Friday, March 17, 2006
Time to Start Looking Ahead
We got the results of the survey back yesterday in a rather impressive report, complete with numerous charts and a topographic map of the area. The best spot for a well is very close to half the bomas, a 5 minute walk at most. The bad news is that it’s 110 meters deep, which makes choosing the ideal type of pump all the more difficult. Mr. Mtoi suggested that a hand pump would be the best option, although I know most hand pumps don’t go that deep (I know some exist, but they may be difficult to find). He believes we could achieve a water flow of 2 cubic meters per hour, which would be enough to accommodate Alasai village, at least in the beginning.
Now that we have the technical aspects taken care of, the hard work begins. How can we make sure that the entire community uses this precious water to help each other thrive, and not to start territorial disputes? How do we choose which villagers will be made responsible for maintenance and administration? How do we get them to understand basic principles of sanitation, to ensure that the water isn’t contaminated by livestock or human carelessness?
We have to figure out a way to make them feel like they own the well. I’m worried that they’ll treat this as some gift that just fell out of the sky, and that they’ll hold us responsible for any problems that might occur. Obviously they can’t pay for it themselves, so we need a more creative solution.
Last night at Deo’s the engineer told us about how, years ago in Ontario, the city would often get complaints from citizens whose wells had been contaminated by the salt used to de-ice city streets. The city’s policy back then was “We contaminated your well, so we’ll build you a new one”. When, down the line, there were problems with the city-installed wells, citizens would call to complain, saying “Your well broke, come and fix it!” It’s much easier to disown a broken well than to try and fix it yourself, and this may be the tallest hurdle we’re facing with the Maasai.
Hopefully I can get a meeting with Engineers Without Borders when I’m in Montreal next week. I’d like to get them to take on this project but, if they can’t, I want to at least pick their brains as much as I can for answers to all our questions. I’m sure similar problems arise in all their projects.
Otherwise, we’re getting ready to go back home. I can tell my mom is having a hard time getting used to the idea of leaving again, and I feel sad for her. At least this time she has concrete plans to come back in a couple of months, and a house in which to live when she does. For me it’s sad too, but I have a husband at home that I miss terribly, friends that I want to see, work that I want to do.
I do intend to return, maybe next year, maybe sooner. The hardest part about leaving is knowing that there’s so much work left to do here, and so many things, always, to take care of… A lot of things at home will feel inconsequential now. I hope I can turn that feeling into a reminder to channel my energy toward better endeavors.
I went back to see Agnes yesterday, to say goodbye to that sweet girl that took a piece of my heart and won’t give it back. Some CCS volunteers were going to Light in Africa for a couple of hours and I tagged along with them. They all, in turn, fell in love with her too. How could you not, with this face?
She was in a delightful mood: nothing but dimpled smiles, beauty queen waves to everybody, and lots of giggly chattering to the tune of “dadadadadada”. We played with the kids for over an hour, sang them some Broadway hits and a Sound of Music medley, and showered them with tickles and kisses until it was time to leave.
This time Aggie didn’t cry at all when I put her down. Instead, she smiled, got on all fours and started following me out the door… Such a little heartbreaker.
¶ 3/17/2006 02:48:00 AM
Now that we have the technical aspects taken care of, the hard work begins. How can we make sure that the entire community uses this precious water to help each other thrive, and not to start territorial disputes? How do we choose which villagers will be made responsible for maintenance and administration? How do we get them to understand basic principles of sanitation, to ensure that the water isn’t contaminated by livestock or human carelessness?
We have to figure out a way to make them feel like they own the well. I’m worried that they’ll treat this as some gift that just fell out of the sky, and that they’ll hold us responsible for any problems that might occur. Obviously they can’t pay for it themselves, so we need a more creative solution.
Last night at Deo’s the engineer told us about how, years ago in Ontario, the city would often get complaints from citizens whose wells had been contaminated by the salt used to de-ice city streets. The city’s policy back then was “We contaminated your well, so we’ll build you a new one”. When, down the line, there were problems with the city-installed wells, citizens would call to complain, saying “Your well broke, come and fix it!” It’s much easier to disown a broken well than to try and fix it yourself, and this may be the tallest hurdle we’re facing with the Maasai.
Hopefully I can get a meeting with Engineers Without Borders when I’m in Montreal next week. I’d like to get them to take on this project but, if they can’t, I want to at least pick their brains as much as I can for answers to all our questions. I’m sure similar problems arise in all their projects.
Otherwise, we’re getting ready to go back home. I can tell my mom is having a hard time getting used to the idea of leaving again, and I feel sad for her. At least this time she has concrete plans to come back in a couple of months, and a house in which to live when she does. For me it’s sad too, but I have a husband at home that I miss terribly, friends that I want to see, work that I want to do.
I do intend to return, maybe next year, maybe sooner. The hardest part about leaving is knowing that there’s so much work left to do here, and so many things, always, to take care of… A lot of things at home will feel inconsequential now. I hope I can turn that feeling into a reminder to channel my energy toward better endeavors.
I went back to see Agnes yesterday, to say goodbye to that sweet girl that took a piece of my heart and won’t give it back. Some CCS volunteers were going to Light in Africa for a couple of hours and I tagged along with them. They all, in turn, fell in love with her too. How could you not, with this face?
She was in a delightful mood: nothing but dimpled smiles, beauty queen waves to everybody, and lots of giggly chattering to the tune of “dadadadadada”. We played with the kids for over an hour, sang them some Broadway hits and a Sound of Music medley, and showered them with tickles and kisses until it was time to leave.
This time Aggie didn’t cry at all when I put her down. Instead, she smiled, got on all fours and started following me out the door… Such a little heartbreaker.
This afternoon we're getting the last of our souvenir shopping done and then going by Amani to check on Yusuf and Luca - we told them we'd come & see them again before we left for home and I want to keep that promise. Tomorrow the Amani kids are being taken on a big picnic outside of Arusha, which a couple who's vacationing here offered to pay for. We were invited to join, but I think we'll stay in town instead. The President is giving a speech at a local college tomorrow and I'd like to be here for that.
Only 2 more days to go...
¶ 3/17/2006 02:48:00 AM
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It'll be interesting adjusting back to regular life and living such an extraordinary adventure. Agnes certainly is cute!
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