Final Update from Uganda!

Happy 2009! Here in Uganda, Keren and I finished up 2008 on a very high note: we hosted another Children's Hygiene Fair; we completed our survey of 2006/2007 filters, measuring overall usage over this period (with outstanding results!); we wrote a corresponding report, providing data for future research; we wrote a new project proposal, requesting funds for the next three years; we helped another NGO with their proposal to SP Germany; we organized the SP Kamwenge (the area in which we are working) Christmas party (so much fun!); and we went on a lovely beach holiday in Zanzibar (an island off of the coast of Tanzania)!

Time is flying by so unbelievably fast, yet we plan on accomplishing quite a bit more in our last couple of weeks: Excel tutorials for project manager, creative writing workshops for staff, and proposal revisions. It will be busy! Wish us luck!!!

We both are having very mixed feelings about the end of the internship; it will be exciting to come home to see our family and friends, yet so hard to leave Uganda and all the friends we have made. Both Keren and I are anxious to return to East Africa for full-time employment, so hopefully we can achieve this goal. Until then, we remain so very grateful for this unique opportunity to participate in this internship; we have learned so much and have developed so many skills that will undoubtedly benefit us in our future overseas endeavors. Thank you Samaritan's Purse!!!

November Update from Uganda

Keren and I have kept busy, learning all the different areas of the WATSAN program: BSF's, shallow wells, water jars, spring capping, VIP latrines, etc. Now it has come time for the team to decide where they will shift to next year. Several staff are currently on survey, interviewing over 10,000 homes to see which regions have the most needs. Keren and I are busily inputting this data into a spreadsheet; it's tedious, but we are glad to help! After all the data is collected and analyzed, Keren and I will write a report and proposal for next year's projects. Also, the Country Director has asked us to conduct a survey of our own, visiting the BSF beneficiaries of 2006 and 2007 to see if they are still using their filters. It has been a lot of work to organize, but we are ready to start surveying next week. We'll let you know how it all works out! At the end of last month, Keren and I also were able to execute two other independent projects: a children's hygiene fair at a local primary school (a fun-filled day with games, dramas, and lessons on the importance of hygiene and sanitation), and a writing workshop for the local staff. Both were very successful, so we are very happy to have found ways to contribute.

Updates from Uganda!

(photo: Keren and I with the newest WATSAN committee in Kichwamba South)

Well, Keren and I are LOVING it here in Uganda! The HWP (Household Water Project) is a well-oiled machine in these parts, so it is lovely to see a program function so well! We've become involved in so many different aspects of the program - construction, installation, follow-up, community meetings, community trainings, shallow wells, water jars, spring capping, proposal and report writing, seminar planning, and more!!! We have a lot of down time, so we have been trying to keep up with our language practice (the local language is called Runyankole, and it's REALLY tough!!!), visit with community members, and develop a health fair for local primary schools. We're also working on a writing workshop for local staff members to improve their report writing.

The weather has been FANTASTIC! The daily high averages about 27 degrees: not too hot, not too cold! We get rain usually once a day, but it only lasts for about a hour or two (just long enough to cool things down!). Keren and I still aren't tanned as much as we would like to be, but at least we're not completely white anymore! For our Christmas vacation, we're going to Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania. Perhaps here we will soak up the sun!!!

The people are SOOOO friendly here! Everyone waves and says hi to everyone else, and they really make us feel welcome. My personal fave is all the kids; they are RIDICULOUSLY beautiful and just so happy! That's the big difference between people here and most people back home; everyone is so happy, even though they don't have a lot of "stuff." People back home seem to be constantly obsessing about purchasing more and more, yet they're still not happy. I wish they could experience life here and realize that happiness is not measured by possessions or wealth. I'm sure all of you have also experienced the joy of this realization; let's not forget it once we return home!

I hope all of you are doing well! It's difficult to send updates, as we only have internet access once a week, but let's try to stay in touch! I can't believe October is almost over...time is flying by! It will be so hard to leave, yet seeing all of you again will be so wonderful! Until then, keep in touch, take care, and have fun!!!!

With love, Melissa

Pics from Training!

The Beautiful Interns...and that means you boys!