D’Amour!

I felt it only necessary to write a post about our wonderful host Jean D’Amour. After me only knowing him for almost a year, Aria knowing him since not too long ago and Megan and Jack knowing him for many years now, with our only communication being WhatsApp and Zoom, he is better than words can describe. Jean is thoughtful, caring, smart, funny, a wonderful host, a good friend to all…the list is long. 

As we drive through the ‘African massaging’ streets and near towards Kadahenda, you hear songs filled with his name. Kids jump on the tire on the back of his car, swarms of 15+ kids unite and follow us down the road running to the site. He is friends with and laughs with the masons, the children, the community members, us, and even random people we drive past on the road. He is famous here in Musanze, to say the least. 

What I’ve learned about him so far (even though we are only on day-4) is that he cares so much for his country and it’s people, that where he stands is that he is a humanitarian and has made it his life’s goal to provide rural communities with food and water here in Rwanda. He is well-traveled, speaks 4 languages (English, French, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili), is very smart, having earned is PhD in 4 challenging years from the University of Michigan, and is a member of the rotary club and works with the team based in Boulder. He knows and cares much for his county, friends, family, community and making global connections with us and his students at the university. 

Jean D’Amour has many lessons and stories to share and I cannot do him justice with this writing but am so excited for our next 10days spent with him in his lovely home and lovely county. 

Murakoze 

Catherine

Do you fear worms?

For one Aria Mundy, the answer is most certainly yes. More on this later. 

Muraho, Megan here! After 32.5 hours of travel, we have finally arrived in Rwanda. We have been here for one day now, and although we are all still jet lagged and exhausted, we are soaking everything in. The people here are so kind, the food is amazing, and the views are stunning. The morning after we landed, Jean D’Amour’s friend Yvonne showed us around Kigali. We were treated to coffee and fresh fruit from the market (stay tuned for a poem/ode to coffee in a future post by Aria). We then took motos to the genocide memorial, which was powerful and sad to say the least. In the afternoon, we drove to Musanze from Kigali through beautiful rolling hills of farms and small communities, little kids grinning and pointing at us shouting “Muzungu!” as we passed. To my delight, we also passed lots of goats and cool-looking trees. 

We are now staying at Jean D’Amour’s beautiful house in Musanze. He has dogs, chickens, Guinea fowl, and pigeons, one of which is now (albeit jokingly) named after me. We finally got a chance to relax a bit this evening over some beers and reignite the debate over wanting to fight snake sized worms or worm sized snakes- as a result of this discussion, it was discovered that Aria hates worms, I have a worm-themed playlist (happily available upon request), and there are no worms here in Rwanda to torment Aria. We later had an incredible home-made, garden-grown dinner of potatoes, peas, and vegetables. 

Today, we will be visiting the site at Kadahenda for the first time. We are all so excited to see the progress that has already been made and get to interact with the community.

We will back back on the blog in a few days. Until then, dreams of chapati will fill my head and I will do my best to come around to coffee and beer!

Megan

Summer 2022 Implementation - EWB CU is finally headed back to Rwanda!

 Muraho friends of EWB CU Rwanda!

This is Megan, updating the blog a little more than 2 weeks before we leave for Rwanda for the implementation of our team's seventh rainwater catchment system. A lot has happened since our last post in Summer 2019 (Covid, remote implementation at Gasiza, system upgrades, etc.), so it feels appropriate to write an update before we embark on our upcoming adventure.

Our team this year consists of four students and one professional mentor: myself (current Project Manager and Chapter Vice President), Jack (PM in 2021), Catherine (our team's treasurer), Aria (a newish, but very enthusiastic, team member), and Travis (our professional mentor who works as an engineer and has traveled with the team several times before). We will be setting out to build the team's seventh rainwater catchment system - preceded by Munini, Nyarutosho, Ntarama, Gasebaya, Kibaya, and Gasiza. We'll also be visiting these past systems to evaluate their performance and speak with community members who use them.

Covid-19 has certainly been a major challenge for the team, and we're excited to finally be able to travel again. I joined the team during the remote implementation of Gasiza in Fall 2020, and the struggles of remote, international communication put a lot of stress on us. Like many other clubs, we dealt with substantial turnover and decline in membership, which has been a setback to say the least. I'm excited to have the travel aspect of EWB back and to rekindle relationships with members of the community. It still blows my mind that I'll actually get to meet the people I've been on so many Zoom calls with over the past two years in person!

Pre-Travel Column Progress

Construction started with site clearing about two weeks ago, and so far everything is going smoothly. It's really helpful to have masons and other workers who have built a similar system in the past because they are familiar with our design and easy to work with. Columns have been constructed, and hopefully the tanks will arrive before we do so that we can complete the plumbing and roofing of the system while we're in-country.

Jack and Aria mixing concrete!

Our team has been doing our best to prepare for implementation, not only with required paperwork, but also by spending time together in preparation. We have attended a concrete mixing workshop and watched Hotel Rwanda together in the past few weeks, which have given us the opportunity to get to know each other better and think about the ethical implications of our work. 

Before we get going, I also wanted to take a moment to thank and acknowledge everyone who has helped us along the way. Thanks to everyone on our team, past and present, who has helped work on the project, to all of our generous donors who have helped to fund the trip, and to our incredible community partners at DRD who have supported preparations and been a voice and advocate for the community (thanks Jean!). Thanks also to our friends on the Guatemala team who have shared their wisdom with us, and our past team members who haven given us insights into what it's like to travel to Rwanda with EWB.

That's all folks! Stay tuned for daily-ish blog posts starting when we leave for Rwanda on July 22!

Much love,
Megan

What's in that Monkey Juice?

There is a coffee shop in Musanze right down the street from our Fatima Hotel called Crema, and believe me when I say it is a little piece of Boulder right here in Africa.

Everything, from the smells to the customers to the sounds to the overall environment, just screams stereotypical Boulder life. It has been nice to debrief, rest, enjoy the amazing service, and delight in the best coffee around.






There is one drink that is only found in this coffee shop called the Golden Monkey, and I have fallen in love. Warning: Consider this to be a sappy, love song for my newfound joy. Take a break from the serious blogs written for this beautiful form of entertainment.

Oh Golden Monkey, Oh Golden Monkey, what is in that Monkey Juice?
Your birth was conceived out of the ingenuity of a Congolese barista, and I couldn't be more happy that you have found your way into this world.
How lucky am I, that of any place on this Earth, I found myself in the right place at the right time...the only place at the only time.
I have considered buying lottery tickets, because the luck I have absorbed by finding you is sending me over the top.

What am I most enamored by you?

Is it your technically proficient creation? I witnessed how each grain of coffee is specially chosen, finely ground down, and weighed to the exact specifications. I watched the meditation of precise brews and filter separations. And I couldn't contain my joy once you were soaked in a mixture of honey, cinnamon, apple juice, and ginger soda, hand-pressed until each last drop was finalized.

Is it your beauty? Maybe it is the condensation that finds itself on your glass. Maybe it is the golden color that I can only imagine what heaven's streets are colored with. Maybe it is the ice clanging ever so slightly up against the glass that awakens a what was once lost in my mind. Or maybe it is the beauty found within...

I was always told to seek out the beauty from within, and I now understand why. The first time I tried your delectable taste, a symphony erupted in my heart. The sweetness of the cinnamon, the spice of the ginger, and the purity of the coffee bean all combine for an out-of-body experience.

Your scent makes me come alive, and I can't wait to soak up the goodness you will surely bring. They say long distance is hard, but I know we can work it out. Just the thought of your taste rejuvenates my mind and refreshes the dullest parts of my body.

I know this is selfish of me, but I wish you were closer. I could enjoy a cup of you with each meal, share your beauty with my friends, and always know you are near.

But I guess this is the price you pay for traveling...and for love. You share your heart with others, and that part of you will always remain after you've gone.

It's so hard to say goodbye, but the comfort I reside in is knowing that I will be back...and the taste will be all the sweeter.

Goodbye, my love. Until we meet again.

Your love,

Gary

This Simple Yellow Jerrycan

You cannot go anywhere here without seeing a simple yellow jerrycan. I have been thinking about this a lot, and the drastic need for water that is exemplified by these containers. But I think it is so much more than that.

This simple yellow jerrycan symbolizes strength. There are very few people I know that can take a 40lb awkwardly- sized jerrycan and carry it 10km...let alone multiple trips a day.
Assessing Gasiza was an eye-opening experience for sure, as the hike to and from the village to fetch water is treacherous, with steep, rocky, jagged terrain that would challenge even the most skilled of hikers. On top of all that, they do this without any type of reasonable footwear. I think seeing a simple yellow jerrycan can empower you, inspire you, and cause you to contemplate how blessed you are.

This simple yellow jerrycan allows for a symbol of equality. No matter who you see, no matter where you go, you can always find these yellow jerrycans. From Kigali to Cyanika, from our hostel Mijo to the gas station diner, from the Goico Plaza to the Nyagabugogo Bus Station, there is no lack of these yellow jerrycans. I have seen this resemblance as an indication that everyone needs water...no one is exempt. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, if it is a crisis, everyone is in the same boat.

This simple yellow jerrycan is a sign of humility, yet ironically, is also a sign of pride. The humble spirit that fetches water can be so overcome with pride for the water that is gathered.

This simple yellow jerrycan is strikingly noticeable. You can pick out one of these miles away, and it always fancies your sight. For some reason, you can't help but look at these marvelous containers. I think deep down, it is a physical representation of how important water is to us.

This simple yellow jerrycan portrays a smile. It could be the little girl using it like a drum, creating an upbeat dance rhythm that draws in a crowd. These jerrycans can ignite a smile when there is enough water at the rainwater catchment system. By using them, people can unite over stories and experiences shared over the water collection with this simple yellow jerrycans.

This simple yellow jerrycan brings about so much pain and sorrow. Wilson, the chief of Nyrautosho, had a daughter that was beaten nearly to death on the way to fetch water at a nearby lake. It was no fault of him or his daughter. It is just a result of a persistent problem that is encompassed by this simple yellow jerrycan.

This simple yellow jerrycan resembles time. We all can agree on one thing...time is one of the most precious gifts we have. With this valuable resource being limited, what we choose to do with it defines us more than we know. How can this simple yellow jerrycan take up so much time? When each trip takes upwards of 4 hours to collect water, you can envision how difficult it is to keep a steady job, maintain a reliable water source, and constantly bathe and wash your clothes. And although most people know the importance of treating your water before use, it is easy to see why many still don't. After spending all day collecting water, the exhaustion of this simple yellow jerrycan can weigh on you more than you know. When the water need is immediate, how can you justify investing more time?

Here's the thing. I can sit on my soapbox all day and talk about how important clean drinking water is to me, to our team, and to the world. But until you realize the struggle people face daily, it is difficult to truly comprehend what so many others around the world have to go through every day. As you go throughout your day, please be reminded of water in all of its beauty, and of this simple yellow jerrycan. 

Excuse Me, Are You Guys Park Rangers?

As the trip nears its end, the team has finally become as acclimated as possible to the people, the culture, the food, the language, and of course, the dancing. Just the other day, we were walking down the street, and a lady asked us if we were park rangers...and I think I will take that as a compliment. LOOK OUT PARK RANGERS, HERE WE COME!

We are nearing the end of our trip now, and it is safe to say that the time has flown by. It seems like just yesterday we were prepping for our first Community Vision Board meeting, and yet our final meeting will be tomorrow. I have a feeling it will be bittersweet, but I am excited to conclude our findings with the chiefs, discuss our future plans, close out the 3 systems that our team has been tirelessly working on for the past five years, and then a feast. Pastor Jacques has invited the team and all the chiefs to a meal at his house where we can break bread and enjoy some quality fellowship. Stay tuned for more on how that goes.

Quick Updates on the past few days.

We went and assessed the third site in Hanika, and I am ecstatic about the potential impact that this team can have in this part of the world.
Man, clean drinking water is unbelievable vital to our success and well-being, and there is not a day I am not reminded of that.

Last weekend the team headed back into Kigali. We went to the Kigali National Genocide Museum and a safari in Akagera National Park. Enjoy some of the quality pictures (group pictures to come later)!

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas.

"Hi, I'm a zebra. No one knows what I do, but I look pretty cool, Am I white or black?"

--Ariana Grande

Never seen some monkeys getting attacked by small little birds before. 

Stay tuned for more blog posts!

Big Progress in Week 2!

Muraho! This is Cassidy with a quick recap of our last few days here in Rwanda. 

We've been gaining valuable information about our future projects while having a great time connecting with the community and experiencing the joys of this beautiful country. 

This week has been very informative so far. We started off with our second Community Vision Board meeting where we had the opportunity to speak with the chiefs of the five villages where we've already implemented, as well as one of the officials of the Cyanika sector where our team will continue to be working. We had the opportunity to introduce our mentor, Cole, and he was met with an incredibly warm welcome from the Community Vision Board. 

One of the greatest parts of this trip has been seeing how grateful the community is for the work we've done. The village chiefs come up to us with smiles from ear to ear and look at us deeply as they express their gratitude for our work. This level of appreciation was something I never imagined while working on our projects back in Colorado, and I think it's important for all our members and supporters to understand how valued their work is. The four of us represent such a large team, and we wouldn't be able to do it all without each and every one of you back home, so thank you all!

We started the Community Vision Board by meeting discussing a future latrine project with one of the sector officials of Cyanika. He informed us that there is a need for public latrines in a playground where there are frequent soccer games and practices, as well as some government meetings. We are planning to check out the specific site tomorrow, as well as investigate more about what a good versus bad latrine would look like for this specific community. I think a latrine project offers a new challenge that will be fun to explore. 

At the meeting, we also talked with the chiefs about what they need to have repaired and what they recommend we change about future designs. The information gained through this discussion will help us match our design to the community's specific needs and maximize our impact in the area. We learned that the tanks are dry a few months out of the year, and sometimes they overflow during the rainy season, so I hope that we can adjust our designs to better match the water storage capacity with the roof size. 

After our meeting, we went down to visit Lake Burera, which is where members of the community are walking to fetch water if they are too far from a government tap stand or one of our rainwater catchment systems. The road leading to the lake is steep and rocky. It's hard for me to imagine carrying a 20L jerrycan for so many miles on that terrain. The lake was breathtaking, but the water near the shore was murky and filmy. Hasan described to us that people will typically pay someone to swim a little further out to get the fresh water, but little kids collecting water for their families will stay right on the shore. It was incredibly impactful to see the community's alternative with my own eyes. It really justifies the importance of our work back home. 

Today, we spent some time visiting two of the potential sites for new rainwater catchment system implementation, Gasiza and Kavunda. Gary and Hasan worked on surveys with some of the community members to gain a better idea of the need in the community and their current methods for water collection. As always, Gary was making a lot of friends and forming a good connection with the community. Cole, Casey, and I worked on taking pictures and measurements of the sites for future designs. Unfortunately, Sonrisa was still recovering back at the hotel, working on survey data. We are grateful to have our mentor, Cole, around now, and we've been exploring different design options with him. I feel like I've learned a lot from these discussions, and I think that his input will be a great help as we start our next designs! 

Gasiza and Kavunda are pretty far from the main area in Cyanika, but we were surprised to find a new road leading to Gasiza, which will really help us to get trucks and materials out there next year! We analyzed two plots at Gasiza, and one of them seems well-fit for a new system. It is one of the most densely-populated villages in the region, so it will be a new challenge for our team. The site at Kavunda is small, but we may be able to use the chief's home as our roof structure, adding tanks and gutters for a more simple design. 

We ended the day today taking loads of pictures at the Kibaya site built last year. 

The Kibaya system being put to good use. 

One of the amazing women we interviewed
who thanks us for bringing the Kibaya system into her life. 

It's incredibly rewarding to hear that our systems are impactful, and the connections we've made with the community have been truly life-changing. I have been amazed by how well people can communicate despite different languages and cultures: whether it be a giant smile, like the one we get every time we see Donatien, or giggles from the kids of Cyanika after I turn around and make a funny face. It's a good reminder of how well-connected we all are and how we can truly help each other.

Donatien's giant smile. 

We always find friends in Goico Market. 

The kids of Ntarama love to play follow the leader.