Elephants and visitors

Last night we had some visitors to field base. Two of our project partners came along to talk to the team about the projects for 09I and how project partners work with Raleigh in India.

Echo 5 and 6 will be working with project partners WWF in one of the most densely populated areas for the Asian elephant in India. Boominathan from WWF came along and talked to us about elephants. He was really passionate about the work he does WWF and gave loads of great tips for working on the project sites like…do not wear bright colours, keep quite quiet when you are in elephant territory, observe from a distance of at least 100 metres and keep your ears open for snapping branches and trumpeting at all times.

We also had a talk from Ravi Kumar from MYKAPS. MYKAPS have worked in the local area for 25 years and Raleigh India has been working with them for two years now. Together we’ve had some real successes making a huge impact on lots of communities and villages. Some of the projects undertaken so far with MYKAPS have been eco sanitation units, like the work Charlie 4 for will be doing for 09I. We’ve also worked on sustainable agriculture projects and rainwater harvesting projects. For Raleigh India 09I Charlie 2, 3 and 4 will all be working with MYKAPS as project partners. The talk that Ravi gave about the impact the work we do has on local communities was really inspiring, he talked about not only making a difference in terms of providing new facilities but also talked about how the cultural exchange on projects adds so much value to those who are involved, both in the local communities and the Raleigh participants.

Above: Ravi Kumar talking to our PMs

Vijay, our Host Country Venturer Co-ordinator, gave a talk about our project partner Centre for Tribal and Rural Development Trust (CTRD). CTRD currently work on projects and programmes aimed at promoting and strengthening the livelihood, welfare and development of the poor tribal and rural communities in the Gudalur Block of the Nilgiri Hills. Charlie 1 will be working with CTRD to provide tribal housing in the mountainous Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu.Vijay talked about the culture of the different tribes and the challenges they face at the moment.

After having a chance to quiz the project partners and a bit of yoga...

...all the PMs left field base this morning to go on their planning visits.

Everyone has arrived safely at their project sites now and we’ve already has a report back from Echo 5 and 6 that they ran in to some elephants on the way in to the project site so hopefully we’ll have some evidence to post up on the blog when they are back on Sunday, watch this space...

Who, what, when, why? All your questions answered!

If you were wondering what Miriam and Lewis were doing in the photos on the last post then wonder no more! That was their reaction to finding out the project allocations.

There are usually two project managers on each project and last night the project managers not only found out who they would be working with but also which project they would be working on.

Here are all the allocations:

Project group: Charlie 1
Project: Muttilmoola tribal housing
Project managers: Charlie and Ruks
Raleigh are working in partnership with the Centre for Tribal and Rural Development Trust in the mountainous Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu. Charlie 1 will live alongside and work with the 22 inhabitants of the Muttilmoola hamlet, a remote forest community belonging to the Kattunayaka indigenous tribal group to construct a simple home for each of the seven families.
The present living conditions are very basic and their substandard housing is the cause of much hardship and contributes to poor health. Existing dwellings, which are in considerable disrepair, will be replaced with simple mud brick constructions which have been designed in consultation with the community, to facilitate a healthier standard of living whilst enabling them to retain their tribal customs and cultural identity.

‘I’m really looking forward to going on our project visit to investigate what awaits us and our venturers its going to be a huge adventure! I can’t wait to meet the Chief of the local village and the local people and see what they think of Raleigh.’ Charlie.

Project group: Charlie 2
Project: Netikal Hundi sustainable agriculture
Project managers: Leti and Katharine

This project is part of a six year intervention, starting in June 2009. Over the six years 772 families from nine communities will benefit from this project which is based in HD Kote Taluk, Mysore District.

Charlie 2 will help some of the families to develop one acre of horticulture plantation. They will help with digging tree pits and planting species of mango and amla (a kind of sour gooseberry used for pickles, ayurvedic medicines and hair oil). These species will provide high value, high nutrition crops for consumption by the families and for sale in the nearby market towns. The prepared agricultural land will also support seasonal inter-cropping of melons etc.

Around each acre a live fence will be planted using native species including pongamia and high value teak trees which will provide shade for the crops and the root systems will prevent soil erosion and run off during the heavy monsoon rains.

‘We’re both looking forward to exploring the local community and the project site this weekend, its going to be great!’ Leti.

Project group: Charlie 3
Project: Mosarahalla Rainwater Harvesting
Project managers: Kate and Anne

‘This is what Raleigh community projects are all about. This is a fantastic project which will really make a difference. It gives us (project managers and venturers) the opportunity not only to make a difference but to be involved in the local community.’ Kate.

Charlie 3 will work alongside community members and skilled masons in Mosarahalla Village to construct rainwater harvesting systems. The village currently uses a piped water system and ground water polluted by years of heavy pesticide use which is not fit for drinking. The provision of rainwater harvesting systems will ensure a sustainable and safe supply of water for each family which can be stored through the dry season and in periods of electrical pump / electricity supply failure. This village, with ‘Scheduled Tribe’ inhabitants from the Naika community, was the first in Karnataka to have eco-sanitation facilities installed and the project was a resounding success.

Project group: Charlie 4
Project: M.C. Tolalu Hundi Eco-Sanitation
Project managers: Lewis and Camilla

Charlie 4 will work within a rural community, at M.C. Tolalu Hundi, who do not currently have access to full basic hygienic sanitation facilities. They will provide a sustainable and healthy solution for the village by helping families to construct their own eco-sanitation facility – a composting toilet. The project will improve community health through access to safe drinking water in the community by reducing pollution of the local water sources and prevent open defecation in the village. It will also provide compost which can be used to organically fertilize crops. The compost can also be sold in the local market increasing the economy of the village.

‘For us this project is all about integrating with the local community we have an opportunity to really make a difference with this project.’ Lewis.

Project groups: Echo 5 and 6
Project: Gravity water feed supply to Ramaranai village
Project managers: Rich and Lotte (Echo 5) and Miriam and Gareth (Echo 6)

Above: Gareth and Miriam.

‘This project is going to be amazing, it’s such a worthwhile and sustainable project and it’s in such a beautiful area.’ Miriam.

Ramaranai is a remote settlement which is home to 15 families belonging to the Sollega indigenous tribe in the newly established Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu. This area is an important habitat for the Asian elephant and has the highest concentration of them in the world.

The crop growing season is very short and irrigation of the agricultural fields is really important to maximise the yield and to extend the season. Echo 5 and 6 will work together with the community and our project partners in Ramaranai (WWF and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department) to deliver a new gravity water feed supply to the settlement and build water storage tanks on the agricultural plots to supply irrigation water. Echo 5 will be based at the bottom of the feed and Echo 6 at the top.

‘This project is going to give us a huge tangible achievement. We’re just thinking about the moment the water comes rushing down the gravity water feed and how we will feel when we succeed! Not to mention the elephants!’ Rich.
Above: Rich and Lotte

All the project managers will be going to visit their projects over the next few days to find out more about the area and the work they will be doing. They will all take lots of photos for the blog so all the venturers coming out will be able to see what the project sites look like.

Tremendous trekking

So…in the last four days field base has been a very busy place. Ruks, our host country Project Manager, has been working with us all. Ruks is the director for the National Adventure Foundation in Karnataka state in Mysore. The National Adventure Foundation is an organisation running all kinds of different activities all over India. Ruks is an Adventure Sports Instuctor for Karnataka and she has loads of experience running activities like rock climbing, trekking, rafting and parasailing. Ruks works with children and young people from all different communities and backgrounds to teach them about adventure activities and also works with groups on cultural exchange. It’s great to have Ruks on the team, she’s providing us with lots of tips and knowledge about Indian culture and the activities we’ll be doing on the adventure phase.

Above: Jocelyn (our photograher), Margaret (logistics) and Ruks (PM) plotting a trek route.

We’ve been doing loads of training this week to prepare the PMs and field base staff for the arrival of the venturers. We’ve covered loads of really useful stuff that will be passed on to the venturers for when they are out on their projects. On Monday we went through navigation, satellite phones and plotting routes…lucky we did that as Tuesday was the start of trek training.

After plotting out our trek route during training, on Tuesday morning all the staff split up in to Alpha 1 and Alpha 2, and got all their it together for the trek. It’s amazing how much you need for one night! Quite a few of the PMs looked like snails with their huge back packs on!

Above: Alpha 2 trek group just before setting off.


Above: on the way to the camp site.

The troops trotted off on their first trek. Luckily Amanda taught us navigation skills so well that we all managed not to get lost (phew). We even managed to avoid having to use our casivac (casualty evacuation) and medivac (medical evacuation) procedures! What an achievement! We tested our radio skills keeping field base updated regularly and we learnt quickly what to keep at the tops of our bags (Miriam ate lunch out of the packet as her mess tin was buried at the bottom). It was great for us all to get out of field base and see a bit of Mysore. We all managed to arrive at our camp site for the night in one piece complete with all our kit.

Above: the view from the camp site

We all put up our tents, dug our slop pit (where you put all your left over food and tip your water after washing up), set up our cooking area and dug out our short drop (extremely luxury toilet). Once we’d set up Miriam and Anne gave us some more medical training (all our hearts do beat which is a relief!).

Above: digging (or watching) our luxury loo.

We had a great evening making dinner and sitting round the camp fire. M-J even bought the shop out to us so we had crisps and chocolate while doing a fun quiz. Fortunately for us it managed not to rain all evening. Unfortunately it tipped it down all night! We were in our cozy tents though and nice and dry. We woke up to the sound music from the temple on Chamundi Hill (that was if you weren’t already awake listening to the snoring!).

We set off yesterday morning as one big group. By the time we had packed our kit it’s fair to say we were all soaked through. It was definitely monsoon weather! We trekked up to the temple on Chamundi Hill but not via the 1000 steps this time and with 20kg back packs on! It was quite tough going in the driving rain but we were all triumphant when we reached the top.

When we did reach the top there were loads of people queuing to get in the temple, the queue stretched all the way around the top of the hill! It was quite a sight! We buddied up on the way back down the 1000 steps and made it safely to the bottom without any slippages. Speed (or lack of it) is definitely the key!

Above: the top of the hill and the queue!

Above: Rich (PM) at the top of the hill in the crowds!

There was no rest for the wicked when we got back to field base, it was a quick turn around and then out for the swim test for the PMs. We all trundled off in to town and completed the swim test in monsoon drizzle, to be honest it wasn’t like we weren’t all still soaked through from the trek any way!

Then, last night, this happened…

Lewis (PM)

Miriam (PM and medic)

But what is it all about?? Check back later to find out.

Keep the comments coming in, they are all being passed on to the staff. Once the venturers get here the blog will be a great way of their friends and family leaving messages too, these will all get passed on regularly to venturers and staff.

A piece of cake

***Check back for photos soon we are just waiting for training to finish for the day so that Jocelyn, our photographer, can download some photos for us***

We had a lovely high tea yesterday for Katharine’s birthday. It was great for us all to be treated to a lovely bit of cake and of course Katharine was treated to our wonderful singing voices!

Everyone seems much better today in the tiredness department after having a good 12 hours sleep last night. Lucky that happened as today has been absolutely packed!

Now is the time when all the volunteer staff are trained for the expedition. This is vital training which will ensure the expedition runs as smoothly and as fabulously as possible…which of course it will! Today we all learned about communications. During expedition, which will start in a couple of weeks, projects will be using mobile phones and satellite phones to communicate with field base. If you are going to be on a project site you will be in quite rural and remote areas. Every day each project will report back in to field base with a sitrep (situation report). If you are coming on expedition as a venturer the likelihood is that you will have to do this! Why not start learning the phonetic alphabet now and really impress the PMs when you get here!!

We also learned today about casevac (casualty evacuation) and medivac (medical evacuation) situations and how to manage them on project. It’s really important to be prepared for all kinds of situations and today has given all the PMs the confidence and skills to be able to do this.

The training that takes place over the next two weeks for the project managers will be passed on to the venturers. If you are a venturer you will be learning about what language to use to communicate with field base for your sitreps and you will also learn about casevac and medivac situations so that we are all as prepared as possible to be out on the project sites.

We also did quite a few name games and ice breakers today to get us all warmed up! These will be done quite a bit on project sites. Check out the below video of us all taking part in ‘Aroo-cha-cha’ which is a really fun way to all get together and just have a bit of a laugh.

At the moment the project managers are having a briefing on all of the different projects so the next blog post will have some more info about what the actual projects are. Exciting!!!!

Hasivu update: our little friendly silk worm is shrinking!!! Don’t worry though, this is normal! He is preparing himself for the next stage in the cycle which to spin his cocoon. Check back for Hasivu updates
(see earlier postings for when Hasivu came from).

Tonight we are going back to the palace and hopefully this time it won’t rain! It’s been very very sunny the last couple of days so if you are coming out bring a sun hat and sun cream BUT still bring your umbrella and waterproofs!!!