Unfinished business

I have so many unfinished projects and with the end of my contract fast approaching I need to start tying up loose ends. But the unfinished projects are multiplying!

Today another DFAT funds project started to take physical shape – the vertical garden that will be used to grow leafy vegetables and herbs.  It is constructed of plastic guttering supported by metal brackets that are attached to wooden battens fixed to the cement and brick side wall at the Centre.  I drew diagrams and explained very carefully to the fundi what was needed – and he has done very well!  He had brackets made that have the screw holes 50mm apart which could have been tricky to attach to 50mm wide timber but it’s fine if you put the screws in at a 45^o angle! We’ve tested the slope on the guttering and the water will flow the right way – something our plumbers at home have never managed.

The enterprise project had a successful excursion on Wednesday.  We visited the places wazungu go to buy their souvenirs as research for our potential small business.  The students loved Shanga – the tour we were given was excellent! The students also had their first visit to the Cultural Heritage Centre.  

We checked out prices of second-hand towels and fabric for the washable / reusable sanitary pads but also looked at kitenge and shuka for making aprons, tablecloths & napkins and stuffed toys. The students enjoyed the lunch of chips with coleslaw and soda. 

It was my first experience with the new deregulated bus system. Instead of all the daladalas doing one route, in our case Njiro to Bus stand and return, they are now doing multiple routes.  So we waited for a daladala that was painted with Njiro – Kisongo so wouldn’t need to change buses.  The conda was not pleased when we asserted our right to actually be taken to Kisongo – he wanted to turn around at the stand and head back to Njiro! He sulked a bit but we eventually were taken to where the sign on the bus said it was going.

The sanitary pad enterprise is at a bit of a standstill currently.  We have quite a bit of fabric cut but are still waiting for the funds for the sewing machine to be released to a local Rotary Club.  The process for getting money promised by overseas Rotary Clubs is quite cumbersome. There needs to be a local club to act as partner and funds are channelled through that way. We are currently focussing on packaging and advertising.  The students are trying to come up with a name for their product – “Brilliant washable reusable pads” is their current suggestion, I’m not convinced!

Today the second of the Canadian volunteers we’ve had with us for the last few months finished up.  I am very sad to see them gone.  Today’s departee has been working on the Life Skills curriculum and with our Social Worker as well as on the Sponsorship side of things.  She has done amazing work! Last week’s departee was working with the Director and Office Manager on proper accounting practices to make us more organised and transparent.  Both the girls have been so much fun to work with.  I made them lamingtons for a goodbye token. They had enjoyed them at our Australia Day BBQ and you evidently can’t get them in Canada!

Improvisation is very important here.  The subject for sport was Volleyball.  The students (and teacher) had never played and it was raining so we couldn't be outside.  So I taught them all the basics in the classroom using a blow-up world globe for a ball and two tables stacked for a net.  Everyone had loads of fun and hopefully all will go well when they play outside on the paddock using the new net.

The social life continues unabated – chicken and chips at Nick’s Pub last week to farewell the Canadiennes; pizza and beer last night at Le Patio where there was a very good cover band.  A Tanzanian friend who was with us was amused at we older Australians singing along enthusiastically with “One bourbon, one scotch, one beer” and “Hit the road Jack”! Dancing was also attempted.

I’m off to do the shopping now. I need purple and green fabric for the students to make bunting as an International Women’s Day craft activity – they will also design t-shirts with suitable slogans and sing Helen Reddy’s “I am woman”. I also need to look for what the enterprise leader calls “umbrella fabric” to make the pads leak resistant and more “Brilliant”.

More soon, hopefully a report on a successful International Women's Day event with video of the singing - the boys are loving being "invincible" though it sometimes comes out as "I am invisible"!