Well thats it then, home sweet home.
It is quite nice. Kind of strange at the same time, it is so quiet. No honking cars and very few people actually walking around. And plenty of baked goods.
I guess I'm done with this whole blog thing now. We finished up work with Soil and Water Management and submitted our report. There is a link to the right if you're interested in reading it. We are still planning on keeping in contact with them and hopefully working on some things (from back home) with them.
So, thanks for reading everyone... if anyone other than my mom is actually reading.
Now go check Jordan's blog
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Road Trip
Jordan and I just got back on Friday night from a long trip with The soil and water management unit. We went a little bit past Basse. About 400 km from Banjul. I will add more details when I get a chance but I have already added some pictures for your viewing pleasure. It was probably our last long trip and it was a great climax to our time here with them. I never knew agriculture could be so interesting.
We also went to James island on a boat tour today. I might add some more details if I'm feeling journalistic/have time in the near future.
We also went to James island on a boat tour today. I might add some more details if I'm feeling journalistic/have time in the near future.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Bulok Revisited
Jordan and I headed up to Bulok yesterday for the second time to see the changes. Kebba Manka, our supervisor took us on the trip.
It was about a month ago when we first went there, what a difference a month can make. Firstly, everything is so green now. A month ago you would have thought almost nothing could grow here but now everything is alive. The diversion bunds are more or less complete as well and they looked a lot better. The embankments were covered in grass which well help stop them from eroding.
They had also nearly finished rebuilding the road that had been eroded so badly.
It was about a month ago when we first went there, what a difference a month can make. Firstly, everything is so green now. A month ago you would have thought almost nothing could grow here but now everything is alive. The diversion bunds are more or less complete as well and they looked a lot better. The embankments were covered in grass which well help stop them from eroding.
They had also nearly finished rebuilding the road that had been eroded so badly.
Before
After
As you can see there is quite a change in scenery.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
WACD-TC
Our time in class at WACD-TC has come to an end. Like any class, it had it's up and downs. Moments where I was focusing so intently I forgot everything else around me, and moments where my mind would wander, wishing I could be doing "real work" instead of sitting in a classroom. Overall though, I think it was a great experience. I learned a lot about community development and met some great people, both classmates and facilitators.
What I learned about community development is that, as the name states, it must come from the community itself. I realized that the people best equipped to help a community reach it's goals are the community members. What my role is in the development process is, at the moment, unclear to me. As a future engineer, I'm sure I have something to offer but I am still trying to figure out exactly what that is, and how to do it without screwing things up too badly. Its not easy, this development thing we are trying to do.
Now on to the people I met, the community development workers, who are also my classmates and teachers. What an interesting bunch of people. We have palm tree climbers, fisherman, young, old, married, single, divorced, married to multiple wives... you name it... we got it. Some of these people have even offered us the chance to go see the development projects they are involved with. We are looking forward to spending more time with them.
So.
WACD-TC.
Wack Tack.
What shall I say?
...
...
...
What an interesting experience and a truly unique opportunity to meet real development workers and see what development is really all about... or at least get a quick glimpse of it.
Alpha Jallow, WACD-TC facilitator and our go to Gambian. Cool guy
What I learned about community development is that, as the name states, it must come from the community itself. I realized that the people best equipped to help a community reach it's goals are the community members. What my role is in the development process is, at the moment, unclear to me. As a future engineer, I'm sure I have something to offer but I am still trying to figure out exactly what that is, and how to do it without screwing things up too badly. Its not easy, this development thing we are trying to do.
Mr Sunkary Badjie, my new favourite teacher... sorry Dr Keenan. He's just that good.
Now on to the people I met, the community development workers, who are also my classmates and teachers. What an interesting bunch of people. We have palm tree climbers, fisherman, young, old, married, single, divorced, married to multiple wives... you name it... we got it. Some of these people have even offered us the chance to go see the development projects they are involved with. We are looking forward to spending more time with them.
So.
WACD-TC.
Wack Tack.
What shall I say?
...
...
...
What an interesting experience and a truly unique opportunity to meet real development workers and see what development is really all about... or at least get a quick glimpse of it.
Me. Shocked to have learned so much.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday In The Shade
This Sunday we spent the day in Tujereng. We were the guests of The Village Alkalo (community leader), Kamaro Bojang. He was very well spoken and you could tell that he knew what he was talking about. The main reason we went was to see the community conflict resolution. A committee of experienced people (including The Alcalo) met under the shade of a tall tree to hear issues that people have with each other and try to resolve them.
When a person from the village has a problem, they can bring it to the committee and they help to sort out the conflict. Some examples of conflicts were land disputes (property lines) and contracted construction work that was far behind schedule. The conflicts that were brought up on Sunday used to be taken to the court system and would take weeks to solve and a great deal of money would end up in the pockets of lawyers. Instead, the conflicting parties sit down with the committee and come up with a solution in a few hours. Both parties must agree on the final verdict and enter into a contract. Kamaro Bojang said they can resolve about 90% of the conflicts that come up.
It seemed like a very effective way of settling disputes. The people involved in the conflict feel obligated to obey the ruling because the ruling is given by the community itself. If they do not, everyone in the community will see that they are not cooperating and it will not be good for them.
I also had my first REAL Gambian meal. I have no idea what it was called, maybe benachin? Anyways, it was a bunch of rice with some beef, plantains and something like cabbage. It was all served in a communal bowl (one big bowl that everyone eats out of). Very exciting. And it was quite tasty too.
When a person from the village has a problem, they can bring it to the committee and they help to sort out the conflict. Some examples of conflicts were land disputes (property lines) and contracted construction work that was far behind schedule. The conflicts that were brought up on Sunday used to be taken to the court system and would take weeks to solve and a great deal of money would end up in the pockets of lawyers. Instead, the conflicting parties sit down with the committee and come up with a solution in a few hours. Both parties must agree on the final verdict and enter into a contract. Kamaro Bojang said they can resolve about 90% of the conflicts that come up.
It seemed like a very effective way of settling disputes. The people involved in the conflict feel obligated to obey the ruling because the ruling is given by the community itself. If they do not, everyone in the community will see that they are not cooperating and it will not be good for them.
I also had my first REAL Gambian meal. I have no idea what it was called, maybe benachin? Anyways, it was a bunch of rice with some beef, plantains and something like cabbage. It was all served in a communal bowl (one big bowl that everyone eats out of). Very exciting. And it was quite tasty too.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Let The Rains Begin
Last night and for most of this morning it rained! This marks the beginning of the rainy season here. It actually felt a little cooler around here, especially while it was still raining. There were mixed feelings amongst as about the rain. I personally love it (for now).
As Hilary Duff would say, "Let the Rain Fall Down".
As Hilary Duff would say, "Let the Rain Fall Down".
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Water Diversion Project At Bulok
So I was extremely bored one weekend and this kept me busy.
The Gambia's climate is divided into two seasons. The dry season (October - May) and the wet season (June - September). During the wet season it rains nearly every day. Typically 800 - 1200 mm fall annually in Gambia. In Southwestern Ontario we get about 800 - 1000 mm. So in Gambia, there is more rain, in much less time. At Bulok, a small village about 70 km from Banjul, heavy rains have created severe erosion problems.
One of the roads through the village had basically become a riverbed, eroded about 1 metre below the original ground level. Building foundations were exposed, something had to be done or the problems would become much worse. The Ministry of Agriculture took the project on and were constructing diversion dikes upslope from the village about two weeks ago. I am not certain how far along the project is but the work seemed near completion when we were there.
The way the dikes work is to divert water before it ever makes it to the village. Several dikes are built along a slope, each to catch rain that falls in its own small catchment. The dikes follow a gentle slope (about 1.5 cm drop in elevation for 10 m of length) as laid out by a survey team. Once the surveyors have marked the location for the dike, a grader constructs it. During a rainfall event, water is diverted along the dikes into a previously existing channel where it is carried down to The River Gambia (See Fig 1).
The rains have not yet come this summer, so the system has yet to be tested. I have some doubts as to how effective the project will be in the long term. I see two potential problems. The dikes are not reinforced in any way, they are not even compacted. The only protection they have from erosion is that they follow a gentle slope. The second potential problem is the channel that the rain water spills into. I think erosion could be a problem with it as well. It seems like instead of fixing the problem of erosion, they may just move it to the dikes or channels.
The dikes are essentially a channel and embankment. Soil is excavated to make the channel and pushed aside to make the embankment. Typically channels in non-cohesive soils (sand and silt) are lined, often with grass. The grass itself protects the soil surface from the impact of raindrops and the root system binds the soil together. If erosion is indeed a problem in the channels, one possible solution could be to cover them with vegetation. We will see in the coming weeks once the rains come, if erosion is a problem and maybe we can even research some more potential solutions. Maybe the dikes are not even necessary.
The Gambia's climate is divided into two seasons. The dry season (October - May) and the wet season (June - September). During the wet season it rains nearly every day. Typically 800 - 1200 mm fall annually in Gambia. In Southwestern Ontario we get about 800 - 1000 mm. So in Gambia, there is more rain, in much less time. At Bulok, a small village about 70 km from Banjul, heavy rains have created severe erosion problems.
One of the roads through the village had basically become a riverbed, eroded about 1 metre below the original ground level. Building foundations were exposed, something had to be done or the problems would become much worse. The Ministry of Agriculture took the project on and were constructing diversion dikes upslope from the village about two weeks ago. I am not certain how far along the project is but the work seemed near completion when we were there.
Eroded road
The way the dikes work is to divert water before it ever makes it to the village. Several dikes are built along a slope, each to catch rain that falls in its own small catchment. The dikes follow a gentle slope (about 1.5 cm drop in elevation for 10 m of length) as laid out by a survey team. Once the surveyors have marked the location for the dike, a grader constructs it. During a rainfall event, water is diverted along the dikes into a previously existing channel where it is carried down to The River Gambia (See Fig 1).
Fig 1: dikes in red, catchment area for one dike shown by purple hatch
The rains have not yet come this summer, so the system has yet to be tested. I have some doubts as to how effective the project will be in the long term. I see two potential problems. The dikes are not reinforced in any way, they are not even compacted. The only protection they have from erosion is that they follow a gentle slope. The second potential problem is the channel that the rain water spills into. I think erosion could be a problem with it as well. It seems like instead of fixing the problem of erosion, they may just move it to the dikes or channels.
The dikes are essentially a channel and embankment. Soil is excavated to make the channel and pushed aside to make the embankment. Typically channels in non-cohesive soils (sand and silt) are lined, often with grass. The grass itself protects the soil surface from the impact of raindrops and the root system binds the soil together. If erosion is indeed a problem in the channels, one possible solution could be to cover them with vegetation. We will see in the coming weeks once the rains come, if erosion is a problem and maybe we can even research some more potential solutions. Maybe the dikes are not even necessary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
