ANEPO and Tanzania Girl Guides Site Visit for AWWC

Submitted by A Single Drop on 15 March 2009

The participants of a BioSand filter training organized by Anna Anatoli and Syoni Mnzava, two participants from the African Women and Water Conference, in Arusha, Tanzania, for members of ANEPO (Attration of Natural Resources and Environment We Protect and Organize) and Tanzania Girl Guides from March 2-6, 2009.

But before the BSF training began ASD spent two weeks with Anna and Syoni making preparations, visiting the communities they work in and learning about the work of the Tanzanian Girl Guides and ANEPO. February 22 was Thinking Day, an international day to celebrate the birthdays of the founders of Girl Guides/Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and the Arusha community of Girl Guides came together to sing and dance and talk about safe water. This sign says, "MAJI SAFI NA SALAMA," in Kiswahili which translates to say, "WATER CLEAN AND SAFE."

There were over 15 schools represented and each group of Girl Guides came had prepared a presentation-song, dance-drama-to present to their fellow Girl Guides and regional Girl Guide leaders.

Girl Guides queuing for water at a tap.

Anna demostrating the Solar CooKit during a skit about how to treat water so it is safe for drinking.

Syoni has been a Girl Guide since she was 9 years old! You can imagine with that kind of committment she has amazing respect from these girls and women.

Anna demostrates the 3M Petrifilm component of the Portable Microbiology Laboratory to the Tanzanian Girl Guides Association during Thinking Day.

Anna teaching the men who are trying to sell us rock and sand for the BioSand filter training about the importance of drinking safe water. But, she did not stop there, she proceeded to scold them all for pursuing a job doing the same thing as 20 other men. She encouraged them to do something different, to find something to distinguish themselves in business. She succeeded in perking the curiosity of one young man named Joshua who ran after her to inquire more about what project she was working on and Anna ended up inviting him to participate in the upcoming week's BSF training.

The future home of ANEPO which will serve as an office and training facility abe to accomodate 15-20 people.

This roadside puddle is the source of washing water for nearby vendors.

This woman washes her vegetables and fruits and reused plastic bags in this puddle before proceeding down the street to set up her goods to sell to people passing by. Anna and Syoni have passed this woman several times during their visits to this community, called Lemara, and each time reproached her for washing her goods in roadside standing water. But, where else will she wash and how will they make her understand the danger of what she is doing?

Anna helping a Tanzanian Girl Guide use the Portable Microbiology Laboratory to test water during the BioSand filter and WASH training.

Anna explaining the 4 mechanisms of the BioSand filter.

Anna inspecting the sieving process for the rock and sand to be used for the BioSand filter construction and installation.

The training venue was inside the Tanzanian Girl Guide's event tent which was set up in the yard of the District Commissioner's house.

Syoni sifting sand!

Anna oiling the mold

Enjoying the new tippy tap after a hard days work!

Femaie participant smoothing out all the rough edges

Getting an orientation about the round mold

Maria and Anna "Mama Africa", the nickname given to her from the African Women And Water Conference

Syoni in her beautiful colors

Syoni cooking with the solar CooKit!

baking cake in the CooKit!

Test result show that the water is contaminated with environmental contaminants and ecoli!

cleaning the mold for storage

pouring cement into the mold

pounding the sides of the mold to ensure the cement is settling

finished with the pour and set to dry overnight

a man that Mama Africa met on the street and invited to come and learn the technology so he can help!

extracting the filter from the mold

removing the inner mold