberdare and even saw a shooting star. Can’t wait for the boat trip this afternoon and the trek to see the rhinos tomorrow.
I have sent you a postcard so hope you get that before I get back. It is a long journey home again. I am looking forward to seeing all my friends back at home but am reluctant to leave Uganda
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
News from Leon
Gutted from Cardiff.
What a nightmare we are having trying to fit the guttering . Working off the top of a 14 seater mini bus.
attempting to fit 6metres of teak wood 15 feet above ground and drill holes with a blunt drill through steel to fix.. its really difficult to complete tasks without the right equipment and shharing tools with 6 other people.
We are working with local labour who are really good workers but need supervision at all times.
It can be really difficult woring here with tempretures reaching 35 degrees and being bitten by insects.
.
What a nightmare we are having trying to fit the guttering . Working off the top of a 14 seater mini bus.
attempting to fit 6metres of teak wood 15 feet above ground and drill holes with a blunt drill through steel to fix.. its really difficult to complete tasks without the right equipment and shharing tools with 6 other people.
We are working with local labour who are really good workers but need supervision at all times.
It can be really difficult woring here with tempretures reaching 35 degrees and being bitten by insects.
.
A real sustainable community in Uganda
Today we visited the women's co-operative, they started off with 30 widows. EFOD gave each widow a cow and provided funding for the construction of a grinding mill. The second phase was the construction of a borehole and Latrines. The Latrines are constructed so that the liquid runs out and leaves the solids in a container, which can be accesses through panels at the back of the Latrine (Ecosan). The solids are left for 6-8 months which they can then use for fertilizer for the gardens.
Each of the original 30 widows were given grain as well as a cow, and when the next 30 arrived, they have to give their first born calf and seeds to the next 30 widows....so far 6 calves have been born. They now have 60 widows with plans for another 30 next year.
The widows are milling maize and cassava into flour, the mill runs daily to generate cash for repair and support the widows. The mill is currently generating 25,000Ugandan Shillings per week (approx £7).
In total its cost less than £20k and now the community is totally sustainable, its an example to us all. The ideas all come from the Ugandan people and Ian Flower and EFOD make the ideas happen. I hope this will help you realise how much a small amount of sponsorship can help a community and the beauty is they learn and get on with it.
Our visit was amazing, Sally, Gillian and I were up dancing with the widows and they loved it! They are really friendly and loved having us there......
Each of the original 30 widows were given grain as well as a cow, and when the next 30 arrived, they have to give their first born calf and seeds to the next 30 widows....so far 6 calves have been born. They now have 60 widows with plans for another 30 next year.
The widows are milling maize and cassava into flour, the mill runs daily to generate cash for repair and support the widows. The mill is currently generating 25,000Ugandan Shillings per week (approx £7).
In total its cost less than £20k and now the community is totally sustainable, its an example to us all. The ideas all come from the Ugandan people and Ian Flower and EFOD make the ideas happen. I hope this will help you realise how much a small amount of sponsorship can help a community and the beauty is they learn and get on with it.
Our visit was amazing, Sally, Gillian and I were up dancing with the widows and they loved it! They are really friendly and loved having us there......
CASSO Orphanage
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Liane's Update
Hi everyone, Sally has updated you on our progress and visit to the orphanage, so I thought I would send some random things we have learnt......how many people do you get on a motorbike in Uganda - answer - no less than 5!!!!!!! 2 adults, 1 carrying a baby, and 2 infants - and the driver is usually the only one wearing a helmet - scary!!! Also lots of cyclists with no lights.....I have nicknamed our transport manager "The Stig" as he manoeuvres all the random traffic on the road. We had rain today - which is rare for Uganda in January, and about an hour later, it was as if nothing had happened.....and the last random......we have been eating goat for the first time.....off looking at other EFOD projects tomorrow, bye for now, Liane
CASA Orphanage Soroti
Projects completed on time and under budget! Liane and I have completed the workbench in the radiology room at the Medical Centre. We have also installed the cabinet on the outside of the church which now covers the electric meters making them safe.
One Tuesday 1st February Liane Shepherd, David Reynolds, Ian Flower and I visited the CASA orphanage which is situated just south of Soroti. We were met by Susan the Manager, who has a degree in Business Studies. She is a compassionate individual who is also very resourceful. The orphanage has the capacity for 80 children but at present they have funding for half that number. Susan ensures that the children are very well looked after and has a housemother and housefather in her team. In age range they go from 6 years to 18.
There are seven buildings in the compound. There were dormitories, a large hall, lavatories and shower blocks. The sanitation system uses Ecosan which separates the liquid from the solid waste. The latter is dried using solar panels and anaerobic digestion takes place which results in an excellent compost material. This is used to fertilise the vegetable garden and they grow eggplant, tomatoes, onions and other local greens. They have no electricity as the budget does not stretch to providing this but they are hopeful that this will be provided in the future. The buildings are painted in bright bold colours and have stained wooden shutters, and exposed timber beams internally which are very attractive. The building shape is also designed to keep the building nice and cool. The children sleep two to a room and all have comfortable wide bunks with mosquito nets.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Ian Flower, Founder of EFOD: At Last
After 5 years of planning and hard work it was a delight to be at the formal opening of the Soroti Medical Centre built by EFOD for the Saltpeter Trust. The locals are delighted with the building, it is cool to work in, and we now hand over to the Medics to begin to run a viable 'not for profit' operation. There are many challenges here and the early few months have been stop start, but we are working on strengthening the staff and attracting more patients.
The Incinerator built in the grounds of Soroti Referral Hospital is now being rebuilt a second time since construction in 2005 in accordance with the inventor's instructions. As with everything here, things take time, and training of the operatives needs to be repeated several times, but EFOD are repairing what they build in true Civil Engineering fashion.
The team here is doing a great job, working hard, having fun, and making a difference, they all deserve a medal!
The Incinerator built in the grounds of Soroti Referral Hospital is now being rebuilt a second time since construction in 2005 in accordance with the inventor's instructions. As with everything here, things take time, and training of the operatives needs to be repeated several times, but EFOD are repairing what they build in true Civil Engineering fashion.
The team here is doing a great job, working hard, having fun, and making a difference, they all deserve a medal!
At the lake north of Soroti
Barnaby Bear from Glenboi school goes to Uganda
http://www.sallysudworthuganda.blogspot.com/
We have taken Barnaby Bear from Glenboi School, Aberdare, on our trip. Sheila Jones is their teacher and she is tracking our work as civil engineers on Barnaby's blog. We hope to raise awareness of civil engineering and the charity work that EFOD are doing in Africa, and maybe inspire engineers of the future!
We have taken Barnaby Bear from Glenboi School, Aberdare, on our trip. Sheila Jones is their teacher and she is tracking our work as civil engineers on Barnaby's blog. We hope to raise awareness of civil engineering and the charity work that EFOD are doing in Africa, and maybe inspire engineers of the future!
More photos from Dave
A view of the multiple uses of the lake - I passed on the swimming opportunity!
Sam took us inside his hut. He is 23 and built this mudhut and thatched roof himself.
His clothes for church are immaculate!
The markets of Soroti. You name it, you can buy it. Fortunately for myself, I found a razor!
An update from Soroti by Dave Reynolds Chair apprentice
Dave
Each day continues to be as eventful as the last and I am not short of stories to tell. So where to begin?
The soakaway drainage system was finished on Thursday – albeit a few manhole covers I need to get fabricated in Soroti and some minor landscaping works around it. I took the mason and the labourers onto another task which was to come up with a means of access to inspect the rainwater harvesting tanks. The mason built stairs using maram bricks and filling out with stone and concrete. Afterwards, the stairs were skimmed with cement to give a neat finish. We mix all the concrete ourselves using a simple 1:2:4 ratio of cement, sand and stone respectively. Whilst the mason built the steps, Me and a labourer took some of the corrugated sheet off the tank covers and improvised a hatch system to enable access into the tanks. The next task for me now is to figure out how to make the hatch lockable. One thing we do not want happening is children throwing in debris, or worse, falling in. Elsewhere, my biggest achievement of the week is without doubt installing the plaque! I took it by hand from Cardiff
I have found it difficult at times to deal with the time taken to carry out trivial tasks. However, as the week has gone on, I have come to accept that jobs are not going to get completed at the same pace as they do back home. From talking to others who have been in my position, this seems to be a common experience.
Their word for the white person is “muzungo” (I think that is the correct spelling). And so after the opening ceremony, we had a game of football of the locals vs muzungos. Unfortunately for myself, I had an incident involving barbed wire and my leg during the game and so had to seek some minor first aid treatment much to the amusement of everyone watching. It involved Sally rubbing alcohol gel into my cuts – it stung quite a bit and my high pitched screaming was apparently quite comical!
On Sunday morning I visited the church with the rest of the group. Whilst not being Christian myself, it was an amazing cultural experience. It seemed to be an event which brought a huge amount of happiness to the locals and they were extremely welcoming to us.
So now it is Sunday afternoon. We plan to climb Soroti rock at about 4:00pm and get some rest. We will certainly need it as we now have 4 days left to get everything that we set out to do complete.
ICE Exec Committee blog update
Sally: Today was hot as there was little breeze. At the Soroti medical centre the EFOD/ICE crew is settling down and making some real progress, installing lights, internet connections, guttering and shelving. Momentum is gathering for the grand opening on Friday with local dignitaries to mark the occasion. Together with Liane we officially became the ‘joiners’ and we were elevated to fitting panels to door frames to the radiology room and making shelving. Much to my amusement I was working Uganda
I was delighted this afternoon to have borrowed the dongle which allowed me access to the internet whereupon I could create this blog. I heard today that next week I will be travelling to see the other EFOD projects; the orphanage that was finished just last summer and the grinding mill run by the widows co-operative. I also hope to visit Janet in Mbale before coming home to meet her class.
Friday 28th: Official opening of the medical centre
It was a hot day and many dignitaries came along to the opening ceremony, including Bishop John Ecru, Pastor Sam Eibu and dep RDC for Soroti district, Joseph Osotu. I was invited to speak a few words in my capacity as ICE Cymru Chair, and Ian Flower and Stuart Gerrish spoke about EFOD. It was the culmination of a fantastic achievement by the team who have worked in Soroti for many years and was quite emotional.
We have developed a great rapport with the locals who are working with us to complete the last few details that will help to extend the building. We are completing fitting out of the radiology rooms and also creating a resource centre that will be used for training in technical, IT and craft.
Saturday 29 Jan : We made the trip to the lake – on a very dusty road. See the photographs of some spectacular scenery. The tiny villages we saw enjoyed the most perfect setting, overlooking the vast serene lake. There was a mixture in building materials from classic mud huts with thatched roofs, to small brick bungalows. Soccer was everywhere with football pitches dominating every village green! I expect they are all also vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.
We passed a water station that was very busy where the young women and children were filling large yellow containers using the hand pump (perhaps WaterAid or Oxfam had installed this?) and the women were carrying the containers back to their villages on their heads. We have seen many women carrying many (challenging) items such as whole bales of timber and also very large baskets laden with fruit (bananas and mangos) carefully balanced on their heads.
Sunday 30 Jan :A day off at last – I have never done so much manual work in my career to date and in a heat of 35 deg and above! Sunday service at Soroti Baptist Church
Friday, January 28, 2011
Liane's Update
We have computer access!! What an amazing place, I met a lady on Monday called Janet, who is married to Apollo and are friends with one of our group Eric. Janet is pretty wonderful, she has 3 children but has also taken in 2 orphans and 2 needy children. She is a primary school teacher, who has 94 pupils aged 9 years old. They are in school from 7.30am to 5pm!!!! There are fees of 4000 Ugandan shillings each term (just over £1), but not everyone can afford it. There are many challenges for the ugandan people in terms of education, many of the eldest children have to look after familes if their parents have passed away, and many of the young women who drop out of education (many due to money) get married at 12 or 13 years old, as they don't know any different.....however it just goes to show that even if they don't have much, they have a lot of love to give.
Working at the medical centre has been hard work and Sally and I have teamed up as joiners, undertaking several projects already..I'm pretty good with a drill and saw, but not too good at hammering nails! There are a group of children who come over every day and remember everyone's names...they helped me with my calculations yesterday whilst swooped around me!...must go now medical centre opening!
Working at the medical centre has been hard work and Sally and I have teamed up as joiners, undertaking several projects already..I'm pretty good with a drill and saw, but not too good at hammering nails! There are a group of children who come over every day and remember everyone's names...they helped me with my calculations yesterday whilst swooped around me!...must go now medical centre opening!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Arrival in Uganda
Sally (Chair): We had a very long journey travelling all the way to Soroti. Lake Victoria was amazing and so vast, and we landed on the shores at Entebbe Kampala
The food is fab with chicken, rice, matoki ( akin to mashed potato but made with a variety of banana – not sweet), chipates, fresh pineapple and water melon.
The local children love to come and watch.
Our first project was to make a new cabinet to cover the electric meters to prevent them shorting out when it rains. I have acquired a new skill as a joiner, sawing, screwing, hammering and planning!!
Dave (Apprentice):
We leave Cardiff
On Wednesday we progress with the soakaway by building a manhole to capture sediment. The mason constructs a stone wall and then plasters around to create a tidy finish, We cut a section out of the wall near the medical centre entrance where we plan to install the plaque to commemorate the opening of the medical centre. On Thursday we install the plaque after making good the cut made in the wall. Other tasks included building a plinth to allow inspection of the rainwater harvesting tanks, benchmarking the manholes to prevent them from ponding water (which would attract Mosquitos) and compacting the soil around existing manholes to landscape them into the surroundings. Tomorrow (Friday) we see the official opening of the medical centre.
Liane (Hon Sec):
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