Group Round Up - The Final Countdown

Myself, Polly B and Anna head out on The Loop tomorrow where we'll be swinging by Tango 6 to collect Del who's been out there with them this last week and then heading up to Charlie One for the opening ceremony of their houses.

Before we depart, here's a round up of all that's happening on the project sites:

Charlie One
The houses are nearly all complete as the group have been hard at work plastering, flooring and putting in windows. They've also been flexing their creative side designing a mural to leave a lasting legacy in the village.

Charlie Two
All twelve eco-santitation units have been built and their delightfully green coloured toilet pans fitted. It's just the painting and the finishing touches they've got left to do now.

Echo Three
Still slogging it out hard and loving it in the trench the group have also continued erecting more fencing. The group will be taking a well earned break today and go to visit the local Golden temple for a bit of culture.

Tango Five
Tango Five have been absoultely loving it out there in the wilderness. Yesterday they enjoyed an amazing trek through tea plantations and today is the biggy, the 26km trek. We wish them luck!

Tango Six

Tango Six have too been loving it, with blue skies above them and barely any leeches in sight they're having an amazing time. Yesterday they had a 50km cycle route which they loved and today they've got a gentle 14km walk with the reward to me, Polly B and Anna waiting to greet them at the end of it!

All text by Polly Carpenter and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).

It's just not (only) cricket at Echo Three

Myself and Polly B had the pleasure of having a long weekend with Echo Three. We arrived Saturday afternoon just in time for the end of their digging shift which runs daily from 6.30am to 1pm. After the Raleigh rations staple of noodle lunch prepared by the 'housewives' on camp duty (the two team members who stay behind at camp to look after the site and prepare tea break and lunch), a spot of cricket was played with the local children from Basava Pura.

That evening we were treated to Kat's delicious cheesy pasta followed by Elisabeth's Banoffe Pie, most de-lish. Round the campfire we were serenaded by Owen, Robbie and Dr Phil, who each took it in turns to strum the guitar and sing us some good and some questionable songs!

The next morning we were roused with their delighted yells of 'DIGGING' which motivates them out of bed! Into the trench we put in a good day's work. The ground they're working on is full of rocks so it can be slow progress at times but spirits are kept high with plenty of banter and trench games.

Time for tea! 'Housewife'  Katie is a welcome sight

Shift over and Sunday afternoon was a blaze of sunshine, normally office bound myself and Polly B took the opourtunity top up our tans. Some of the group popped into local Basava Pura for some chai while Robbie and Owen entertained the local kids by making up 'crimping' songs to much humourous affect!

Sunday night was Hannah L's last evening as PM with Echo Three as we were bringing her back to Field base for her to job share with Hannah W in Mointoring and Evaluation for the expedition. As Sunday was also 'Sinterklaas' for the Dutch Venturers, the group gave out their secret santa pressies.

A misty Monday was welcomed with more yells of 'DIGGING'.

The group changed trench digging location for Monday's shift to where the soil was easier and less rocky and really got stuck in.


The commute to work ...

 



Anniek adding a touch of glamour to the trench



Then all too soon The Loop was there to deliver Hannah W to take up the reigns of PM for the final part of the phase and whisk me, Polly B and Hannah L away. We'd had a lovely weekend with Echo Three, they really seem to have the perfect set up there - a good enthuasuim for digging and entertaining ways to while away the well deserved lazy afternoons. We bid a fond farewell to Echo Three with big waves and drove off to the yells of 'DIGGING' in the air ...

 

All text by Polly Carpenter and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).

Handwashing in Hagaranahalli

GUEST BLOG BY JOSSE EMANUEL

On Thursday morning three lucky fieldbase team members (Polly B, Hannah and I) headed out to check out the progress on Charlie two. It was particularly exciting for me as I was keen to see how things had progressed from the last phase in Hagaranahalli.

As soon as we arrived, we headed straight to the village primary school to see locum supply teachers Kate, Isabel and Lucy taking the equivalent year 4 class. They taught an amazing lesson on based on the health and hygiene syllabus created last phase on why, when and how to wash hands. The lesson was a good mix of interactive fun games with some educational stuff, which definitely got picked up despite the communication barrier of language.

After school, we joined in the daily chai (with ginger) break, and got some time to appreciate the winter wonderland created by the team, complete with Christmas tree, cards, decorations and a beautifully home crafted advent calendar. It was a quick break though and it wasn’t long before day leader (Sarah) motivated the team back to work.

We were taken on a tour around the village. It was great to see the 12 toilets built last phase in use (well not literally), and that the new 12 toilets are making great progress with the majority at the critical ‘1m brick height’, meaning that they are well on track to finish exactly on time for the closing ceremony.

After lunch we left them, happily learning skills in brick packing/laying, plastering and concrete mixing, looking forward to the Michel inspired ‘Sinterklass’ celebration which they are eagerly awaiting on 5th December…

All text by Josse Emanuel and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).