Project Phase

Yesterday (July 19) the Therfield School World Challenge team finally emerged from the African bush to the small metropolis of Dodola. We had just completed 10 days of our project in the village of Garamba.

Our journey there was adventurous as we did it on horseback. The horses were very docile which as excellent on a safety front but perhaps not on a speed front. Progress was a bit slow but the scenery was spectacular. It was hot, and the field verdant. Eventually we entered the forest which had tall willows and babbling streams. After a day's climbing we made camp.

During our first night under canvas we encountered a thunderstorm. We were all safe and dry in our tents as the far off lightning lit up our camp site.

The next day we finally reached Garamba, our home for the next week. The village is dotted with a few houses, a stream, a football pitch and the shell of a school building which we have come to help build. The team roles have also changed: Christian and Amelia have the important job of organising food, Ellie and Dan checked our accommodation, Lucy and Pete organised transport, Hinnd and George our linguists, Will, Briony and Arseniy on morale with Billy and Phoebe overall leaders.

Here is a summary of a typical day whilst on project:
0630: Wake up have porridge/grul (who is going to wash up?!?) Fetching water

0800: Head to work. This ranged from digging, de-weeding, building classroom walls, carrying wood (heavy!) and building a huge fence.

12.00 Lunch (super noodles), chatting

Afternoon: More work or obligatory fooball match with locals (the high altitude does us no favours and they clearly dont play the offside rule)

1900: Dinner - vegetable soup, flatbread, pasta, rice, fresh fruit (mangoes) and nettle soup (not a popular one). We also decided to buy a goat. Although met with some suspicion, the desire for meat overcame us and we all tucked into every part of the animal.

2015: Look up at the amazing stars and go to bed

As we were up in the mountains it was quite cold and wet in the mornings and evenings, but everyone had packed appropriately.

On our last day the children from the sdurrounding area came and we gave them gifts of  footballs, balloons, frisbees and bracelets. There were a lot of smiley faces going on. The village gave us a goodbye and thank you ceremony in which they gave us a gift of a sheep!

In 6 days we had acheived a lot. A building had firmly taken shape and a community had rallied around us. The students of Therfield have had a huge impact on Garamba, and Garamba has on us.

Another 2 day trek was needed in order to return to Dodola. This was without horses so a bit more ardous. The rain has meant that it was quite muddy so there were several occurrences of slipping over. Our campsite had a wonderful view of a deep valley opening out into the Ethiopia plain. It was here that I think the group had a real sense of acheivement.

We returned to Dodola triumphant and went out for a celebratory coke and samosa (huge). We now have a couple of days rest before we start our main trek in the Bale Mountains national park on Sunday.

Spirits remain very high!