...In which we get our first glimpse of the project sites

What a busy few days it has been here at Field Base. In addition to the usual schedule of training, our VMs have been out in the field, visiting and familiarising themselves with their respective project sites for the first phase. When they finally got back to field base, just a short while ago, they were naturally eager to share their stories, experiences and photos, so here follows a cheeky peek at what you can expect from phase one!

Foxtrot One

Foxtrot One VMs - Steve, Johanna and Jakhya

Foxtrot One’s community phase takes place in the rural village of Bidarahalli. There, our venturers will help to construct fifteen eco sanitation toilets for fifteen of the village’s families. Eco sanitation toilets are incredible inventions and I’ll talk about them a bit more in later blog posts, but basically they work by allowing human waste to degrade in a chamber for six months, by which time it is safely pathogen free and capable of being used or sold as fertiliser. Not a bad step in the direction of sustainability.

Some of the village's younger folk



And a project meeting with some of the elders



Steve planning the future

By all accounts a thoroughly charming place, our VMs enjoyed an appetising lunch of curried fish and chapattis by Bidarahalli’s local reservoir one day – nom nom nom! In fact – local history alert – the construction of the reservoir fifty years previously is the thing that caused the village to have to up sticks and move to its current location. The friendliness of the community; the headmaster (in whose school we’ll be sleeping); the masons (with whom we’ll be collaborating); and the very grateful beneficiaries of our hard work, mean that this is sure to be a very rewarding three weeks. Oh, and it’s also likely that we’ll do some teaching in the local school and discuss development issues with the village’s women’s self help group during the phase. Let the hard work and games begin!

Foxtrot 2

Meanwhile, over in Hagaranahalli, Foxtrot Two will be getting down to business with their own eco sanitation projects. In 2010, Raleigh worked to install twenty four eco sanitation toilets in the village, increasing the tally at a stroke to thirty nine. Now we’ve returned to continue our great collaborative tradition.

VM Lizzie with some of her fans...

Hagranahalli is located approximately 35km from Raleigh Field Base and is surrounded by a sea of tobacco plantations. Interestingly, the national government is currently aiming to cease tobacco production in India by 2020, leading to questions over how villages like Hagranahalli will continue to prosper in the future. The village itself comprises roughly 700 people and 196 families, all of whom are Hindu.

and VM Alice with hers!

Ranks of tobacco plants

If lots of opportunities for social interaction floats your boat, this has to be the phase for you. The local children provide ever inquisitive company and have relentless enthusiasm for games, dancing, clapping and learning. Meanwhile, the elder folk of Hagaranahalli will no doubt challenge you to a game of cricket and, after thrashing you, will console your loss with truly authentic South Indian cuisine. Not so bad!

Foxtrot 3

Environmental conservation is the name of the game with Foxtrot 3 as they spend their first phase in the rural village of Manalvayal. Here, the Raleigh group will construct two biogas units, allowing the local Panya community to convert cow manure into natural methane gas for cooking and heating purposes. Did I mention that it gives them a stock of good fertiliser too?

VMs Laura and Dan with members of the Panya community

Some of the children of Manalvayal

Manalvayal, which is situated on the lower plateau of the Nilgiri Mountains in the Panadanlur Taluk district, is a small village indeed with only 11 families, but thanks to the sustained efforts of our project partner, the Centre for Tribal and Rural Development (CTRD), each family now has a new house in which to live. Raleigh’s presence is therefore part of an ongoing plan for sustainably developing the village and enabling them to take the reins of their own prosperity.

 

The majesty of the mountains

Venturers can expect miles of stunning scenery, a warm community reception, verdant vistas of tea plantations, the freshest, tastiest chai you’ve ever sipped and maybe.....just maybe....elephants!

ATTENTION ALL: This is the blog for the Raleigh 12I  5 week expedition. Any messages for the Raleigh 12N ICS volunteers should be posted on the separate ICS blog - http://www.raleighindiaics.blogspot.in/ Thanks!


Next time on the Raleigh India 12I Blog: The Host Country Venturers Arrive!