Emails from Singida 4
Hello again from Singida,
It’s a big week here because 4 people from our camp are leaving and 3 new volunteers arriving. (I’ll be meeting them later today) It almost feels like it is the end of the project for me and that I’m starting a new 3 week one next week! To say goodbye the villagers held a small ‘festival’ for us yesterday – with dancing, singing and speeches – and then we invited 20 or so for a meal/party in our camp including the chairmen, school teachers, builders and our camp gaurds. It was a great day. I’ve started having a good laugh with the builders – their English is as bad as my Swahili – but that seems to work out pretty well!
The water situation is still fine – we have plenty for the camp and the project. I’ve found out that actually the problem was more of an organisational one – the villagers are meant to pay a small amount for the well water which is then collected and used for diesel – but for some reason this process had broken down. HAPA are working with the villagers to get this scheme running properly now. It’s very interesting for me to learn that some problems here may not be lack of means or infrastrcuture but are actually down to poor leadership/organisation. HAPA tell us that the village leaders are elected but often have no experience and get no training - so one of their goals is educating the leaders to better organise things.
Work wise this week we made more bricks for the toilet block (construction now underway) and we also painted all the celings with lime to prepare them for painting. The builders have also made good progress plastering the walls. In addition this week we went to the school to distribute the uniforms and equipment we bought (with HAPA’s help). There was a camera there – I’m sceptical but apparently it was for national TV! (oops – should have washed!)
Oh I bought a new cheap phone btw. Still can’t get over the fact that there is no tarmac for 100km but I have a full mobile signal!
There is a possibility you won’t hear from me next week as we have been invited to a party at the primary school. If I go to that I may not be able to come to Singida as well.
Best wishes all,
