Back with PIWAMP

14th June - 21st June

This week I returned to work with PIWAMP on my own. The more I am spending time at PIWAMP with Keba, Mr. Bulago and others, the more I realize how much I will miss it!

On Tuesday, 15th June we went back to Bondal Joli to follow up on the road construction. This village is fortunate to have excellent gravel right next to the road.[Gravel pit in Bondal Joli]

The project is coming along, but government supplies of concrete were suppose to arrive three months ago, and are still delayed. The concrete is used to reinforce the water channels, over roadways and for spillway construction. The first rains of the rainy season are beginning to fall. Without the concrete construction finished, much of the work will need to redone with the erosion from the torrential rains.
On the way back, we came across a car accident and waited to give someone a ride. The roads are in the process of being resurfaced, but at the moment are in terribly bmpy condition. Due to the roads someones brake line was hit, and they crashed into a road bank.

Stopping for about an hour meant that I got to take some pictures of the sweet culverts being built right by (for Adam :) ).[Sweet culvert construction on south bank highway]

Before going home, we stopped in Bulok to check the water diversion work for erosion prevention. Needs some tweaking and concrete, but working so far!

From Thursday till Friday Jordan joined me to go on an upcountry trip with Keba to Sapu. In Sapu there is a project underway to use tidal irrigation for rice fields. We left Thursday late morning after dropping and picking people up.

There are always interesting characters you meet during travels. Here I will introduce this guy from Egypt who is working with PIWAMP for four years, called Hussein. Hussein is a civil engineer with expertise in water management who is obsessed with taking pictures...of everything and everyone! He enthusiastically documented every aspect of our trip, until the batteries on his camera ran out (thank goodness).[Hussein making Jordan his photographer]

We stayed overnight at the biggest agriculture center in the country. Originally build in the 50s, and being host to many projects over the years (including World Bank sponsored projects in the 80s), the center is in a huge state of disrepair. Hussein describes our overnight house as 'miserable', and I would tend to agree with him. But, what is life without a little adventure and a leaky roof in a thunderstorm!?

Friday morning we visited the river hoping to see hippos, but unfortunately we could not spot any.[Gambia River near Sapu]

Picking up our local market fried beans in a bun for breakfast we went to the rice fields. We spent two hours just driving around the periphery of the fields. This project is huge!!! Thousands of people will be able to farm rice in these two huge sections of rice fields.

Large water channels with gates to control the water levels and allows water to flood and then drain out of the fields as to the need of the farmer. The field is an intricate maze of channels all eventually exiting back into the River Gambia. A massive dyke has been build around the area to keep external water out. Rice plants need a very specific water level in order to grow, but once harvested, the field needs to be drained in order to replant. When counting on the rains alone, farmers will get one yearly harvest of crops. With irrigation, farmers can harvest their fields two or three time (depending on the crop).

Even with this huge rice field project, which is a livelihood for thousands, the country still imports about 30% of the required rice supply. The green fields and water channels are simply gorgeous! Thousands of acres of green, an oasis in an otherwise currently arid landscape.[Submerged rice field in Sapu]

On the drive back Jordan and I decided to sit in the back of the pick up truck, much to Keba's amusement and Hussein's horror. We got absolutely filthy with the dust from the road, saw the best sunset here yet, and had the most fun I have had yet!

On Saturday we all went to the beach (as per usual) and then a pool bbq at a friends near by. Not a bad day off!

This Sunday we were able to visit an Alkalo (village leader or chief) in Tujering. In Tujering they use the method of Community Policing, instead of having to involved the local police for conflict situations. Anyone can bring forth a complaint against someone (from Tujering, or neighbouring villages) and the council (consisting of both men and women) will hear both sides, and help attain a settlement which both sides will agree to. This is an extremely effective way to resolve conflicts, without wasting time, money or causing further problems. The Alkalo strongly believes in this method, and is the one who set it up in Tujering. Taking matters to the police can also result in more serious rulings.

It has been a fantastic week, and I can only savour my last five days here!