The Benjamin A. Sklaver Cafeteria: A proud but reflective day for ClearWater

On Tuesday, a four-member ClearWater delegation watched as the government of Kitgum District, the US Ambassador to Uganda and US Army Brigadier General James Owens -- a former superior of Ben’s, cut the ribbon on a joint USAID/US military civil affairs project, the Kitgum High School Cafeteria.

The military and USAID have completed many similar projects in Uganda, but none with such high level attendance. The joint civilian military project named in Ben's honor was fitting: he was one of few people who could easily cross between the drastically different organizational cultures.

There were several in attendance who knew Ben personally including Patrick Devy from Afrimax, who worked with Ben on many projects in 2007, and some local officials. Chairman of Kitgum Komakech Ogwok who met many generals, but was taken by Ben, called him a “simple and humble man" who “demystified a lot about the US Army” creating a positive image. Resident District Commissioner of Kitgum Omony Ogaba hoped that "Ben's spirit may empower others who use this facility to strive for lasting peace.”

The cafeteria itself was smartly appointed, with sturdy tables (unfamiliar to most dining halls here), a shiny brick floor and new cookery. Despite the Sklaver name, you probably won’t be eating any of Ben’s simple culinary favorites. And don’t expect anyone to take up the grill like he might to serve up simple American treats like hot dogs and hamburgers. No, at the Sklaver cafeteria, it will be rice, beans, boo and malakwang. It will be simple food, local food—the way it should be. And that, at ClearWater, makes us proud.

Favorite scenes from training

Over the past week we have been in the villages discussing the water situation, hearing about villagers' concerns and helping them develop their own strategies to find lasting solutions. It is a balance between training, conversing, convincing and ultimately, when done well, empowering. It is a process that does not last one day. It takes many.
Guiding people to find the best solution, not just putting a hole in the ground, is far more complex than you might imagine. But assisting people with the capacity solve their own problems is far more successful than coming in with the answers. We will address this more in future posts and through future reports. Below are some of our favorite moments over the past week.

Similarities in a far away land

Sunday likes to law down the law. Before our country director begins a training session in the villages where we may install a water point, he asks the community for rules of the session. He likes to keep the sessions participatory and the rules give the villagers a sense that they also help set the agenda.

It was a slow process at Amoninonu Village this morning. My mind wandered as I checked out the surroundings -- over 100 of us sat in the center of the village under the shade of an oak tree (Ok, it wasn’t an oak, but I know little African flora). A slight breeze blew caused our flip chart papers to flutter about, making it difficult for Sunday to write the suggestions down.

A chicken with a purple string tied around its leg clucked through the space separating Sunday and the adult villagers, who were attentively watching. Elementary school students in sun bleached, but yet still dirt tinged pink and blue tattered uniforms , checked out the curiosities of a morning large meeting and the white man in an over sized sun hat from a distance.

It was rural. It was remote. But it was yet, still so connected. And it wasn't just the satellite drilled into a mud-brick building.

Some of the basic rules that Sunday wrote down could have come from sessions in the states. My translator told them to me: respect for others views, no interrupting. The rules continued and focused more on personal responsibility: no smoking and no drinking of alcohol during the sessions. It was oddly comforting to hear rules with which I was familiar, albeit not always so explicit. As my eyes caught the large horn cow passing by, my translator leaned over and whispered and all too familiar rule, “turn your mobile phones to vibrate.”

What?

Not only have mobile phones penetrated, so have apparent bad manners. Now, I must say, not everyone has cell phones, I only saw a few. And those with them were proud to show them off. But apparently the rings are a distraction.

When I related the story to a western colleague who has spent some time in country, she was dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe that the villagers would have thought of such a rule because in Uganda it seemed to her that one is almost expected to answer a cell phone call regardless of where one is. However, I was surprised about the rule too. After all, I wouldn’t think we would discuss cell phone etiquette in a village without fresh water.

The Ice Man of Africa

Several years ago Denis had an idea: Ice. The orphaned boy, then in his very late teens, was able to get access to a freezer in the town of Lira and started selling the stuff to fisherman. They put it in coolers so they could bring their catch back to town to sell it at the market and at restaurants.

Denis tells me through his gapped tooth smile that he had earned enough money to expand his business to rent the public water kiosk two years ago. He now also charges 100 shilling, or about 5 cents, for 20 liters of water. However, his big business is still ice. At 1,000 shilling for roughly a two-liter block, he does well, though far better in the dry season when the need for ice triples his business. His biggest constraints are the size of his freezer and time, as it takes about a day for the blocks to freeze. And, of course, the constant loss of power, which melts his profits.

Denis did well enough that people far wealthier have begun encroaching on his business, lowering the market price of ice. But he still does well selling the blocks as demand in town for ice has expanded. The sustained business has allowed Denis to put his three younger siblings through school. He had previously moved his brothers and sisters down to the city from his small village for a “a better life than I had.” Since the rebels killed his parents, adulthood came early to Denis. Fortunately, so did his entrepreneurial skills.

At the kiosk, he also grinds up peanuts, or g-nuts, into peanut butter for roughly a 20% mark up, less electricity costs, which he laments for eating into his margins. The grinder chews up electricity, and spits up peanut chunks, making his kiosk door and adjacent wall look like the back of a 4-wd that spent the day off-roading.

He has tried to expand beyond his kiosk and bought a bike which he rented out to a motorcycle taxi driver. But he found the driver unreliable, he liked to drink a bit too much and work a bit too little, so the bike sat idle just beyond his kiosk.

The Ice Man of Africa? Maybe that's a bit rich. After all his margins are too small to hire an employee (although he pays someone to trim the overgrown grass around his kiosk). But at 23, the Ice Man of Lira is sure a hard worker. And his skills are helping provide sustainable clean water and fresh fish to Lira.

I should be writing about water, but... (Kampala bomb blasts)

I would love to say that all is as it was here in Kampala. I should be writing about the meetings I had with water officials, or even an entry about the rooster calls emanating from the kitchen of the restaurant I am in. But the news is the July 11th bombing during the World Cup match and the reality is Kampala has changed. It’s timid.

For the one-off visitor to Kampala the change would be unnoticeable, but the bars are quieter, the roadsides at night, a bit less active, and the talk is about how many people are choosing to stay home at night. Third-hand metal detectors have sprung up outside restaurants and all security guards seemed to have a metal wand (detector), that they rub over strategic parts of your body to detect coins. It’s for show really, I thought as they jabbed the wand against my leg assuming the detector has to actually touch the object in order for it to beep. I wonder, would they really jump to take down someone who just burst past them? But security is not much different at many places at home.

Don’t think for a minute, though, that Kampala is quiet. I still get stuck in monstrous traffic jams and see throws of people walking up and down the streets day and night, bopping in and out of road stalls. The welders are still welding, the traffic police still are policing and the motorcycle drivers are still eerily dangerous.

I went past the main bombing site, where many were killed. Although some foreigners were there that night, the crowd was far more local from what I hear. Most people I interact with seem to know someone who was there and have a story to tell, at least hearsay.

I try to keep a low profile. Hard to do really, but I shy away from crowded places, like markets and bus stations. Fortunately, they are not on my route. There are rumors of another attacks in such spots. In a sense, it is easier to be secure here by avoiding those places. But in New York, all places are those places.

We had a crude bomb attack in Times Square this year and threats on various subways always seem to be thwarted. But NYC is not alone in security fears, Madrid and London all had far larger attacks over the past few years and Istanbul -- where I was at for a day previously -- has had more numerous deadly attacks in recent years than those cities combined. The reality is that terrorism happens where I live and travel. But I am far more susceptible to the more mundane, the less hand-line grabbing car accident or bout of malaria. And to avoid those, I use cars, swallow Lariam and hope for the best.

World Water Day

Join Clearwater Initiative as we observe World Water Day. It is a day that has great meaning for us as an organization and also to the international community of citizens concerned about raising the clean water standard for impoverished populations around the globe.

Personally, we fondly remember World Water Day, 2008 as the date of the first-ever Clearwater fundraiser. It was on March 24th, 2008, that we gathered at Carroll Street Cafe in Atlanta, GA. We had a strong showing on a chilly night, and raised enough money to build two new protected springs in northern Uganda, providing clean water to nearly 1,100 people! We were off to a great start, and very encouraged by all of you to continue our work. Thank you for that.

On a global level, the United Nations recognizes access to safe water as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals aimed at poverty reduction and community empowerment. In honor of World Water Day, 2010, the UN Secretary-General had this to say:

“More people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war. These deaths are an affront to our common humanity, and undermine the efforts of many countries to achieve their development potential.” (4)

When we discuss the dearth of access to clean water, we are talking about a phenomena which most greatly afflicts women and girls first. (They are more likely than men and boys to be the ones burdened with collecting drinking-water.) It likewise affects the poor living in rural, undeveloped areas. Looking more closely, we find the greatest concentration of this population lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. (2) This is where Clearwater chose to began it’s work.

A few of the staggering facts*:
• More than 1 billion people around the world lack access to clean water and another 2 billion to sanitation
• Waterborne disease kills 1.5 million children each year
• Two million tons of sewage and other liquid waste drain into the world’s water supply every day
• Despite an even divide between urban and rural dwellers, 8 of 10 without clean water, and 7 of 10 without proper sanitation live in rural areas
• In many rural areas, the average woman spends 25-30% of her time fetching water
• Improving water and sanitation programs is crucial to spurring growth and sustaining economic development

The Clearwater Initiative was founded out of the unique and personal experiences of Ben Sklaver, who wanted to offer a measure of relief to the suffering he witnessed in Sub-Saharan Africa. But clean water was more than a personal crusade for Ben, and it is about more than his legacy to those of us keeping his vision alive. It is about making the world a better place, one person at a time, one dollar at a time, one community at a time. It is about being a part of an international movement driven by NGO's, passionate individuals, by large groups like the United Nations, and by grassroots community mobilization. In honor of World Water Day, reach out today to offer someone a hand up. Empower someone to reach their potential. Be a conduit for change. Grant someone the human right of access to a clean, safe, sustainable water source. Donate. Educate. Inspire. Ask others to join you.









Sources: (1) United Nations Environment Programme, (2) WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, (*) UNICEF, (4)UN Press Release, Banner: www.worldwaterday2010.info

Anatomy of a Borehole

What is a “borehole”?

Our friend and technical adviser, David Bell, has written a concise and easy-to-grasp explanation for all of you wondering “what exactly is a borehole? And how does it work?” Feel free to show off your new knowledge to friends at the next social gathering. Enjoy!
-------

FIGURE 1
Pump head assembly at top of well


Across Northern Uganda where ClearWater operates, borehole wells are the most reliable and secure source of clean water for people. These simple and inexpensive technologies have revolutionized the way people in developing countries access water.

Borehole wells allow people to tap into groundwater that is not accessible from the surface. as well as minimize the interaction of that water with surface pollutants by keeping it in a closed system until it reaches the tap.

Borehole hand pumps use human power and mechanical physics to move water in a one-way direction using a system of suction and discharge valves. The most common model of pump used in the region is the Mark II hand pump originally manufactured in India. A few of the major components of the Mark II are:

The Handle Assembly – This is a long lever, which is connected to a piston in the pump that draws water up to the tap. A longer hand lever can more efficiently draw water from a deeper well with fewer strokes.

The Water Tank Assembly – This houses many of the mechanical components of the well, including the pump-lever chain, upper connecting rods, and tap assembly.

Connecting Rods and Riser Pipe – These pieces usually come in 10 feet sections and are threaded with male and female ends to allow for variable well depths. Connecting rods are attached to the pump and drive the pistons, which draw water. Riser pipes are usually six-inch diameter pipes that convey water up to the tap.

Pump Cylinder – This is the main pump, which is set in the aquifer deep underground. The depth that a pump is set is based on the desired yield rates. A minimum yield of 1-2 cubic meters per hour is usually targeted. One cubic meter is equal to 264 gallons.


FIGURE 2
Pump cylinder at bottom of well

How boreholes break down:
Unfortunately hand pumps, like anything mechanical, tend to break down after improper use, neglect and just plain overuse. Long-term maintenance of rural water wells therefore has become the most challenging task for water aid groups. Which is why Clearwater contractors work with recipients to educate them to proper maintenance schedules.

Common mechanical well problems include:
• Broken handle assembly that is no longer properly connected to the chain and connecting rods
• Loose mechanical components in water tank assembly
• Loss of suction in the pump
• Riser pipes become corroded and dislodged
• Cracked pedestal and well riser, which can create unsanitary conditions inside the well

How boreholes can be maintained:
Ideally a well is regularly checked and maintained by a trained pump operator, whose duties are to make sure major breakdowns do not occur, which could severely interrupt service.

A typical schedule of maintenance could involve the following:

Daily
Monitor pump operation
Maintain pump and area cleanliness
Maintain drainage of wastewater
Educate users on proper pump use and receive comments

Weekly
Lubricate moving parts
Check tightness of nuts and bolts
Check security of pump on pedestal

Monthly
Check output rate
Check for condition of concrete apron

Yearly
Raise pump cylinder from well for inspection and replace parts where necessary
----

The importance of zoning

My favorite restaurant in Uganda is Car Washing Bay and Restaurant in Lira. Fantastic Indian food -- proper naan, savory chicken tikka masala. They do it right. Uganda, due to its relationship with the British Empire has a fair number of Indians who are often shopkeepers, and in this case, restaurant owners.

As I sit here, eating my palak paneer, I survey the restaurant -- a basketball court sized area of chairs and tables under two giant green tents. I am entranced by the men washing two blue Nissan sedans less than thirty feet from me. Instead of a parking lot outside the restaurant, there is a car washing facility—a car washing bay if you will. It is convenient, for sure, not necessarily sanitary with the water run off so close to the cooking area, but it is definitely an inventive combination of two unlike activities, like the phone and camera.

Beyond the restaurant and over the fence, men were welding steel boxes in a metalworking shop. I could also smell the pungent odor of burning plastic wafting from the piles of refuse smoldering in the vacant lot behind the building. The smell settled in the air, filling the void after the sweet aroma of sauteed garlic and coriander had dissipated from the naan and fish masala served to the table next to me. Thin strips of black plastic, once part of bags, danced like snowflakes before eventually falling to the ground. The sensory experience made me appreciate the little respected practice of zoning.

Life without zoning can reduce your daily commute. A cement factory employee could live literally next to his job. He could eat at a restaurant adjacent to the gas station which is next to the welder's shop adjacent to a cassava field. This is all kitty-corner to the bus station. He could live in a city and never have to leave a few block radius. It's like the convenience of living in New York, but without the safety benefits that zoning provides.

At the Gulu bus station, there is a shallow well right in the middle of the station. Not in a public waiting area -- which doesn’t exist in Gulu -- but right next to parked buses. Convenient, yes, but contaminated by the traffic that surrounds it the leaking oil and allowing for other contaminates into the water point. Still people were dutifully pumping to fill their jerry cans full of water.

Proper zoning should prevent the contamination of water in instances like this. A gas station should not be near a water source and a dump should not be next to a restaurant. Without a government outlining the risks or without education, the population might not understand how dangerous such scenarios can be. Without leadership, uncoordinated development just happens. And in many countries, especially those in post conflict, it can be dangerous.

Some know the true risks of contaminated water such as this; others know that there is a risk, but not how great. We have seen women collecting water from contaminated sites because it was the easiest source for them; many times because it was the only. A brutal combination of a lack of education, the realities of living with inadequate infrastructure and resources as well as ignorance forces people to act. Our role is not just to put water points in the ground, but to educate on the importance and the definition of clean water, to ensure that people don’t build a bus station on top of a well, or a well in a bus station.

Daily Life in pictures

We are taking a few days to organize and regroup from the wealth of valuable field research which has come in over the past 2 months in Uganda. We have lots of thoughts and experiences yet to share from this time. We're taking a short break to process things. In the mean time, I'd like to offer up a selection of photos showing daily life in Uganda. Please enjoy. - Jake

(from top: shoeshine stand; hair saloon [sic]; Welsy playing in the grass,; Prosyi at home; our friends Julius and Bernard on motorcycle; Lillian at market selling coal; child bathing; children inside a kitchen; restaurant menu; child in window)

Obama Fan Club

Free enterprise is alive and well in 
Uganda. Entrepreneurs set up mats on the sidewalk and sell everything 
from peanuts to watches, hand-made wallets and newspapers, to 
clothing. Throngs of these makeshift vendors line the streets of the 
city centers. The three most popular icons on these items are: the Pope, the Virgin Mary, and Barack Obama. There are key chains, bags, t-shirts, posters, bottle 
openers, belt buckles, and just about anything else which can bear an 
emblem, proudly showing the U.S. president. He is a folk hero here. 

Ugandans claim him as an African. When I counter and say, no he's 
actually American! They laugh at me. As a storeowner said yesterday, “No, no, my friend, don't be 
silly. This man is ALL African.” 

----- 

John and I made friends with a local shopkeeper in Gulu. It became our 
place to sit with locals and unwind from the days and the dust and 
discuss life in our respective homes. One recent night, the clerk 
asked me “What of this business with the Massachusetts politicians? I 
think Obama is in trouble because of this, no?” and I had to laugh at this astute observation. But his question reinforced to me that international eyes are on the U.S. and its policies (It also made me ponder how many of my own countrymen are as in tune to the political happenings of our legislative bodies.)

As 
individuals engaged in aid work, we represent not only ourselves, but 
also the NGO community, an ideal, and our home nation. We would be prudent 
to conduct ourselves with our best foot forward, ever in tuned to the 
local concerns and culture. It has been made public that they deeply respect ours. I have the keychain to prove it.

And...cut

We've wrapped up the first round of filming in Coo-pe, in the Gulu District. It's been an incredible 2 weeks, filled with tales of survival, forgiveness, family, and the daily struggle of living in the shadow of war. I will share more of this soon. In the mean time, a couple of production stills - one of each John and I, and one of the local blind folk musician we recorded for the soundtrack to the film. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to those who have shared their time, stories and resources in making this film happen. I hope to post a summary of the experience this weekend once we've had a chance to catch our breath after 2 weeks of non-stop research, filming and travel.Thanks for following along. - Jake

Lillian

This is Lillian. She has been kind enough to share her story with us, and we hope to soon share it with you. We're working long days capturing her daily life and also conducting interviews with scholars and politicians to give historical context to her story. The afternoon sun is hot, so we try to shoot early morning and evening, and leave the afternoon for doing interviews indoors when possible.

The photos show : Lillian's interview, a boy fetching water from the water point nearest the village where Lillian will rebuild a home on her clan land, Jake working, and a neighbor girl in the IDP camp of Coo-pe.

Back out for the day, first light is coming momentarily.