‘Hoe kijkt coördinator Edward Bailor terug op het project?
De partner vertelt... van 3 december 2019 door Edward Bailor
Elk jaar vragen we onze partner hoe het project is gegaan en welke lessen de partner heeft geleerd.
Context and summary
1.1 Describe the original plan/idea for the project. Has the project been executed as planned?
Yes the project is being executed as planned:
• The children, technical and cultural committees were revived (WS local Committee) for the project as planned which is always part of the preparation for all projects
• After CTF received the funds for the construction, all building materials needed for the building were procured.
• The local materials needed for the construction were gathered at the building site by community people which is part of their own contribution to the pro.
• Afterwards, with support from the community people CTF prepared the foundation and did the two layers of blocks work for the 4 classroom.
• When we received the funds for facilitation, the accommodation for the participants was also prepared.
• With support from the local people, we started work on the building on Saturday, 20th July until we reached the highest peak of the building. Some plastering was done the building was roofed with zinc/iron plate before the participants left for the Netherlands on the 8th August 2019.
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1.2 Give a (short) general description of the implementation of the project.
The participants arrived in Sierra Leone on Thursday the 18thJuly 2019 as planned and because their flight delayed to arrive in Sierra Leone, we all spent the night at a guest house in Lungi. We travelled to Laminya on Friday the 19th July and it was about a 3hrs drive. The participants arrived in Laminaya to the jubilant reception of the community people couple with African music and dance through the principal streets of the town to the project site and accommodation.
Without any delay, the Building work started on Saturday, 20th July, with a formal launching ceremony at the project site involving all stakeholders. Both Christian and Muslim prayers were offered to mark the beginning of the ceremony and afterwards stakeholders including WS and CTF made statements, the youngest participants laid the first block before the construction work began.
On Sunday 20th July, we organized a church service at the accommodation for which community members were invited to join and a pastor of a church in the community gave the sermon.
As usual, during the construction, the technical leader of the participants, CTF and the local Amerigo contractor agreed on targets every day and worked very hard to achieve those targets. At the end of every day, the targets for the day were evaluated to whether they were achieved or not. At the end, new targets were also set for the other day.
Various evenings, cultural and children’s programmes were also organized along-side the construction work by the participants in close collaboration with the WS local committee members and the CTF staff assigned. Some of the cultural programmes among others included boat ride, home visits, and visit to hospital, local markets, agricultural farms, jungle walk and cooking with local kitchen staff and sleep over.
All the cultural activities were well organized and all went on as planned, except for respect for time and community cooperation. Most cultural programmes did not start on time. For example, for the children’s programmes, participants had to go to town to call children from their homes before we started. The children’s coordinator of the WS local committee was also not available sometimes to interpret. I have to step in or Amadu Koroma Jr. Amerigos son to do so. It was also the same with the football for water. The guy who was supposed to lead the organization of the teams almost always did so very late. But overall, the cultural programs went on.
Before the participants left for the Netherlands, a temporary handing over was also organized to hand over the building to CTF and the community. The building will be handed over ot the community when it is finally painted.
How do you look back on the following topics? How was it arranged, what went well, what could be done better?
1. Construction
2.1 Buildings work
The building work went on to the highest peak, the roofing was done with the zinc and some amount of plastering was also done by the participants.
2.2 Tasks to be done
Plastering which started with participants to be completed, floor screeding, fix internal ceiling, fix windows and doors already prepared and painting to be completed.
2. Facilitation of the team
3.1 Children program
For the children’s program participants divided themselves in small groups. While some participants were at the construction site, some were allowed to attend the children’s program. In this way, every participant was given the chance to attend the children’s program. The only challenge as mentioned earlier participants had to go to town to call children from their homes before we started. The children’s coordinator of the WS local committee was also not available sometimes to interpret. I have to step in or Amadu Koroma Jr. Amerigos son to do so.
3.2 Cultural and touristic outings
For the cultural outings, all participants attended some touristic outings like the boat tour, jungle and sleep over. Participants who were interested in specific cultural events like hospital, the bakery project, schools visit were taken at specific time to see those places. Time was a big challenge as most cultural programs did not start in time as planned.
We w experience some challenge was during the boat tour. After we had crossed from Rokupr to Mambolo our normal boat, it rained so heavily that it was impossible and risky to go across from Mambolo to Rokupr again. So used the road route instead.
3.3 Life Skills program
The life Skills programs also went on as planned for three days though also with some challenges of time.
4. Cooperation and involvement
4.1. Leadership team World Servants
The Leadership team of World Servants was very dedicated, innovative and engaging during the project. They were always asking questions to clarify issues like time and place related to the project or cultural programs. This was good because they were task oriented and always kept the Coordinator and the contractor thinking and planning about the project on a daily basis.
4.2 . Local leaders/key persons
The local leaders were also very supportive during the project as they helped with the organisation of the local team that participated in the building project and the cultural programs. Many of them visited the project sites almost every day to follow up on progress. To make sure the men assigned from the community to work are at the building site. They also tasked the community to provide food for workers from the community.
4.3 . Community
The community, was receptive, friendly and enthusiastic throughout the stay of the participants. They were also very supportive during the project. Anytime we traveled or walk along villages you see villagers waving their hands in greetings and you hear shouting +orpoto” which means “whiteman” in Themne which is more or less a sign of you are welcome.
4.4. Beneficiaries
Like the community, the head teacher and teachers of the school were also very supportive of the project. The head teacher helped in the organization of the children and cultural programs and was also involve in many of them. Women beneficiary participated in the project by fetching water and coking for the local team.
4.5. (Local) authorities
Local authorities such as the inspector of schools Kambia District, the paramount chief, village head men were also very supportive. For example, chiefs, a pastor, an Imams and even one of the senior inspector of schools of Kambia District attended the opening and temporary handing over ceremonies.
5. Practical arrangements
5.1. Accommodation
This is the first time participants are using as accommodation in a school constructed by WS. Generally, it was good as some members of the leadership team will attest. Camp beds (double) were transported from Lunsar to Lamiaya to provide comfortable sleeping places for participants. A Generator providing lights at least up to 12 pm Sierra Leonean time or as required by the participants during their period of stay was provided every day.
5.2 Food
Discussion with the participants revealed that the food was ok no major illnesses were reported.
5.3 Transportation
Two bus services were always provided for the participants throughout their stay in Sierra Leone. The W&D jeep was also at the disposal of the project.
5.4 Safety
It is also part of our usual security arrangements to have police officers from the Sierra Leone police to provide security during all projects. The services of two armed securities was secured throughout the duration of the project. Therefore, there was no complaint of theft throughout the duration of the project.
At the project various security measures were also taken by the participants and some locals by the wearing of hard boats and hand gloves. Children were also prevented from coming close to the project site for fear of harm or injury.
6. Lessons learned
Considering a small project like Laminaya large groups are not recommended. This is so because work allocations for participants can be difficult during the project. While some participants will have work to do some will not at the same time. Moving them around was also a challenge. The use of Latrines for example can take a long period during cultural programs, or securing a single bus that can accommodate all 40 including CTF project staff was a challenge. So we always hired two buses to move around.
In addition, another important lesson learned was that communities are more enthusiastic during first projects compared to second ones. It was observed that this was the main reason behind their lateness for cultural programmes. To the address this challenge, WS local committee must be strongly sanitized where they exist on the importance of community involvement in the project.
