Engineers Without Borders - Greater Cincinnati Professionals: Rwanda Project

would you like some starch to go with your starch?

2010-06-29T16:45:00.000-04:00

The last couple of days have been very interesting with our various project moving pretty rapidly. We have realised that the local innovativeness needs to be encouraged as well as local contribution to ideas and finances. The school project was going well until the worker was chased away by a teacher who was getting disturbed by the hammering of the gutter supports. The banana briquette project had a loyal band of followers. Johannah and her band of trash handlers wearing gloves of course learnt that briquettes can be made, dried and maybe burnt. But the local roosters certainly enjoyed the maggots that were leaving the briquettes, destroying some of the briquettes in the process.
We are way up on our carb loading with nothing but starch in our diet. We have very hospitable hosts. Tomorrow, some of us will make the 2 hour hike to N'tobwe while the rest will go to assess a potential water project at a healthcare centre in nearby village of Rubona. More when we get back!

Productive day in Muhororo

2010-06-26T15:40:00.000-04:00

The day started with a realisation that every last saturday in Rwanda is a public works day. Everywhere people are supposed to do public service jobs and no enterprises are supposed to be open. We managed to make measurements at the secondary school and got the headmaster to mobilise labour to start the digging process. At the orphanage as well, we located a tank site and the digging work began. Supplies were bought in Gitarama for the construction work. The project has begun on a good note. Lesson for the day: people can move a mountain in very little time!

Day 1 in Rwanda

2010-06-25T17:27:00.000-04:00

Kigali is bustling with all kinds of economic activity. There are many tall buildings in partial stages of construction, all 'gifts' from China to the people of Rwanda.
Spent the day walking around downtown area and visiting the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology. Made key contacts here and saw how a former military camp can be converted into an institution of education. Our drive to Muhororo was eventless other than some of riding with the luggage in the back of the pickup truck. Actually not a bad experience given the 60-70 degree weather and the improved roads, another gift from China. Tomorrow the fun starts!

Travel Day

2010-06-23T16:42:00.003-04:00

The team is sitting at Washington Dulles international, getting ready for the second leg to Brussels. Enjoyed watching the awesome USA win and the Germany/Ghana match. More updates from Rwanda when we get there tomorrow.

Travel day minus 1

2010-06-22T14:19:00.002-04:00

I just realised that I travel tomorrow; therefore I must pack tonight. The travel team has all its documents and various checklist items have been secured, purchased etc. Now to look forward to the 27 hour journey to Kigali, Rwanda and then the day long journey after that to Muhororo in Western Province of Rwanda.
Travel Team: Chuck Dragga, Bill Lennard, Johannah Itescu, Hansel Ramathal
Objective: Rainwater harvesting water systems for Muhororo Secondary school and for the neighbouring Orphanage.
Please visit here for more updates.

The Children!

2009-08-01T09:37:00.006-04:00

The kids at Ntobwe orphanage were having fun while we were there. They enjoy playing football (soccer) - with a ball made of old plastic bags wadded-up and tied into a ball with string.

Pat and Tom got a chance to teach a little English. The kids taught us some Kinyarwanda in return. They are much better students!

Murabeho (Goodbye) Rwanda

2009-07-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

Departing KGL... We are tired but feeling good about our accomplishments. Thanks to all of you that support EWB-GCP and our work in Rwanda. We could not do it without you! If you want to contribute or learn more about our work, please contact us through www.ewbgcp.org

Meeting at Secondary School

2009-07-24T22:47:00.000-04:00

After dinner with Fr Bernard at the Muhuroro parish rectory, we spent Friday morning with the headmaster of the secondary school. He was at the dinner as well, and we discussed project ideas. One potential is to capture the rain water off of the school roofs and store it for use on site. This would also significantly reduce erosion on the grounds.

We had a nice send-off performance from the kids and dinner with Srs. Patricia, Agnus and the young men that helped us throughout the week. Thank you Eric, Theoneste and Michael!

We are now on our way back home - very tired, but feeling that we accomplished our objectives, made new friends and in some ways, made life better for the people of Ntobwe, Rwanda. More to come...
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Tank Foundation

2009-07-24T06:42:00.000-04:00

In Ntobwe orphanage courtyard.
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More Water For Ntobwe!

2009-07-24T06:03:00.000-04:00

Things are going well, although as expected the plan has changed often. Chuck went to K today and met with the Peace Corps. Pat and I went to N to check project work there. Really good progress! The tank foundation is complete and the added source is operational. We piped the existing source to the spring box. Construction of the new source and headwall is underway. As a result, we know the large tank in N leaks as some amazi is streaming out the side! More opportunities!

Wild ride back to the M orphanage. 9 in a truck for 5 with 400 kilos of rice and 3 pieces of luggage. No problems until one of the bridge deck logs broke and a wheel was left hanging in mid air. Welcome to Africa.
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Wednesday Update

2009-07-23T08:36:00.000-04:00

We visited the "really remote source". Although touted as a great source, we found the same low flow rate as last year (pic comparison). It was a heck of a hike up to the source. I'm sure I saw Elvis on the way.

Last evening we met with Fr. Bernard and others at the church. We had a great discussion and plan to meet again Friday. BTW - he will be performing a wedding on Friday for 272 couples!

New Source Work

2009-07-22T09:06:00.001-04:00

Tuesday we spent most of the day at the new source (near the existing spring box/source). Amed and a large crew were in place and working by the time we arrived. There were approx 30 people digging and moving dirt and another 15-20 carrying rocks and sand on their heads to the site.

Great progress and we will return on Thursday to check progress, however all work will likely take 8-10 days to complete.

We hiked back to Muhuroro, arriving at dusk. We met Amed for a drink (Coke) at a local bar. We then walked to the orphanage by Pat's headlamp and the light of my gps - not recommended!

Materials at Ntobwe

2009-07-21T01:15:00.001-04:00

Monday the team split up, with Chuck going into Kigali with Amed and Pat and Tom walking to Ntobwe.

Chuck got materials from Sonotubes and others. They arrived in the evening to the orphanage in Ntobwe.

Pat and Tom surveyed the new water source, with quite a crowd watching. We also inspected the inside of the large tank. Water level was only 4" inside the 7' deep tank. We visited the clinic in Ntobwe and met with the nurse there.

Late night pricing negotiation by candlelight were a bit tense. We decided to finalize on a number of days to finish the project after digging Tuesday.

Sunday Update

2009-07-19T13:40:00.000-04:00

We went to church this morning, visited the Rusumo project site from last year and processed our water samples collected to date.

Highlights:
-Three hour mass with clapping at the consecration and about 2000 people in attendance.
-Water supply line to Rusumo market tap was rerouted due to new building construction. The tap is heavily used and appreciated by the villagers and their leaders.
-We had productive meetings with some village leaders and an immigration official.

To all past travellers, a big Rwandan "muraho" from the people you have worked with in the past.

Chuck says "hi Shell-bell".
Pat says "mom, the garlic's working".
Tom says "why do I have better cell service in Muhuroro than Loveland?"

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Saturday Update

2009-07-18T12:49:00.000-04:00

We are back in M. Good day with Sr, Amed and others.

Current plan is to get supplies for the small tank on Monday and deliver them to N. Mon/Tues we will begin install and survey for adding the nearby source to existing source tank.

Sunday plan is to visit Rusumo after church.

We verified gps coordinates and got new ones for other taps and locations along the way.

Right now we have no power or water at Muhuroro orphanage. Could be an early night!
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Fw: Pipe threading

2009-07-18T09:03:00.000-04:00

----- Original Message -----
From: Blankemeyer, Tom
To: 'etorg@hotmail.com' <etorg@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri Jul 17 07:43:21 2009
Subject: Pipe threading

Hey Erik. How did u guys get ur galvanized pipe threaded?

Checking Supplies

2009-07-17T08:32:00.000-04:00

We are at Sonotubes, the material supplier in Kigali. Looks like they have we will need for the project.

We are all safe and feeling well, if a bit tired.

Stopover in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

2009-07-16T16:06:00.001-04:00

We made it safely and on time to Dakar. There was no cell service and a lovely 12 hour layover, but no problems. Just finished a leg to Abidjan, refuel and then off again for a 7hr flight to Nairobi.

Chuck, Pat and Tom

Boarding for Dakar

2009-07-15T14:31:00.001-04:00

After a lunch of fine ATL food court offerings, we are just about to board our flight to Dakar, Senegal. We made it through security, but decided to leave a measuring device behind (think of a 14' ruler). It would have cost $210 in baggage charges. No problems though, we can build what we need once we are there.

2009-07-13T20:06:00.002-04:00

Our Cincy EWB team met Saturday. We welcomed new members, got an update from Bridge to Rwanda (thanks George!) and finalized plans for our trip.

For our new members, I was able to share a map of where we operate and my surprise when I first found out how mountainous the terrain is in Western Rwanda. The elevation is about 6000 ft, about twice as high as our Smokey Mountains.

The elevation and hilly hiking will add to the 'exercise quotient' and help keep us cool as we are just 2 degrees south of the equator.

Tentitive Schedule

2009-07-08T19:51:00.001-04:00

So what will we be doing while in Rwanda?

Here's our draft schedule...

Day 1: -Meet Sister Patricia upon arrival in Kigali
-Shop for supplies for the small project
-If there is some sort of Peace Corp contact in Kigali meet with them or set up a meeting
-Travel to Muhororo

Day 2: -Visit Rusumo project site.
-Travel to Ntobwe and review any additional purchases needed for the small project
-Review community needs and health information
-Begin making contacts for the water and sanitation committee

Day 3: -Send Leo to pickup supplies and any other materials that were not purchased the first day.
-Find local water source and evaluate source with Ahmed and begin arrangements for the excavation
-Start surveying for the new water line.

Day 4: -Begin installation of the small water tank.
-Establish the route for the new water source to the existing system.
-Go to Kigali to purchase any necessary supplies

Day 5: -Continue work on small project
-Continue surveying the new water source route.
-Begin excavation of the new source
-Review new line route with land owners and try to arrange labor agreements

Day 6: -Finish work on small project
-Finish surveying of the new water line.
-Convene meeting with the Water and Sanitation Committee and discuss roles and responsibilities

Day 7: -Continue any necessary work to finish surveying and the small project
-Continue work at the source

Day 8: -Verify that all surveying and the small project are completed
-Continue work at source

Summer 2009 Trip

2009-07-06T19:54:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the blog for the Greater Cincinnati Professionals Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Three of our members will make the trek to Muhororo, Rwanda in July.

We will attempt to capture what is happening, when it is happening, but given the state of the internet in small towns in Rwanda, updates may be infrequent.