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We went back to Nigeria to check on the well projects. We wanted to see a well done by each of the three contractors. This one is almost finished. It just needs tile and paint. (And clean-up of the area.)
Discussing the project with the contractor, manager and site monitor.
We needed to verify the pump pressure so the contractor turned on the water. Women came from everywhere with anything that could be filled with water.
They were all smiles as they realized how nice it will be when the well belongs to their community.
The children carry much of the water here. They start young and do a good job.
More happy ladies who kept coming with more and more pails.
Men show they can carry water too.
It was fun to watch their excitement. This community will soon have the well turned over to them to use and maintain.
This is the same type well in a different location by a different contractor. It is next door to a very poor school. The tanks in the background were put in by the government. They never worked.
This is the school. American children need to see this school to appreciate what they have. The students and teachers will be happy to have clean water nearby.
I took these pictures of a place called Sabo. I keep trying to tell Elder Reynolds I would like to do something here if we get another project next year. It is filthy. They had a cholera outbreak last year.
It is no wonder they have a lot of sickness with children playing here in the sewage.
Here is the church at Ile Ife. It is a very nice building. We stayed in a compound just through the wall from the church.
These are my three hygiene team leaders. They are great women and are working very hard.
Our driver, Jamiu. We can cross "Indy 500" off our bucket list after traveling with Jamiu from Lagos to Ile Ife. He was an amazing driver, but very aggressive and FAST. (I won him over with my Costco snacks. He insists we ask for him as a driver next time.) We'll see.
Grace doing her hygiene training to those who will train in their communities.
She had good participation. It was fun to watch them as they learned about washing hands.
This is Grace's little girl. I could have put her in my carry-on and brought her home with me.
I don't know why I took this photo other than there are "cow slaughter slabs" along the roads. It is sad to me to see the cows tied up, watching the cow in front of them turn into someone's dinner. I'm glad we didn't actually see them killing one of the cows. And I'm glad my meat comes in wrapped plastic from the supermarket.
We went with the hygiene trainer, Patience, to a community. This community trainer is showing me his "Tippy Tap." I realized after he showed me that he only had a hole for the string and not a hole for the water to run free. I explained what he need to do to make it work correctly. He was proud of his work and will teach others in his community how to wash with clean water.
Max took this photo of a pet parrot for the grandchildren.
Here I am with the gathering I ended up with in Oke-Ola. I think we are saying Oke-Ola, so we all have our mouth's open. They are wonderful people....happy and friendly.
This is our team meeting with contractors, hygiene trainers, site monitors and site manager. Max is taking the photo. (Grace and her baby had to leave early.)
These women belong to the community that is not cooperating in doing what they need to do before we turn the well over to them. I was telling them if they don't participate in the hygiene training then we will lock the building and take the pump to another site to use where people WANT to have clean water.
They want the water; they just don't want to have to work for it. But these children deserve to have healthy water to drink.
Their well is almost finished except for the tile and paint. They may not be able to use it for a long time. Too bad. (Or they'll realize we are serious and get their act together.)
This is just a marketplace I "snapped" as we drove down the road. I smile at the mannequins who all have white skin.
We had a very productive trip. We needed to correct some problems and spent a lot of time telling those working hard what a great job they are doing.
