Below is picture updates on the finished projects in Rwanda at the end of June.

Closing Thoughts

Today we leave Gashora better than we found it, all of our hearts are full of love for these people and we are wiser  than we were when we left Washington State.  A lot can happen in a short amount of time, and I am proud and relieved to say that our primary projects are complete and the finishing touches on the eco-latrine will be made by the skilled hands of a Rwandan brick laying team.   I have gotten to know three young men from Rwanda, Cedric, William and Rogers, that will be influential agriculturalists in this country as their skills and careers evolve, which will be beautiful to witness.   We have learned much from them about what works in this country, the challenges they face, and what can be done to improve food security and food safety here.  

 

Our interns have been impressive.  This is an extremely bright, hard working team of young people that have made me proud to have them represent WSU and our college.  This has not been an easy experience.  The problem solving opportunities have been constant as we figured out ways to work around tool and supply limitations, and lack of resources.  We have faced communication challenges with our partners here due to language barriers that slowed things down and/or headed us down the wrong direction.  We navigated personality clashes that happen when a diverse group of people work together on a short time-line to accomplish lofty goals.  We have had moments of tremendous frustration and have celebrated many amazing moments of success.  It would be impossible for me to create the richness of this experience in a classroom.   What I have been truly humbled by most in this experience is how little it takes in some circumstances to do something highly influential.  In the US, our technology is so advanced that I struggle to create opportunities for students to realize that with intention, commitment and effort they can make a difference in the world.  As the women of COVAGA sang and celebrated with us yesterday, I hoped with all my heart that each of the interns felt the power of influence through contribution.  We are well loved and much appreciated by this group.  The laughing, singing, hugging, and gifting that occurred was beautiful to experience.  Afterwards, we went to each project we had worked on at the site and the interns explained to the COVAGA members what the goal of each project was and hope it worked.  Lama accused me of being a "proud mama" and it was true.  To me, the purpose for creating this trip manifested in those moments.  I felt the torch pass from me and Colleen to  the next generation of influential leaders in agriculture as our students stood in a place of empowering people to improve their quality of life through innovation and education.  Nicely done, interns!  Thank you for you time, your effort, you dedication and determination.  I am very proud of you, and it has been an honor to work beside you in Rwanda.

 

Dr. Kidwell

 

Day 13- Last Work Day

 

After finishing the dehydrator we watched the COVAGA CO-OP get an award called the World Award for Sustainability from the Energy Globe organization. The woman then went on to thank us for all our help and we concluded the work at COVAGA with a 15-minute dance while the ladies sang for us. We then toured the women around the land to show them the proper care and use of all the projects.

            On site we completed the dehydrator, spiral garden, compost, and worm compost. The Eco-Latrine is almost done and just needs the ramp completed and the door. The contractors will do this after we depart. We are so lucky to have gotten all we planned for done, and even a little more. It was a great day to end our work here in Gashora.

Last Day

How can I even begin to explain the last day at COVAGA… Only one word seems to capture the moment, give. When I think of that last day and all its events I can’t help but to think of the gracious attitudes that guided every part of this trip. As a group we gave our time and knowledge to make all the projects happen. The COVAGA ladies gave us so much too. They gave support, manpower, baskets, love, land, their attentions, an attitude to learn, and memories we will never forget.

            As I look back at the day, and the whole trip, I have never felt more blessed by a group of people in my life. I know we gave them agricultural structures and knowledge however I can’t help but feel that they gave me so much more. I will never forget their peaceful spirits; ready to give whatever it takes to make the dream possible.

            Rwanda and ladies of COVAGA thank you so much for all you have given us, I just hope what we leave will create an impact equal to the one in me.

 

-Victoria

Dustin's worm compost bins

Dehydrator with the ramp and Plexiglas attached

Moving the dehydrator outside

Taya's Blog

 

 I ate more food than I think Ive eaten in one sitting for years today.  I had breakfast but then by like ten am I was hungry again.  I ate a banana (though that isnt a lot because the ones here are about as big as a large thumb) and was then starving by lunch.  I ate and ate and ate.  A big pile of rice with spinach on it, fried sweet potatoes, plantain 'bread' (more like smashed cooked plantains in a loaf), baked beans, boiled peas and carrots, avocado, and pineapple.  

When I first got here I thought the big piles of food I saw people eating were ridiculous and I could not understand how someone could eat as much as the people I saw were.  After a week of being here and eating this fresh food, and with working as hard as we are with our long days, I am now piling my plate high at each meal.  Im not going to lose any weight here, contrary to my preconception but it's good food and I feel healthy.  I was joking today that its no wonder that people have a very high starch diet in this country, every pile of fried potatoes and plantain Ive eaten has been delicious!  

 Got some good work done on the dehydrator today.  Made the main frame and cut plywood as well.  We don't have the builder tomorrow but he left us the circle saw he borrowed so hopefully we can make the rest of our cuts.  It was really hard for him to borrow an electrical saw for us but he eventually convinced someone after a lot of trying.  In a place where most have so little and everyone would want to borrow such a treasured and useful item, people are very cautious about what they lend out.  It just means too much if they lose it.  Were lucky to have some very good people with us, people that know how to get things accomplished, and also people who are very much trusted by their peers.  Everyone is excited about out projects here and I think it lends even more of a good light to the entire program that we have such great Rwandan’s involved. 

 

Day 12

Today was a stellar day for our projects. We are being recognized by two large organizations on national TV for the work we are doing at COVAGA. We couldn’t have asked for a better note to end our trip on. So in light of the new publicity we were given the extra gusto needed to come close or fully completion all our projects.

 

Mushroom House- Done! William, Lama, Colleen, and Kim installed the door today. The instillation of the door was the last item that needed to be completed. So now the house is fully functioning as a place to grow mushrooms. The COVAGA ladies are overjoyed.

 

Composting- The compost piles are done as well! And Dustin also worked hard and finished the worm composting bins too.

 

Eco-Latrine- The structure is almost finished. The crew worked on making the toilet seats, building up the walls to the height of the roof, and making some of the forms for the roof. The ramp is also in construction and hopefully will be finished tomorrow.

 

Dehydrator- The team was on fire today. They finished all the sides for the structure, and moved it outside. Then they painted, caulked, and attached the ramp, and clamped down the Plexiglas. The team also stained the whole structure as well. All that is left is to secure the Plexiglas into the ramp and to apply a second coat of stain to the dehydrator.

 

            We can’t wait to see the work we have been doing on TV mostly so others may be inspired to copy our efforts and improve their agricultural systems. With two more days in country we are definitely making these count.

Dustin putting  the tomato plant starts to good use...

Eric using the 'watering can' he and Dr. Kidwell made to water their variety trial seeds planted in the spiral garden

Mushroom substrate being laid out before being planted in the mushroom house.

Day 11

The power was out for most of the day today. And as Colleen says the first three letters of Rwanda’s name stands for ‘Rwanda wins again’. The lack of electricity posed the most problems with the dehydrator project. They didn’t have the tools or the electricity to screw together the doors and ramp. However every team worked really hard through the challenge and was very productive.

 

Mushroom House- The substrate was delivered today and the plastic covering and stick framing was put in place. The only thing left to do with the mushroom house is to finish making the door, which will be delivered tomorrow.

 

Eco-Latrine- The structure had the pad poured for the floor of the latrine. The team then laid some of the large cement bricks to create the wall of the structure. We are so appreciative of all the help we are getting from Rwandan contractors.

 

Compost- Compost had a very fruitful day. Dustin and the team were hard at work finishing the second compost pile. When they finished, Dustin went on to figure out a contraption for worm composting, which he is almost done with.

 

Dehydrator- The team was slowed down by the lack of power, but they were still able to put the ramp together and paint it black. The goal of the team is to finish the structure by noon tomorrow and we can’t wait to see it completely assembled and being put to work.

 

The Spiral Garden was planted today with the variety trial seeds that Eric brought from the U.S. We are so excited the spiral garden is completely done and ready to sprout some new plants.

 

Overall we are finishing up most of our projects in Gashora. We can’t wait to see what their impacts will be.