After a few weeks of training and preparing the communities for their respective projects, we finally began the construction of the three piggery sites and the sanitary pads. This past week was full of hard work and progress. The technicians finalized the design of the piggeries, and we started to work on the first piggery site. The first step was to dig the foundation of the structure. It was interesting to learn to use the shovels and hoes they have here because they are different than those with which we are familiar. The next step was to break rocks using sledgehammers to fill in and support the foundation. We also began digging the foundation at the second piggery site. Overall, it was great to work together with the communities to construct something that will benefit their lives for years to come. They showed their appreciation of our work by gifting us with fresh mangoes and warm porridge made from beans, millet, corn, and sugar. It was great to have a filling meal after working for hours in the hot sun.

 

In addition, the sanitary pads made significant progress this past week. The group received their sewing machine and practiced using it. Then, they decided what would be the best design for the pads. They chose a circle shape for the permanent piece which velcros around the undergarment. It has an oval, removable fleece piece that can be washed and reused to maintain proper sanitation. The pads project makes us very hopeful because we learned that many young girls drop out of school once they begin menstruation. Once girls leave school, this often results in earlier marriages and the girls becoming mothers at a younger age. These pads will be more affordable for the girls so that more of them can receive a proper education and pursue their dreams.

 

Lastly, we ended the week with an exciting trip to Murchison Falls National Park. We finally had the opportunity to see some wild animals on a safari. We drove through the beautiful park as antelopes and gazelles ran next to us. Suddenly, we saw our first giraffe in the distance and could not believe it! We saw many more giraffes after that as well as warthogs, a few elephants, water buffalos, birds, and even some hippos swimming in the Nile. We could not have thought of a better way to end a successful week!