Friday in Dalbaza & Qanqo
We had another big day today. We went to the second part of Qanqo, again on motorbikes to save absolutely hours of walking but there was still a lot of extremely steep and slippery walking in hot and humid conditions. We were under the impression that this project was finished and we were a bit disappointed to find that it isn’t done yet. However, the spring has been developed and this involved more work than originally thought to excavate rock (by hand of course) and also to divert the flood waters from coming down the rock face above and destroying the development. One community has their waterpoint, washing table and cattle trough finished. The other community’s facilities are underway but they are using their beautiful new water because the piping has been laid from the spring to them, even though the waterpoint, table and trough are still being built.
Once again we had two absolutely huge welcomes as we entered the communities - everyone was dressed in their best clothes and they danced and chanted their thanks and blessings. I was presented with flowers, we were given lunch, and everyone wanted to say hello and shake hands. Wherever we went through the mountains, people greeted us warmly, the motorbike I was on was even stopped a number of times by people wanting to give their thanks. It was very humbling and very emotional.
In communicating with Lou yesterday, I found out that we have a nice amount of money in the bank after we pay the balance on the unfinished project. This amount should be more than enough to complete a site near Waraza that is next on the water office’s priority list. This community is absolutely desperate. I think I mentioned in a previous update that some of the men have come to see me on each of my three tours this year because everyone in their community is ill. When I looked into the faces of the men this week, I felt lost. So to find we have money in the account is just wonderful. Our plan is to visit their community tomorrow (Saturday), talk to the people, and see the water office’s plans. By Monday I intend to have a contract with an agreed price for labour and a shopping list for all the hardware, stone, sand, cement etc that we need. We will purchase the project can then get under way.
The other thing that happened today was that a representative of another very large community in Qanqo (Qanqo is an area) came again to see us. His community of about 4,000 people are also in terrible need of water. Yalew and I decided to go to look at the ideas for the site. We don’t normally do this if we don’t have money BUT I figured that we have a fundraiser coming up, we have donors and the money always seems to come. It is also not an enormous amount of money. I’m guessing around AUD 50K. We will have a price for labour and a shopping list by Monday so we will have a better idea of total cost. I intend to have this contract agreed to on Monday. If we have a contract ready to go, then once the money comes in, Yalew will give them the go ahead. It means we don’t have to come back and it saves a lot of money and time.
I spent the last hour of my day in the field washing faces and hands with my new best friends who are all much much shorter than me. These children are at Dalbaza which is our starting point to go to Qanqo - so we have spent some lovely time together - and today was one of those times.
Living the dream,
Catherine