The past couple of weeks I have had meetings with both the women and the men in the village to discuss the problems they face and possible solutions. The discussions quickly turned into wish lists, but it was nevertheless interesting and productive to hold the meetings. While the women focused on getting mosquito nets and medicine for the children, the men (who are also more used to having meetings) informed me that a bridge really is needed to get from Madina to the road (to get in to the main town). During the rainy season a low point turns into a creek; I can attest to that fact since it happened on Monday. The kids had a great time swimming but it was fairly impassable. The second thing they would like to have is a health hut (a small clinic) so that they wouldn't have to go all the way to Missirah if they have a minor injury or malaria. They also mentioned a tractor and surprisingly, help with a watermelon garden. I'm going to gladly look for seeds while I am in Thies. I'm really thankful for some direction and especially direction that has come directly from the community.
The next 3 weeks will be spent doing the final part of our training in Thies. I'll get a bit more language (hopefully the right language this time) and some other technical training. I'm going to start to try to make contacts with local NGOs who might be able to fund or help with my new projects. I'm pretty excited to catch up with the other volunteers again and also to be in a city for a few weeks. (Namely, I can't wait for the food!)
Happy August!
2 comments:
Jamie,
Those pictures you recently posted are all beautiful. I really liked the couple with your hut with the landscape in the distance. I've been reading your blog but haven't posted yet--apologies! Well, I did try posting once, but through some gaffe somewhere between me and blogger's servers--in fairness, most likely an "end user error"--I lost the contents of my message and didn't have the heart to start over, plus it was bedtime. But I promise to drop you a line more regularly from now on!
It sounds like you're doing better with the language, or fretting less over the ups and downs. I hope so. I can empathize, having had a tough time myself with Chilean Spanish (not that Chilean was nearly as hard as learning French, Jaxanke and Bambar at the same time!)
Gotta go for now, so best wishes from SF.
Your partner in programs,
Joshua
P.S. Was that monkey dead when they found it, or did they kill it!?
Josh,
They said the dogs killed the monkey in the "woods" outside of our village, but who knows! I know they have tried to go hunting for them before wuth a shotgun... Country life in Africa! =)
Hope all is well in SF and eat a burrito in the Mission for me!
Jamie
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