Construction 101

Greetings from the land of latrine building.

So, let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…..

When the project began Saleh, our partner, gathered the school together and introduced the latrine project. He introduced himself as the chief engineer, Sulah, the contractor as the engineer, and myself as the boss. I have lost my name of Ketty for St. Stephens and now hear the greeting of, “Hello Boss”.  ***sidenote I cannot help but think of the movie Australia with “mrs boss” running through my head.

Before any work could happen on the latrine we had to empty the rubbish from the pit. The whole team came and we began a true African cleanup. We scooped trash and food waste into potato sacks and pulled them up with ropes and created a rubbish heap. After clearing the debris construction could begin.

When you begin building a latrine it begins by going on a very intense trip to the “hardware store”. By hardware store I mean a hole in the wall with access to all building supplies.  I spent a few hours ordering supplies and watching countless bags of cement being loaded onto a very small truck. Then the meters of twisted metals, a few jerricans of paint, red oxide, and variety of nails and off we went.

Building in Uganda is a totally different experience. Okay, I realize I don’t have a lot of experience in the building world but I feel like I understand the basic working of construction sites as I have worked for construction foremen and had many friends who have worked construction.

Here they don’t wear shoes, or if they do they wear gum boots- or rain boots-, we do all the digging and trimming by hand with hoes and spades (shovels) Also- we reuse iron sheets for roofing even when they are worn out. We reuse nails that have been removed from previous projects and we use plastic jerricans as mortar pans.

After all the materials were delivered we met the team of workers that are helping us figure out how to building Africa. Sulah is our contractor, and he is HILARIOUS. He loves to have his picture taken and wear his contractors coat (which is just a painters over coat).

Anyways after we cleared the rubbish we (mainly the workers who knew what they were doing) trimmed the sides of the pit to be the appropriate size for the tank. It was amazing to watch the skills they have with a hoe.

Then we moved the hardcore. Yep. Hardcore is a building supply here. Hard core is a load of large boulders that we put beneath the downslab (foundation) of the pit. We did three layers of hardcore mixed with backfill dirt. Then a layer of aggregate (or smaller rocks to fill in the holes). We do not want the latrine to sink because that would be really bad if it detaches from the topslab. The hardcore and aggregate are used to strengthen and keep that from happening. Then we pour the downslab...

Pouring the downslab sounds simple enough until you take into consideration we do everything by hand here… even ferrying water. We had a 2-3km walk to the water source where we filled out jerricans with 20-30 liters of water and carried it back to the site where they quickly dumped it on our cement mixing plant… aka an arrangement of bricks in the yard where we mix the cement, river sand, and water and create cement.

The next great task of the week was brick ferrying. Due to the location of the new latrine we had to have the truck drop the bricks in the front courtyard. However, the latrine is in the back courtyard and the only way to move bricks is with our hands and occasionally a wheelbarrow. Let me tell you handmade bricks are HEAVY… and really dirty.

We then began to build the walls of the  underground tank system. This latrine is again designed to be emptied by truck making it wholly sustainable which is really amazing. The students have been so receptive and thankful. Thursday when we went to work there was a student named sarah who came to me and told me she had not a lot to give me to show her gratitude but then handed me two tomatoes and said she was very grateful for all that we were doing to help her school.

I have been so humbled  by the people I have met out in bukawaka ( village where the school is) they are so poor but so willing to help with the project. We had countless children help us pathetic muzungus carry water on our shoulders. The people in town have given us great deals on tools and jerricans.

All in all the project has been completely overwhelming with all the logisitics but it has been the most fulfilling project because I have been so physically involved. Maybe I will become a construction forman when I come home…. New life plan? Who knows!

Love,

Boss.

Greetings from Buvuma

Wow wow wow fam its been  a long time but in all fairness I have been on an island in the middle of lake Victoria for the last week.

Yep, that happened. This last week was fantastic! But before I get to that the week before was chalk full as well!

First off we finished the Garden at the Orphanage! I love working with Dan and am so thankful for the work that he does!

Last week I learned so much! I learned how to make black African soap(almost) and paper beads! We are teaching the young girls at daughters of zion to make paper beads with the hope that they will make enough money to pay for their own school fees.  I have learned that I am HORRIBLE at making paper beads because I lack what we have dubbed “African hands” the 9 year old girls we are teaching are already better than me! It is amazing to me that they can make beautiful jewelry out of old calendars and magazines. Africans amaze because they can make something out of nothing. I used to think that was just a phrase that everyone said too often, “make something out of nothing” but it really is the mentality of the people I have met here.

We are attempting to make soap with our partner NaPaDa in the village outside of Senior Quarters. We are struggling to nail down exactly how to finish making the soap as materials are limited in the Mbale area but we will hopefully work out the kinks this week. However, our process this week did involve Kaitlyn and I harvesting banana leaves and burning them with Chris in an outdoor fireplace and oven.

The end of the week consisted of working on the information for the Latrine that we hope to build. Check out the fundraiser at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/st-stephens-latrine  Most of my time was spent videoing and gathering information. If you know anything about construction you may or may not be getting some questions in the next few weeks!

Then we celebrated the 4^th of July! It is my favorite holiday and it was really sad to not be in the USA. We spent our time eating Indian food in Africa, which was delicious, but it was not a barbeque next to a pool in America. However ,I spent a lot of time reflecting on the wonderful country that I am a citizen of. I have learned many great things about Uganda, but the freedoms I enjoy in the United States will always be close to my heart. I am grateful for all who have and currently serve in the armed forces. I am grateful for the founding fathers the many sacrifices that were made in an effort to bring our country to fruition.

The weekend came and went quickly as we prepared to go to Buvuma Island for the week.

Monday we left at 430 am. Yep, the crack of ugly. We took a 3 ½ hour taxi ride to Jinja, then continued to the ferry, waited forever… or a few hours, for the ferry to take us to the island. 

The Ferry was an hour long ride to Buvuma where we met our partner and again another taxi ride to where we would stay. We pitched our tents, literally, and made our camp for the week.  After our long day of travel we went to bed early because our work began Tuesday in the early morning.

We began the program by teaching some of the women in the community to make RUMPS  or Reusable Menstrual Pads, I have never sewed so much by hand but it was amazing to help with the project. These women were so grateful. It might be too much information for some, but women here use leaves and twigs to try and control the menstrual cycle.  The reality is that girls drop out of school because they do not have supplies or sanitary ways of caring for themselves and they remain home. Our hope in teaching the older women is that they can replicate it for their own daughters and other women in the community.

Then we went to the primary school on one side of the island and distributed already made kits to them. They had a drama prepared for us which is one of my favorite things about visiting schools here in Uganda.

***Days for girls is an amazing organization if you are interested in sewing these RUMPS from home. We had ladies in Utah sew over 150 of them for us to distribute at it was such a big blessing!  So check them out if you need a new sewing project!  http://www.daysforgirls.org/

The next day we went to another island on a fishing boat. Yep, we all climbed in an African fishing boat and crossed lake Victoria. 

We went and did two immunization outreaches. Here it is illegal to not immunize your children but access to clinics is so limited that many go without access to these immunizations. So instead, we brought the immunizations to them. We also gave deworming pills to all the children that were immunized. Worms are a huge problem here in Uganda, especially in impoverished areas. So we have done deworming at a few outreaches.

Then some of us left and went to the secondary school to deliver more RUMPS. This was my favorite part of the outreach on the island because it was amazing to see how little these women know about their bodies. Some of the misconception comes from tribal beliefs, but most of the misconceptions come from men. Don’t get me wrong I am not bashing men in general. But so many girls end up as mothers at 15 and 16 because of men forcing themselves on them. Young men are not taught respect to women and are held much higher than women in their culture. I was so grateful for the opportunity to educate the girls one their value and their body!

The next full work day on the island we did an HIV/AIDS testing day in one of the fishing villages. I was in charge of registration and then recording results. I again had an emotional reaction as I checked the small box that would change those peoples life forever. The registration process was long so I got to know many of the people being tested. Then I was given their results  and I knew that they would soon get the worst news. We were so excited that we were able to do the testing day as the villagers do not have access to testing facilities on the island but it reaffirmed my inability to work in the medical field.

We also did sanitation education while we were there but I was doing registration so was not involved. Then we took yet again another long drive back to our home base and had quite the surprise that night.

Our partner purchased a goat for us. Yep, a goat. And then we slaughtered and ate it. It was one of the most horrifying and amazing cultural experiences here. Goat is considered a delicacy here in Uganda and is very expensive so it was a great honor for them to buy it for us. But part of the tradition is to have the guests witness and participate in the slaughtering and skinning. Then we roasted it. I will spare you the gory pictures, but it really was fun once I wasn’t thinking about the goat anymore !

Then we traveled back our long journey to Mbale. We were all exhausted after sleeping on the floor all week in tents but it was worth it to rough it to see the joy in their faces on Buvuma. We had one taxi impounded, one taxi driver arrested, one tire blow out, and one loud explosion from our taxi on our ride back home but we all made it safe and sound. We all anxiously showered for the first time that week and slept well on our 3 inch foam mattresses!

Hannah and I spent the day enjoying Mbale while others went on a safari. I have truly fallen in love with Mbale and every aspect of the town. Bodabodas continue to be one of my favorite things and I have made many bodaboda driver friends. However, I am also apparently engaged to someone back home because I got sick of saying no to proposals. So to the poor guy that doesn’t know we are engaged back home,thanks!

I love you all! I cannot believe how quickly time is flying here and am sad that we will be saying goodbye to the second wave of volunteers this week. Here is to another great 5 weeks in Mbale!

Love,
Ketty

Taxi Tears

Well my friends, the time has come for an emotional post. It has been six wonderful weeks, with many more to come, in this beautiful country but this week has just been one of those weeks. The kind of week that where I cry. Now if you know me… which I hope you do since you are reading my blog… I do not cry often but I have been overwhelmed emotionally as of late. It has not been any specific village, project, or family. No smell, sight, or sound has worn me down. But today on a taxi ride back from painting the Busuega Clinic that I reflected on my time so far.

Beautiful Sunrise

Unfortunately as I try to put into words what I have seen, smelled, and felt. They aren’t things I can describe- you just need to experience them for yourself. I realize that not everyone will have the opportunity to come to Mbale and do that, but you can go into your own town and put yourself in someone else’s life, experience their hardships and have a similar experience.

Mud drenched Trading post

Today we left the clinic and immediately made it to a trading center in Buseuga. One the corner stood a little girl in less that rags with ring worm all over her scalp. She was drinking orange murky water from a plastic bag. She sat there waiting while her mother made and sold Chapatti. I drove on in our transport and couldn’t do anything to change her life. I couldn’t give her clothes; I had none to give. I couldn’t give her clean water; I had already used all of mine.

Then we went to the taxi stage in Bunoba and a woman continually called out Muzungu you give me, you give me. She wore a thread bare shirt with a skirt that more holes than not. I have become accustomed to people asking me for money but today it struck a chord that I was not able to ignore.

Then we continued down the LONG, BUMPY road and we passed herds of children dressed in uniforms leaving their schools to go find lunch. But the reality is that most, if not all, will just find a bit of sugar cane to chew on to curb their hunger.

Just a snack of a little sugar cane

We continued through the beautiful greenery with goats tied to the side of the road, cows taking all the room on the road, and mud huts dotting the landscape. And I cried.

Beautiful Mud Huts

Now I realize that that journey doesn’t seem too overwhelming when I write it out. But I have been overwhelmed by the poverty I have seen. The daily struggle that most of us have never dealt with is normal for all that I have met. This is not to say that there is not real struggle for us in the United States because there is. But things that tend to bother us and stress us out are things that people here have never even considered being worried about. For example: Yesterday at the clinic one of my teammates had to tell man he was dying of cancer and he was grateful for it being cancer and not AIDS. He was grateful to find out he was dying of something not as awful as AIDS.

Eventually our crowded taxi picked up an old woman carrying dried, fresh beans who only had 500 shillings but needed a rest on her journey so she paid 500 to see how far it would get her. Then she sadly got out and continued on the road.

A slightly upgraded mud hut

Our journey ended being dropped off at the taxi stage in the center of Mbale. Hordes of people swarm those getting off of the taxis to purchase their trinkets and fresh fried food. There is waste and mud covering the pavement and exhaust filling the air. After shooing away the many vendors we got on our Bodabodas and went home to our compound. This is so typical of our daily experience here in Africa. I wish I had the funds and time to help all around me find a way to improve their situation- but I can’t.

Mbale Town

Anyways, I don’t know that any of that made sense or painted an accurate picture for you at home. But that’s what I was thinking of as I cried on the taxi.

BUT- this last week was really great too! We have moved forward with starting many more projects.

Buvuma Island

We will be doing a project starting the 6^th of July on the Buvuma Islands, which is an island in Lake Victoria, that has no access to basically anything: clean water, electricity, trade, sanitation, feminine products. We will be hopefully alleviating a lot of that. Whitney, Jess, and I met with an NGO days for girls which supplies reusable menstrual pads and education programs to girls in developing countries. We are going to head a program while we are there that not only delivers some already made kits, but teaches them to make them by hand so that it is a sustainable project.  Our team will also provide education on sanitation, clean water, and family planning.  There is a lot to do in preparation for the island project but we are anxious for it to begin.

I am also a lead on a project that I talked a little bit about already – painting the Busuega clinic. This is a clinic run by one of our partners Dr. Jan White at Joy Hospice. She began this clinic in 1999 in some rented out rooms near its location now. She constructed the clinics permanent structure in 2003 and now the government has come in and threatened to shut it down because the outside is not painted. I try not to be frustrated with the government while I am here. Every government has flaws, but I am living in this country and try and respect the organization here. However, this is really frustrating to me. Jan is in her 70’s and working basically for free and has been for the last 30 or so years. The government has charged her fees and threatened the shut down because of paint? So we are helping her as she has helped us with many medical projects here already this summer. The clinic has a main building, a staff quarters, and a latrine that all need to be painted. We finished one building yesterday and will go back this week and next week to finish painting the outside walls. But the great thing is that by us finishing painting the building 1000’s of people will still have access to health care in the remote village. So give me that paint brush and we will save some lives.

Child of Hope

We finished Girl Power last week and that was awesome. The girls were so great. We had a great turn out from the parents which was Fantastic! There is not usually much parent support at schools here in Uganda but they showed up for this and the smiles on the girls faces were so amazing to see as they found their parents!

Daughters of Zion also continued and we did a mini dance class with Bradi before she left for the United States. P.s. I miss her! Today we will continue with Daughters of Zion and be teaching the some music and singing some songs… wish me luck!

Two days ago we also helped at the orphanage again. We helped plant a garden. Not your typical US garden though. We transplanted 25 matooke trees and 25 banana trees. We planted a few hundred coffee plants and will help with maize in the next few weeks. Let me tell you gardening here is hard. It is straight volcanic clay in that area and we are all still pretty sore… I guess we aren’t all born to be African gardeners…. But I am determined to be!

Children at the Orphanage peeking in window

Last but certainly not least I began the budget for some big projects we are hoping to be able to do this summer: One being the building of a Latrine and one being the building of the vocational school. Now you might be asking what do I know about construction? Yeah, well I am asking that same thing. BUT in true Ugandan fashion- it needs to be done so let’s do it. You will be hearing a lot about it as time goes on but I am in the process of submitting budgets  and getting approvals.

Time is running out now but I want you all to know that I love you. And even though it can be an emotional run here- I love every minute of being here.

Love,

Ketty