The more I go out into the community and see the conditions that real people are living in, the more I'm blown away that life can be so hard for some people. It hits me especially bad when a kid who I may be feeling sorry for runs up and grabs onto my leg and hugs, not letting go. Smiling and making
me feel better. How weird is that.
Sometimes I have a hard time being out 'in the field' just because things can feel hopeless. So its so incredibly encouraging a day comes along where I get to be a part of the solution and make a real difference in real people's lives.
I was able to go out with the local district water engineers and pump mechanics and have a good root around. Parts were purchased and tuesday we did the repairs for three water pumps. I always forget when I'm looking at a picture that there was someone on the other side of the camera taking the picture and actually living that moment, smelling the air and sweating it out in the sunshine. Sometimes remembering that helps to bring it all back to reality. I'm only saying that because I've been there looking at these pictures that, for all humanity's sense of right and wrong, shouldn't be allowed to exist. Viewing them I could pretty easily just pass them over and move on with life because it didn't
really apply to me. But I dunno... I guess I'm just trying to convince you to view these photos as if you were there. Sure, they might look like anything else you've ever seen, and sure the photography might not win any awards (well ok, it definitely won't), but if you're reading this you probably know me, and I was on the other end of the camera that day, and when the shutter snapped and I put the camera down I was still there. Sitting on the ground in one instance hugging a little guy who needed it. Those moments are tough, and I guess I'm still kinda shaken from that moment because it was so surreal.
I just want this to be real to everyone else too.
Anyway, on with the pics. Enough emotional babble.
The pump mechanics starting repairs at Balanaga, a small village about 8 kms from Kibaale Community CentreCute little girl looking onFitting a new tank - water comes up from the ground and spills out the spout. The head assembly will fit on top of this. The only tank was rusted out and in bad shapeI couldn't get how happy this guy was... I couldn't get my eyes off of this guy. This is Alex and he's a happy kid, but he's sufferingAs you can see here, the water in this area has a huge amount of iron content. I want to come back to this pump and install an iron removal plant in the futurePutting the new head assembly onWater again! The people here were forced to draw from a scummy pond, but no longerSome of the kids were gathered to watch. Once it was working, we spent quite a bit of time educating these kids on how to properly handle the pump to make sure it doesn't break down any sooner than necessary. Kids have a tendency to bang it up and down on its stops, but that shouldn't happen. You can see the effort the kid here is putting forth though - here we installed 14 new sections of metal piping... that's over 200 feet downWe moved onto the second pump for repair. This pump is in Kyakasenene, which is super fun to say ("Chya-kah-SAY-nay-nay") but pretty far out. Its close to a school though and again, the only water source is a scummy pond that the local water committee is attempting to keep as clean as possible by skimming things out of it. Still, no good. Kibaale Community Centre to the rescue!
Heading off into the bush with parts and tools in hand (and a big white photographer scurrying to catch up)It's rockier out this way. The hills get this cool 'Windows Desktop Wallpaper' look to them because nothing can grow but scrubThe local water source... we couldn't find the guy with the key, so we made do with the tools available to get inYanking the piping out. This is a shallow-well and only about 15 feet deep, so its not too toughSchool got out and the kids came rocketing down the hill with jerry cans in hand to fetch water from the pondTwo hours later, WATER! Pump fixedThis repair will server over 400 kids at a school nearbyWith that one finished we headed back to Kibaale and into the local trading centre (Kibaaletown) for another repair. There is a shallow well in town, about 10 feet deep that has been breaking down constantly. We decided to just overhaul the entire thing with new parts and give it new life. This is maybe 400 meters from the new borehole which was put in in early January, but despite this having been broken people were still drawing water from the pond rather than walking to the new borehole. Frustrating, but when you consider they have to lug 20 litres of water at a time, by Jerry Can, on their heads... that extra 400 meters can be a lot.
This is the current water source in the centre of town. I've been working to keep it tidied up, so really, you should have seen it beforeTaking it apartI love this picture, but I hate it tooThe mechanics are great guys and spend a lot of time with the kids educatingAlmost finished the repairsWater!
