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. 2006 Lifewater African Partners Conference . Epilogue: Stories from the Field
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in africa LIFEWATER
AFRICAN PARTNERS CONFERENCE: Thursday, June 8 – Tuesday, June 13, 2006
By Thursday evening, almost all the participants had arrived, representing twelve different organizations from six countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Some these participants were already partners, while others were considering this possibility. The term “partner” is particularly appropriate, because Lifewater could never have such a significant impact without these committed Nationals working in their own countries. The strength of the partner model has enabled Lifewater to multiply its efforts exponentially, by “training trainers to train.” My goal was to interview each person from the groups represented, in order to learn more about their stories and how they are helping to accomplish the mission they share with Lifewater. These individuals know all too well the massive needs for safe water, sanitation resources, and hygiene trainings. For example, Mr. Moses Deleo Ocen of Divine Waters Uganda shared that three wells had been drilled in one refugee camp of 90,000 people, bringing hope and life. Many more wells were needed in this camp, however, where people stand in long lines to get water both day and night, literally 24 hours a day, resulting in the need for frequent pump repairs. Such are the needs in Africa. The next several days provided me with opportunities to interview the participants, but the conference itself was also packed with activities hosted by Lifewater staff. Executive Director Dan Stevens had traveled to Lusaka together with the Project Director, Pat Klever. Pat’s husband Kevin, one of Lifewater’s most dedicated volunteers also participated in leading. Together with help from Seeds of Hope International Director, Pastor Kirk Schauer, they gave a series of interactive presentations and led a variety of activities focused on bringing all the partners up
to date with Lifewater’s current goals and practices. This included introducing them to the “Lifewater Curriculum Project,” which is currently in the process of developing instructional manuals to facilitate training in water, sanitation, and hygiene (the three-pronged approach dubbed “WASH” by UNICEF). These instructional manuals will incorporate sufficient standardization to insure that competent training can be provided while also permitting ample flexibility to insure that training can be sensitive to the unique characteristics (cultural, environmental, etc.) of any setting. Those serving with Lifewater all know from experience that training of trainers cannot simply be accomplished by distributing manuals. A participatory model is crucial for success. Still, these curriculum guides will be very helpful resources in ensuring consistent, high quality trainings in more locations than ever before. The African partners were excited to learn that they would participate in the pilot testing of these manuals, with their valuable feedback serving to inform manual development. |
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| Another key conference activity involved helping each partner group create their own “story board,” as a means of learning to present themselves to potential donors and other important external contacts. The partners quickly saw the benefit of being able to present themselves and their missions succinctly in a way that highlights the real needs for their services and the value of their contributions. As they presented their story boards, I was struck with the immense passion each partner had for their work. None of these persons was wealthy by any means, and yet each one had a clear passion for the poor and a strong heart to show Christ’s love tangibly to “the least of these” in their countries. | ||
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The next conference activity focused on ways to incorporate cultural sensitivity when working with communities to empower development and facilitate constructive changes. This emphasis was met with enthusiasm by all those in attendance, and it was also agreed that local communities should be asked for their perspectives and wisdom, since they typically know the unique challenges that might not be readily apparent to outsiders. Several partners shared how, in contrast, various well-meaning NGO’s (non-profit organizations) would sometimes fail to connect with local communities due to a paternalistic, directive approach.
Not surprisingly, all the participants were very excited to learn about the bio-sand filters. Kirk Schauer and Francis Faruka and others led a participatory demonstration of how to make the filter from a steel mold. Over the next several days, the various steps of construction were executed with many helping hands. Every partner group was eager to work towards beginning bio-sand filter construction in their areas!
Project management was the next focus. In order for partner groups to be successful, it is essential that they not only can execute projects effectively, but also that they can document and communicate to donors regarding the use of funds, budgets, project plans, and outcomes. This training was appreciated by all, particularly those who had learned through personal experience how projects can be stalled or stopped through simple mistakes like failing to consider the amount of time a shipment of materials may take to arrive. The participants were also updated regarding the hiring of Lifewater’s new volunteer coordinator, who will be serving to help match volunteer trainers to projects. Once again, the high value of partners’ feedback (regarding the quality of trainers and suggestions for improvements) was emphasized.
Whereas the needs are clear for program management, current technologies, and promotional communication to donors, the next training focused on a topic that might not be immediately self-evident to those who are not in the trenches: conflict management. The partners, however, quickly acknowledged their awareness that unresolved conflicts can effectively kill projects, cause unrest and attrition among staff, and prevent local communities from constructive change. As an example, I shared a story that Flavia Faruka had told me earlier regarding her work with Hygiene trainings. She noted that conflict management had emerged as one of the most crucial components of an effective approach. Indeed, it is challenging to promote good hygiene practices, such as keeping livestock in a pen away from the living areas, when the primary offender is the village chief who lets his animals roam and leave their droppings everywhere! Flavia remarked that simply training people to present their concerns gently and respectfully rather than angrily made a significant difference.
Throughout the entire conference, the focus on water, sanitation, and hygiene as ministries was very clear. Each day began and ended with times of worship, singing, and messages shared by various partners and staff. The participants’ love of singing was particularly strong, and songs from each culture were shared and sung in virtually every break between activities. Perhaps nowhere have I ever spent such significant time with a group of persons so devoted to serving God by ministering to others in tangible ways.
As was the case in Ndola, a highlight of my time in Lusaka was worshiping with the large congregation at the Reuter’s Go Center church. It was wonderful to be surrounded by hundreds of Zambian brothers and sisters, singing their hearts out to God in praise. Pastor Reuter asked all those attending the Lifewater conference to come up front, and we were welcomed enthusiastically. We were also asked to sing for the congregation and did so, but this was not difficult because all the Lifewater partners loved to sing! In fact, between every workshop at the conference, the group would break into songs of praise, with partners sharing songs from their own countries and languages. It was truly moving to experience the unity of shared faith as people from different countries shared the common bond of Christian fellowship! POST CONFERENCE
SANITATION TRAINING: Wednesday, June 14 – Friday, June 16, 2006 Sam Moore, Lifewater’s Sanitation Program Coordinator, led the activities over the next three days, which focused on empowering local communities to experience ownership of their own sanitation resources. Sadly, many well-meaning nonprofit groups have provided “gifts” such as latrine pads in an effort to increase sanitation but ignored the importance of consulting the communities they wished to help. All the partners affirmed Sam’s observation that simply “donating” to a community does not result in successful sanitation. One partner spoke of a stack of latrine pads which, one year after being donated, still stood in a pile because they provided a dry platform on which to store grain. Another partner told of a nonprofit group’s “incentive program” which dispensed a monetary award to villagers who were in the process of building a latrine during annual inspections. Sadly, this resulted in most villagers never finishing their latrines, keeping them partially completed so that they could collect the monetary award each year. In short, imposing “solutions” such as pumps, latrines, or even hygiene practices will seldom result in ownership by local communities.
In contrast, Sam stressed that a local community must be sensitized to its own needs and be encouraged to provide input into whatever sanitation plans may actually be put into practice. The importance of considering local resources when designing latrines was also addressed, as was the concept of building a demonstration latrine to help increase community awareness and dispel myths (e.g., that latrines are dangerous and always smell horribly). As with all of Lifewater’s efforts, an emphasis on encouraging ownership by local communities is a key to the successful promotion of sanitation development. THE LONG TRIP
HOME: Sunday, June 18 – Monday, June 19, 2006 When my plane finally landed in Los Angeles, I was exhausted but very glad to be almost home. On my way out, I stopped at a restroom. Entering, I saw a number of men washing their hands and/or splashing their faces with water. Not one of them looked concerned regarding the water’s safety. The silence was repeatedly punctuated by automatic toilets flushing as individuals entered and exited without giving a single thought to their absolute life-and-death dependence on safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. As I hurried on my way, eager to meet my wife in the baggage area, I whispered a prayer of thanks to the provider of Living Water. I thanked God for the opportunity to truly appreciate the tremendous gifts that are freely available in any public restroom, and I prayed that one day all people would have access to these blessings so regularly ignored by those numbed with affluence. Click here to read
STORIES FROM THE FIELD. |
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