Doing the WASH in Swaziland by Melody Rockwell
Swaziland Safe Water Project -- sponsored by substantial grants from the Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Gift and Trust Fund and the Episcopal Waters of Hope with generous gifts from the Iowa Safe Water International Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, parishes and individuals...
On October 2, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministries team started their day extra early to attend a meeting of WASH [Water and Sanitation for Health] Stakeholder Coordination Forum, a consortium of agencies concerned with water quality and resources in Swaziland. The meeting convened in the UNICEF headquarters in downtown Mbabane. Team members -- Alfred Sipho Dlamini, Nothemba Khoza, Dumsane Matsebula, Jabu Mnisi & Mthunzi Ndlovu -- had been personally invited to present and demonstrate the chlorinator along with Greg Stout from Iowa.
The gathering including representatives from the Swaziland Rural Water Department, UNICEF, and a large number of other organizations.
The agenda including updates on groundwater data management services, training on water supply manuals, solar water pumping, utilization of UNICEF's hand pumps, a meteorological forecast for the summer, and! the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry team's presentation. Alfred introduced the project, Greg explained the way the chlorinator works, and Nothemba and Dumsane demonstrated how to make chlorine.
They did well in this high-powered setting, and made some good contacts for the future of the project. "Come back," Chairperson Jameson Mkhonta said. "Bring written information and we will give this further consideration at our meeting next month." The Chairperson also commented that he was sure they could find all the parts [PVC pipe] in Swaziland that would be needed to make the chlorinators, or work with the plastics factories in Manzini to produce what is needed. He also indicated that the electrodes could surely be found in or near Swaziland. Greg agreed that making the chlorinators from as many local products as possible is the ideal that the team is aiming to achieve.
After the meeting, everyone was invited to tea -- which in Swaziland always includes biscuits (cookies) and small sandwiches in addition to coffee and tea. The Swazi team was enthusiastically encouraged to attend a water forum the following Friday and the trainees to take part in the training programs offered by WASH. A great connection!
On October 2, the Swaziland Safe Water Ministries team started their day extra early to attend a meeting of WASH [Water and Sanitation for Health] Stakeholder Coordination Forum, a consortium of agencies concerned with water quality and resources in Swaziland. The meeting convened in the UNICEF headquarters in downtown Mbabane. Team members -- Alfred Sipho Dlamini, Nothemba Khoza, Dumsane Matsebula, Jabu Mnisi & Mthunzi Ndlovu -- had been personally invited to present and demonstrate the chlorinator along with Greg Stout from Iowa.
The gathering including representatives from the Swaziland Rural Water Department, UNICEF, and a large number of other organizations.The agenda including updates on groundwater data management services, training on water supply manuals, solar water pumping, utilization of UNICEF's hand pumps, a meteorological forecast for the summer, and! the Swaziland Safe Water Ministry team's presentation. Alfred introduced the project, Greg explained the way the chlorinator works, and Nothemba and Dumsane demonstrated how to make chlorine.
They did well in this high-powered setting, and made some good contacts for the future of the project. "Come back," Chairperson Jameson Mkhonta said. "Bring written information and we will give this further consideration at our meeting next month." The Chairperson also commented that he was sure they could find all the parts [PVC pipe] in Swaziland that would be needed to make the chlorinators, or work with the plastics factories in Manzini to produce what is needed. He also indicated that the electrodes could surely be found in or near Swaziland. Greg agreed that making the chlorinators from as many local products as possible is the ideal that the team is aiming to achieve.
After the meeting, everyone was invited to tea -- which in Swaziland always includes biscuits (cookies) and small sandwiches in addition to coffee and tea. The Swazi team was enthusiastically encouraged to attend a water forum the following Friday and the trainees to take part in the training programs offered by WASH. A great connection!
posted by Mission Team ~ Iowa at
5:39 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home