I would like to introduce you to a group of individuals whom I am calling "The Magicians of Uganda". No, they are not like Las Vegas magicians performing illusions to wow their audiences, but they are performing acts of magic every day in the villages and urban centres of Uganda. I suspect that these hard working, inspiring people would be embarrassed to be called magicians, but day in and day out they are transforming the lives of their fellow Ugandans by bringing WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) projects to the communities where they work. Trust me, there is no magic wand waving or wiggling of a Bewitched nose - but the results of the diligent, creative work that is being done - is nothing short of magical.
Magician # One - Cate Nimanya - WaterCan Country Representative for Uganda
Cate is WaterCan's "eyes, ears and feet on the ground" for Uganda. She is an extraordinary woman: she holds a Master's Degree in International Development and Environmental Science from the University of Netherlands; she is the mother of four (her youngest are twins); she manages the projects of several NGO's including WaterCan; she is able to plan a whirlwind week of work, study, tour for 10 wide eyed Canadians at the drop of a hat...she knows where to get the best TONTO (local banana moonshine); she looks like she's stepped out of the pages of VOGUE most days; she uses multiple devices at once to communicate with the seemingly endless queue of folks that need to talk/text/email with her; and she maintains her cool in an ethereal way - KALI, KALI...it's all going to work out just fine.
As a working mother of a large family myself, I felt particularly connected to Cate. We had many opportunities to walk and talk together during my stay in Uganda. Cate went out of her way to introduce me to local leaders and to ensure that I was engaging with the workers and children in meaningful ways. Cate's motto for our tour was "We will make that happen", and she was true to her motto. WaterCan is fortunate to have such a professional, compassionate community leader working with the local NGO's to ensure excellence in project implementation.
Magician # Two - Johnnie Wasswa - VAD (Voluntary Action for Development) Technology Adviser and Project Manager
Johnnie is definitely a "thumbs up" kind of man! He is the water technology adviser for VAD (Voluntary Action for Development) and a community project director. His positive attitude and let's work together approach allow him to work with community leaders to bring safe, clean water to homes and schools in the Wakiso District.
I witnessed Johnnie's kind of magic in action when we visited Sacred Heart Nalubudde Primary School. We had just toured the school facilities, including the new WaterCan latrines and hand washing station and we then hiked down a very steep hill to the site of an open water source. It was sweltering hot, people were being warned of the likelihood of snakes, the group gathered around the stream included the school children, members of the parent committee, local farmers, VAD workers and our WaterCan cohort. In short, there were a ton of people gathered around the site that looked like a ditch with a couple of plastic pipes spouting water. We were informed that this was the nearest spot to fetch water for the school and the neighboring communities. It was not a safe or sanitary water source.
While we were all gathered, one of the farmers launched into an appeal to VAD to burn out all of the surrounding grasses in order to drive away the snakes that were a threat to all who came to fetch water there. Well, in response to this plea, Johnnie became a consummate diplomat and water conservation expert. We observed him consult on the spot with the farmer, conduct a preliminary water source feasibility survey and propose a more sustainable solution to the community water source challenge. What could have become a hostile exchange with a frustrated citizen, turned into a community mobilization meeting. When we left, Johnnie had arranged to meet with the stakeholders to implement an "ordinary spring" project that would be effective within a week.
On the bus ride back to town, Johnnie explained that the stresses on the community during drought season are overwhelming.However, the quickest solution is rarely the best solution. He had been in consultation with the community about the proper diversion of the water source and they had determined what would be the simplest, most sustainable way to get the water safely to families. The actual building of the spring bed and proper piping would only take a few days - but the consultation prior to installation had taken weeks. Johnnie had demonstrated patience and expertise when he was challenged by the farmer - he was able to turn the situation around so that the frustrated farmer felt that his concerns were valid and that he was going to get a resolution to his serious problem. Johnnie worked his magic in the field in a most humble unassuming manner.
Magician # Three - Ann Kyohairwe - Water Conservation Engineer and Project Coordinator for JESE (Joint Effort to Save the Environment)
Wow this woman is powerful! She is an Engineer by training and an articulate and effective project manager in the field. Ann works with both community committees and school leaders to implement clean water projects for JESE (Joint Effort to Save the Environment). We spent two days with her - the first day was at the JESE offices where she gave a fantastic presentation on the whole process of Clean Water, Hygiene and Sanitation project implementation. We also were toured around the demonstration site where I was introduced to the BEST LATRINE I have ever seen (more about latrines in a later post) and a Biomass fuel generator.
On our second day with Ann, we drove into the rural village area of Kijwaga where she had arranged to have a tour of a well construction site that was in process and several households in the adjoining village. What an eye opener this day was - all because of Ann's expert planning. At the well site - we actually met with the mason who was constructing the well - we learned about the building materials and how the mortar is made to seal the bricks. There were welcomes and presentations by all the local dignitaries - it was clear that the community looked up to Ann and was grateful for her advice and support.
We then walked along a long path to the village that would use the new well for their water. Along the way we were treated to freshly harvested and peeled sugar cane. Once in the village we toured three households that Ann had selected to give us a complete perspective on the spectrum of lowest to highest standards in household practices. The lowest on the spectrum was the home of a childless couple: the house was built of very sub-standard materials, there was no evidence of good hygiene practices and after the visit we were enlightened by Ann that the man was the village "drunkard". In terms of receiving JESE services he was not a good candidate because he simply would not put any education into practice, nor would he advocate for proper hygiene and sanitation at home. He was very demanding of us - wanting our WaterCan group to buy him a new roof - or just give him some money... a great lesson in discernment and resource management for all of us.
The second home was the home of the Water Committee Chairperson. This home was clearly well managed and maintained. While there, we had a few words with the wife, Veronica, who told us that she had to walk 1/2 hour each way to fetch water and she needed to make a minimum of three trips per day. That is three hours of every day that she is devoting just to get water! Even with all of her knowledge and training in healthy and safe water practices, the water she gets is "dirty" it needs to be boiled and properly stored. She has three children and is a very articulate and passionate advocate for improved water service to her household.
The final home was the village Elder's home. It was obviously the home of a "wealthy" family. We were invited to come into the sitting room for a proper welcome. By touring us through the three households, Ann had demonstrated vividly the capacity for change and improvement within a community - and the importance of knowing with whom to invest time and resources.
Magician # Four - Joannitah (Joanne) Nassuuma - CIDI (Community Integrated Development Initiatives) Project Manager
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| Joanne (right) with WaterCan kiosk manager, Jane |
When I think of Joanne, I am awestruck. She is a quiet spoken, brilliant, dare I say regal, community worker whose work is in the Kampala slums.(look for a later post on life in the slums) Our day with Joanne started as each day did, in the office for formal introductions and presentations. Joanne delivered her Power Point presentation with the usual confidence and expertise that we had grown accustomed to in our previous meetings with the WaterCan NGO's. It wasn't until we were in the field (in Joanne's field) that the profound nature of her work was revealed. Joanne works in the slums of Kampala. She works face to face with grinding poverty and conditions that are inconceivable to a Westerner. There is not one moment of pity or sadness wasted when you are walking with Joanne - she is all business and empowerment - she has a clear vision of what her clients need - and moreover, how to mobilize the community to make a difference.
Joanne organized an afternoon in her "hood" that was lively, educational, and nothing short of inspiring. We stopped by three WaterCan sponsored water kiosks, two public latrines, and we met with a woman (pictured above with Joanne) who has turned her life completely around with the support of Joanne, CIDI and funds from WaterCan. Joanne explained to us that prior to being involved with a WaterCan intervention, Jane was a fishmonger, widow, mother of 6 children whose children rarely attended school for want of funds, and who was only able to feed her children one meager meal per day. Jane approached Joanne about having a water kiosk built on her property. After going through all of the preliminary consultation and filing the necessary paperwork, Jane was deemed an appropriate candidate to manage a community water kiosk.
Now, Jane is an independent business woman. She has a bank account, (less than 1% of Ugandans have a bank account) she keeps impeccable records of all of the water transactions at her kiosk. All of her children are attending school because she now is able to afford their fees for books, uniforms and the secondary school tuition. And she is able to provide her family with 2 nourishing meal a day. Jane is clearly an enterprising woman, it is with Joanne's mentoring that she has been able to become a successful business woman, and a proud mother and community leader.
Jane is but one example of the "magic" that Joanne is quietly performing every day in the Kampala slums. Joanne, a solitary woman in the slums, is inspiring hundreds of residents to improve their lives by offering them realistic solutions to affect change and to break free from the shackles of poverty.
Magicians # Five and Six - KDF's (Kyakulumbye Development Foundation) Doreen Nallie and Diana Namudda
Our last day in the field was spent in the Mpigi District with two mind blowing Diva's of Development: Doreen and Diana.
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| Doreen (Right) facilitating a class on Menstrual Management |
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| Diana beaming after a successful day celebrating WaterCan |
Just when I thought I had seen it all....along came the dynamic Development duo of Doreen and Diana. Doreen is the Health and Sanitation Education Director for KDF (WaterCan's newest development partner in Uganda) and Diana is the Lugaaga Umea Primary School Health Officer and Project Coordinator.
These young women work together to support the WaSH program in their district. I was also delighted to discover that the school that we visited is the AVEDA partner school that is a direct recipient of our Walk for Water funds. We arrived on Saturday afternoon by bus and as we drove up to the school it was obvious something big was about to transpire - the entire school population along with every member of the community was lined up singing a greeting to us. All of the children were wearing WaterCan crowns. Welcome WaterCan Supporters! Long Live WaterCan Supporters!
The whole community was assembled to honour WaterCan! The day was organized to be a festival celebrating all of the initiatives that have been implemented with the assistance of WaterCan. What a celebration! Organized entirely by Diana and Doreen, every community dignitary was present, the community prepared and served a huge luncheon, not only for the WaterCan group, but for the whole community. There were speeches, demonstration classes, tours, and of course there was singing and dancing! I attended a Menstrual Management class facilitated by Doreen - and I have to say that a learned a whole new way of managing "that time of the month". We were led on a tour of the entire school to see the new VIP latrines sponsored by WaterCan, the Hand Wash stations, the water collection tanks and the new demonstration Water Jug. Diana had worked with the Health and Hygiene Club on a beautiful performance and the afternoon was completed with a splendid Dance for Water, choreographed and performed by Diana and her Health and Hygiene Club. What was even more impressive was the thunder storm that bid us farewell - Diana's dance was not only entertaining - but magical! Let there be water...
What a magical way to finish our work study tour. I will forever be indebted to the brilliant young men and women who so graciously hosted our group. The six individuals I have featured here are heroes - they are saving lives and improving conditions for thousands of Ugandans every day. What a privilege to know them, I will continue to work tirelessly to raise the funds that fuel the projects supported by WaterCan. As Doreen said, "Keep Walking for Water!"
