Echo Four's campsite is set in an idyllic location on the banks of a reservoir with mountains overlooking in the distance.
Phase Two Echo Four's first task were a few renovations around the camp to ensure their newly claimed bashas were water tight.
As it turned out, this was a good thing too as that evening a small cyclone seemed to hit the camp, so with trepidation we battened down the hatches and climbed into our (hopefully waterproof) bashas. Fortunately we all survived the night unscathed and so another day was spent at the campsite on Saturday for the group to settle in before work on the trench started on Sunday.
The project site is a 2km walk into the centre of Huskurhadi village, picking up the digging tools which are kept in the local school overnight. Phase Two Echo Four will be continuing the work of the previous phase in digging the elephant proof trench to protect the crops of three families in Huskurhardi from the elephants that venture across the reservoir in the dry months to feed on their crops.
It's hard labour as Echo Four will be up at dawn every morning to work in the coolest part of the day. There's a sensible approach to work from the team though, who ensure they schedule in lots of water and snack breaks (a great relief for me!)
Afternoons are then spent relaxing back at the campsite, cooling off in the reservoir, relaxing in bashas and a spot of team games.
I had such a relaxed time with Echo Four and look forward to hearing how they get on throughout Phase Two.
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| Phase Two's Echo Four L-R: Rosie, Sarah, Jen, Raja, Phil, Sean, Michel, Isabelle, Luke, Denise, Ryan, Sterling, Hannah & Irene |
