The British Group

August 12, 2013

….so the English high school group…funny how things can fade from the mind so quickly. It’s been two weeks since they were here and reflecting back I wonder why I was so anxious and stressed at the time. Probably because I didn’t know it would all work out so well.

So a little background info- the Bale Beauty Nature Club is a local club that has some land (2.5 hectare) along the Tagona river, as well as a building in town that is used by students as a study hall and library. The club is largely run by a guy named Ayoub, who sadly has disappeared to America for the last month. (He had a two week visa, but has been there for over a month now…hum…). Fortunately his 2^nd in command guy Esmeal really stepped up and helped make the week a success, even while fasting during the day for Ramadam. The British group came with the assistance of a company that organizes “environment working vacations”, and this was a first time trial run for coming to Ethiopia. In total it was 7 high school girls, 2 teachers and a guy representing the company.

They showed up on a Saturday, the first real rainy day of the rain season. The original plan was for them to camp at the site but after sitting inside all day waiting for the rain to stop it was decided to have them stay in the class rooms at the club office. Lucky for them this was an option! Sunday we headed up to the site carrying paint, tools and a bag of compost (made by yours truly) ready to get to work. First I had one group work on finishing the compost toilet by splitting bamboo for siding, while the other group painted rocks yellow and made cairns to demarcate a trail. The day went smoothly and we all got a lot of work done.

The rest of the week was filled with pouring cement into molds to make fuel efficient stoves, shopping at the Wednesday market, picking Eucalyptus leaves for an essential oil processing plant, a tour of the medicinal plant seed bank, digging a garden at the club office, painting a mural and planting trees seeds to later give the community as an alternative fuel source (using the compost as an fertilizer). And to top it off on Friday a group of women came and performed some cultural dances and we had a big meat and veggie cookout over a fire as we continued to dance to the many different cultural songs. The group had a great time and I learned that I can be a good leader and organizer. I was with the group for the majority of the of the week and felt like a tour guide but also learned a lot and got some good work done.

In talking with them I learned that doing environment based working vacations is a hugely popular thing in England, especially for high school students and that it is a growing business. It was interesting for me to reflect on because, in truth, we did more work in this one week than I have done in the past six months. Idealistically it sounds great to come to a developing country to do volunteer work, but as I am learning, it’s not so simple. It takes a lot of time to organize and to identify what is really helpful and sustainable. Ethiopia is in the state it is due to many complicated reasons that a band aid and shovel won’t fix overnight.

For example a while ago I had the idea to plant trees along the main road in Goba. That idea stalled when I the town officials realized I didn’t have money to buy the trees and that they had some sort of plan to do it already. Now last week a crew of students were out digging holes all geared up to plant trees on the main road. Yesterday I spoke with the town official in charge and he said they might have some trees to plant, but not of the right species, and that next year they might have money to put fences around the trees….so we will see. I’m in the precarious position of being highly skeptical this will work, and not quite sure how to step in and assist. Yet another example of good intentions but misguided actions. Hum. I guess that’s part of my role here is to try to guide the actions to sustainable success.

Fortunately after weeks of doing other activities I feel like I am finally able to focus on some of my project ideas and feel like other doors keep opening. I will follow the momentum as long as it lasts.

On a side note I made the most amazing huckleberry coconut scones yesterday with berries provided by my dear friend Heather that she dried last year before I left Sandpoint, and I also received a lovely package of art and chocolate from the dear Emily Baker. Thank you dear friends and to my family for providing much appreciated mental support! Love to all!!!