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