Slideshows added

See the slideshows in the left-hand part of the blog - they show the latrine construction process and other photos from our trip.

Latrine Construction Progress

The team of masons in Rwanda has been busy working on latrines during the last two months. The table below shows a list of completed latrine replacements and repairs. The House numbers corresopond to the numbers on the map (which may be hard to read in this image - sorry).

Currently funds are running low in Rwanda and we are preparing to send additional funds to keep the project on track.

Latrine Construction Progressing

The masons have continued to work hard on constructing latrines in Rugerero.  When the travel team left Rwanda one latrine replacement was complete and two slab repairs were complete.  A month and a half later, the following work is complete:

 

6 new latrines are finished (5 have doors):25W,21E,30E,27W,29W,29W,28E
5 new latrines started and will be done next week:31W,42E,41E,45W,43W

6 slabs repaired :41W,20E,24E,10E,10W,5E

Travel Team Returns to USA, but Work in Rwanda Continues

Everyone returned home safely (and healthy!) after the trip to Rwanda. While we did not quite complete all of the original objectives of the trip, we feel very satisfied about the number of latrine repairs accomplished and our relationships with the community in Rwanda. We are confident that the foreman and masons can continue to repair latrines. Since we left, two additional latrines have already been completed (photos will be posted when available).

Photos have been added to many of the prior posts - so you may want to review them. Updates from here on out will be more infrequent.

Please post a comment about how we can improve the blog for future trips - please click on the "comments" link below and answer following questions:
- how often did you check the blog?
- how useful did you find the information?
- how could we make it more informative or interesting? (e.g. more photos, more personal stories, more philosophy, etc.)

Ready to leave Kigali

Adam, Linford, and Laura waiting to check bags in the Kigali airport.

Leaving Gisenyi

Before we left Gisenyi this morning, we were visited by the police commander, the local government executive secretary, the Red Cross director, and the owner of the guest house where we were staying. All wanted to wish us a pleasant journey and asked us to be "ambassadors" for Rwanda.

After taking the bus to Kigali, we met some Rwandan medical students for dinner - and we all agreed it was the best Indian food we had ever had.

Travel Team Leaving Gisenyi

Yesterday was our last day in Rugerero - we completed construction of the first latrine and worked on repairs of some of the other latrines in the village. Then we met with the health committee (pictured here) to discuss proper maintainence of the latrines, surveying the community about the latrines, and how we will continue to keep in touch with them during the rest of the project.

We also talked about how solar ovens could help them reduce charcoal and firewood use for pasteurizing water and cooking food.

We are traveling to Kigali today to meet with some medical students there, and fly back to USA tomorrow.