Mosquito Nets . . . A Different Type of Protection

The other day, when I was accompanying the community HIT (Household Inspection Team), I came across a new use for mosquito nets – protecting chickens from hawks. I’m just not sure how the chickens get into this coop – or access food.

There’s no litter in Hamarland. Absolutely everything is used, over and over again. Clothing for females is limited to goat skin aprons and skirts that are difficult to clean. This young girl is exceptional; she was able to snatch enough of a net to wind around her waist. (The women repeatedly ask us to provide washable clothing. Tough assignment, we want them to be able to wash their clothes but their current style of dress is intrinsic to Hamar culture. But, that’s a story for another day. . .) Oftentimes, I see men wearing mosquito nets as clothing.

Malaria is wide-spread in our area. Over 43% have recurrent malaria. There have been several mosquito net distribution programs during the past few years. The problem is complex, however. In an area of scarce resources, whatever is available is used for the need at hand.

There is no saving or planning for the future. Eating and trying to stay warm today takes precedence over everything. And since mosquitoes are not around during prolonged drought but hawks are, this family decided to protect their chickens.

P.S. GTLI chicken coops are on the ground – covered with wire mesh! We don’t advocate using mosquito nets!

Myza Wants To Be A Chicken Farmer

Myza Wele has been a widow for about 8 years. She is not really sure, but she has 8 children and her oldest was about the size of her youngest when her husband died.

Myza has been a star student of GTLI’s CBLA training, proud that she and all 8 children now use their pit latrine. In fact, it’s full now. The family is going to plant a mango tree over the former latrine and eventually they will have mangos to eat. The prospect of future mangos makes pit latrine usage much more exciting!

Myza wants to be a chicken farmer. Her eyes are too tired for beading but she needs a source of income and more food. Her male goats have been sold and now her female goats are being exchanged for grain. Her eyes light up when she talks about chickens. She knows that her children can eat the eggs and when times get really tough, they can also eat the chickens.

Happy For Clean Water, Though Still Little Food

The elders of Wonga Bayno started gathering early on Sunday morning, eager for our arrival. I had been gone for 5 months, the longest time away since we started working here. Twenty elders greeted me profusely, so happy that I returned to Wonga Bayno.

Today, they assembled once more but this time, it was to tell me their concerns and dire need.

They are desperate. The land is dry, the crops are dead, and there is no food. They told me this story. “In Hamar culture, when there is no food, the old mother is sent out to ask neighbors to share food. Sometimes, the mother is gone for a long time but she always comes back with food.” They consider me their mother – why did I not bring them food? Can’t I see that they are starving?

Tears of sadness and helplessness ran down my face. I had tried to mobilize food distribution prior to leaving for the states in March. Nothing happened. All food distribution is controlled by the government – fraught with constraints and complicated procedures.

Shari Askar, an influential elder who is a major supporter of GTLI programs eloquently explained the situation. “I attended all GTLI training. My family now knows how to prevent disease. We were ignorant before. Our environment was polluted, we drank polluted water. Now, we drink clean water. I am happy to have clean water. But, we only have water. We have no food. We thought our mother (Lori) might have brought something for us. Even our women were looking forward to Lori coming back. But, there still is no food. Hamar life is so miserable. We depend on nature. If there is no rain, we have nothing.”

This is how we responded to this tough, tough dilemma:

1. We met with the local government officials to make sure Wonga Bayno is on the list for the next World Food Program distribution. They are.

2. We slaughtered a cow which they roasted and ate, celebrating their successful participation in our hygiene and sanitation training programs. It was a win-win situation. They had food for a night, success was celebrated, and the community earned money by selling the cow.

3. Beading mania took over the community center for 6 days. 35 young women made 500 bracelets and 30 necklaces in 6 days. Immediate hunger will be eased by the purchase of thirty bags of sorghum. (Four months ago, 120 bags vs. 30 bags would have been possible. As the famine increases, the price quadruples!)

The community desperately wants to earn money to buy food. They hate being dependant on food aid.

New Students, New Steps

When I left the field five months ago, we had a donkey who refused to carry water, a FAL school ready for students who seldom showed up, commitment from 27 families to build and use pit latrines, and no assurance that the promise would become reality. Our field boss had left GTLI to join another NGO for more money. Four discrete development projects were in process when I left the country to be with my pregnant daughter.

The GTLI field staff under the direction of project manager, Solomon Shewarega, accomplished miracles in my absence.

This morning, I witnessed 35 girl students attending our FAL (Functional Adult Literacy) school. The women's cooperative, 45 members strong, attends school every other day. Eighty female students going to school in Wonga Bayno...a community that didn’t allow women to speak in community meetings a year ago!

The Wonga Bayno community is starting to cross the “awareness abyss!”

The elders and women leaders get it. Thanks to the patent CBLA work of our field staff, Yehwalashet, Mayet, Gedion, Marco and Abraham – they understand that new skills are needed to feed their families long term. And, they are willing to do what it takes – even though it requires different skills than what their ancestors taught them. This is huge . . . very daring on the community’s part.

Bonus outcome – our donkey is carrying water – as significant of a cultural breakthrough as females attending school and 33% of our target beneficiaries are using pit latrines! (That may not sound like much to you but our stretch target goal was 20%).

My dream of helping them help themselves looks like it may come true – step by step.

Pictured above, elders and GTLI staff stand on the ground selected for our new school, as the community has outgrown the old.

Skinny Arms and Round Bellies Tell the Story of Malnutrition

We are on our way to Hamarland; this is my last night with internet connectivity. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the field. I left Ethiopia suddenly last spring to be near my daughter, Melissa, who was having difficulties with her pregnancy. Thankfully, James was born on schedule without complication. A beautiful, healthy big boy!

This is going to be a very busy trip. The field staff has three new hires; construction of the rural trading center in Minogelti is complete and will soon be stocked with the start-up inventory loaded in the rear of our pickup truck. The Grand Opening will be celebrated with the women’s cooperative and local government stakeholders this week.

The people of Galcide have clean water for the first time ever – we hit water at 22 meters. Another celebration! We need to sort out challenges with the water contractor to ensure the remaining two wells are completed as scheduled.

We’re phasing in CBLA hygiene and sanitation training in 4 new communities, phasing out CBLA in the 4 communities who have begun adopting healthy hygiene and sanitation behaviors.

Field staff training along with several government meetings - a lot of moving parts. It’s tough to coordinate everything when distances are great and efficient telephone communication is a dream of the future.

The drought, and resulting famine, is severe this summer. I truly hate that we have plenty to eat in our camp but no matter how much we share our food, nearby neighbors are starving. This is really a tough time for many people.