To add to Noah's description of our exciting past few days-- some images!
A field view from Mbarara. It has been wonderful to escape Kampala and see some of what gave Uganda the name “the pearl of Africa.”
A woman sits in her hut in the Mbarara district. Made of sticks and mud, with a thick thatched roof, it provides a space to sleep, cook and relax within the circular confines of a four foot diameter.
In the Mbarara district a man gathers water at dusk for his family of eight. He currently rides his bike two miles ever day to reach this water point, only to bring back water so full of mud it is the color of a paper bag. In the dry season families often travel over seven miles to find water.
A girl stands outside her home in the Mbarara district.
The village meeting house for one of the six parishes in the Mbarara district. This is where Minh hosts his project's water treatment workshops, the benches crowded with people hopeful that they may, in the future, have access to clean water for themselves and their families.
A pile of "matoke," a popular Ugandan dish made of mashed banana-like fruit. Delicious when combined with a nice groundnut sauce.
A young mother holds her daughter against her pregnant belly in the Mbarara district. Women in Uganda, as in most developing countries, bear the brunt of the majority of the daily work including child care, gathering wood, gathering water, caring for the fields and garden, preparing the meals, keeping the home clean and ensuring their children are educated.
This water treatment facility, almost completed, will complete a critical phase of Minh’s project. Once finished this facility, consisting of a well, water storage area and basic filtration system, will allow the villagers to mass-treat their water with the ground seeds from the tree’s planted through the project. Beginning with the Bubarre sub-county Minh and his co-worker Duncan hope to expand this project throughout Mbarara and eventually throughout Uganda.
--Nicki
WOW! What an amzing trip you are on. Your narratives regarding the trip have taken me to places beyond my imagination. How fortunate are we to be able to go with you on your journey.Thanks for the great entries on the blog and especially for the photos. May you continue safely on your journey and may your hearts and minds be open to the many wonderful people that you will meet!
Thanks for keeping us posted.
God speed.
Posted by: Patrice Sobecki | July 20, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Nice pictures Nicki! I think the blog is a great idea. Sounds like a great experience for all involved.
Posted by: Chris | July 20, 2007 at 11:05 PM
Beautiful photos! And a great story about filming on the go... Looking forward to the next installment.
Posted by: Sarah | July 24, 2007 at 12:18 PM