IY1 Begining of the second phase

Time is flying by in the village of Pura, with just three weeks remaining in the place we now think of as home. 

Feeling refreshed after 3 days of friendly competitiveness and organised fun at FB, and 2 days of constructive training at CIDOR, we are keen to get stuck in with our project for the second phase. Our next health camp on Sunday 2^nd December serving the village of Kohala and Deggalhundi is a great opportunity to get to know the surrounding area.

On Monday 26^th November, our first day back, Jo, Jamie, Balu and Shivu carried out a recce attending self help group meetings and publicising the health camp to anybody that listened. We were surprised to find out they knew all about us and our work, and were requesting eco sanitation toilets after hearing positive reviews from Pura. We all returned on Tuesday to carry out more of our favourite house hold health surveys. Much as in the same way as Pura, we encountered manner of different types of utta (food) and chai. Tomorrow we plan to return to the river and hold health camp awareness lessons in Kohala primary school in advance of the health camp the following day.

On Thursday the 29^th November we finally had a chance to celebrate our eco sanitations toilets, after the opening ceremony had been postponed due to a death in the village. IY1 rose early to get on with preparations for the day. We moved chairs, erected a shamiyana (open tent), rigged a microphone system and blocked the road for any traffic to get through Pura. Any schedule ran on the ever serious Indian concept of time, which meant we didn't start until after the chai had arrived (late). We sat through many speeches in Kannada from the guest of honour, made up of Mykaps and village representatives. We were very grateful to our resident MC, Shivu, who kept us on our toes by thrusting the microphone into team member’s hands expecting an improvised speech in English.  However, we all had our moment in the spotlight, performing a health and hygiene awareness song in Kanada with actions. We posed for many photographs and our first completed eco sanitation unit got the star treatment as Mr De Souza and Mr Paul cut the gold ribbon. Its proud owner, Mr Mahadevappa, can now allow himself to christen his new eco san unit after a week of holding off, to ensure the ceremony was not marred by any strong smells.

After making good progress with health camp preparations we allowed ourselves the morning off to explore more of the local surroundings. We rose at dawn the team equipped with walking boots, backpacks full of water, sun cream and hats. We met our 70 year old guide, Rajappa, the village helper wearing only his flip flops, shirt and a lungi, beedi in hand. The team set off across the fields for the hills on the horizon. By 9am we’d summited a small hill overlooking Pura. A great morning was had by all as we sang songs and had many a biscuit break.

As December arrives we still have lots of work to do in Pura and in nearby villages, but we have no doubt it will be made easier by the continued cooperation of the villagers and the great work ethic of our team.

As the Christmas spirit and the music come to Pura, we hope everyone at home is enjoying their first advent chocolate.

Until next time, IY1 signing off.

From Jo, Jamie, Jade, Meera, Mully, Daryl, Gavin, Shivu, Balu, Jal, and Nagu.