How It All Happened

Now that i am done with our BAP project implementation in the 3rd village of Kinene, i can take a moment to share with you how it all got done. I must say - i had underestimated the amount of work needed to make the implementation possible. Perhaps its because the last two villages we did, i had a team of about 14 people who clearly understood what we had to do. This time, there was only me for the most part to count on as well as our field officer.

Our first day of filling in applications began just like any other. Me rushing down the internet cafe to get all the paper work printed out ( i have understood why i do things last minute most of the times). Before heading to the printing place, i had already designated someone to deal with the food and i was constantly callig Alex, the field officer to also get some stuff ready before leaving.

African time became handy as we left at 10am although i had previously vowed to all the translators that we will leave by 8am and hence making them show up at about 740am. Anyways, we finally left for Kinene and given our driver was a young man, he didnt really care for the car that much. This showed in the way we flew over the pot holes that covered more than 95% of the road. In less than an two hours - can you imagine, we were greeting the local officials getting ready to give the opening speech to the community members that were eagerly waiting for us. Giving a bicycle at half the market price is a worth while deal to all - its almost like selling a Prado at half the price (trying to put this in terms that everyone can relate to).

My friend Kironde was assigned the cameraman duty and my brother Ivan was constantly moving to and fro to make sure all the translators were well fed. I on the other hand took the role of Sophia (photographing all the applicants with their applications). With the scotching sun mercilessly shooting rays at me, i humbly sat in a plastic chair contemplating why there is such inequality in this world we live in. Nen camera (look at the camera) and chet bot LC(go to the LC) are among the luo phrases i picked in my line of duty.

After 4-5 hours of interviewing 100 applicants, we were done for the day and i awaited the taxi ride to our beloved sunset hotel because that it sort of became my principle that i only eat when we were traveling back.

On arriving our sunset hotel, everyone departed to their respective homes while me and the rest of the boys headed for another duty - transcribing all the applicants information in the excel spread sheet.

The second day of applications ran pretty much like the first one and all that was left was to do the selection - paint the bicycle -pack them on the lorry - get all the beneficiaries to sign their forms and be done. I wish it all went as smoothly as imagined.

stay tuned for the details.
Muyambi

Extending BAP Coverage

After careful consideration during one of our meetings about our BAP future plans, it was decided that this winter BAP should extend its services to another IDP camp/village of Kinene in Amuru district(originally part of Gulu). The two IDPs of Kona Nwoya and Lulyango that we initially implement our project are in the same sub-county as Kinene. In fact the local councils of Lulyango and Kona Nwoya are for the most part the same as those for Kinene. Kinene is located on the way to Lulyango and while implementing our pilot project, the people of kinene were not pleased when the say bicycles on a track being carried to Lulyango because they also disparately need them. Little did they know that their day would come so soon as five months later.

During my first day in Gulu, i met up with our project manager, Alex.We talked for hours about what has been going on with the program and also got a chance to take a look at the receipt book for the payments which apart from a few issues looked very good. The next day (Wednesday), we traveled to the two villages to solve some issues that Alex had raised.

Among the issues Alex was facing is one of our beneficiaries who claims that he lost his bicycle. On the contrary, there are several witnesses that say this is a lie saying that he sold it. Fortunate for us, our terms of agreement that this young man signed, carefully details what the consequences of selling the bicycle are. While i met with this young man, he mentioned that he will be able to pay back the full cost of the bicycle (after realizing that his lies were failing him) in installments of 50,000 shillings after which we will evaluate if he is worthy to be trusted again.

Another case is rather complicated. One gentleman who was supposed to pick up a bicycle for a relative on the distribution day is said to have picked up more than one bicycle using a false name. Again there are a number of witnesses in the community that claim that he had this bicycle. Some how he was able to take advantage of the rainy day chaos during the distribution and take two bicycles. This case is yet to be resolved this Sunday when we get to meet with all the BAP beneficiaries and identify what really happened.

It is great that the community understands that the success of our program depends on them. When a beneficiary does something wrong, community members are willing to say the truth because they want our program to continue so that they can benefit from it. Nonetheless, BAP learns from every issue that arises at any one point.
During our distribution in Kinene, all instances that can result in such issues will be avoided.

Other than the above two issues, the program is running very well. The payments are exceptionally going well and we hope it continues that way.

keep posted, more to come about the interviews we have done in Kinene.

Muyambi

HAITI TO UGANDA

Its always interesting to take a pause and see how fast time goes when you are busy. Seems like i have been busy for the past few years that i have forgotten to notice how old i am getting. Anyways, i guess i never finished writing about my Haiti experience and here i go.

The last few days in Haiti were very busy as i tried to make sure that i had everything covered. Generally the deal is that we have to come up with an attractive design to attract the users of the current back-breaking cart. I traveled to Leogane on the second last day in Haiti and met with the directors of the NEGES foundation one of whom had just flown in from USA a few minutes before. They gave wonderful and constructive critism and advise on what i presented to them and they were willing to actually help in every way they can to make it come true.

Fortunately they pointed us to a member of their organisation, a trustworthy genetleman that agreed to acting as our field manager. The tasks ahead include developing a survey that our field manager can use to find out what obstacles are currently faced in the current mode of transportation. This small survey should also be useful in finding out what the size of our new innovative transportation cart should be. I am hoping both students at Bucknell and Brown would be helpful in making these designs possible.

On my last day, i hurried to the city very early in the morning to look for some gifts for my host family. They had been incredible at taking care of me given the few pounds i gained on the trip. As i jumped on the tap tap (taxi) that evening, i realized that my work in Haiti had just began and wished that it would continue until i get to see even the slightest change in the transportation system in the country. The chaos in the city center reminded me of Uganda and after successful securing all the gifts i found appropriate, i headed back to pack and get ready to fly to the USA where i would stay one day and the fly to Uganda.

In 4 hours i landed at JFK where Kevin saved me from the cold outside the airport. I constantly pondered whether it was really gobal warming that caused the great temperature difference between Haiti and USA or just one of those things well crafted by our creator.

After getting a days trip in NYC by Nicole and Kevin (who tried really hard to impress me with NY pizza), i found myself sitted on Emirates airline (enjoying ICE AGE) headed for Uganda. After a few days in the capital visiting family, i now sit in an internet cafe in Gulu where our BAP pilot project was implemented only a few months ago.

keep posted, more about the trip in the next post.
Muyambi