Saturday, January 3, 2009

BioSand Filter Training in Oyugis, Kenya

It's exciting to see AWWC participants Elizabeth Obiero, Jesca Ochieng and Seline Osian collaborating together for workshops in their region

Elizabeth, Jesca and Seline discussing the BioSand Filter training evaluation. These 3 women made a very good impression on the participants of the training and all three women are respected greatly for their faciliting skills and the information they are presenting to help these communities improve their WASH education and environment through the use of solar cooking.

BSF training participant, Ruth Odhiambo, demonstrating the 6 Steps of Hand Washing using the Tippy Tap. Do you know what the 6 Steps are??

BSF training participant, Joseph Onuon'ga, spending his tea break taking notes on the community development cycle.

Elizabeth Obiero, trainer extraordinaire of WASH education.
BSF training participant Veronica was a rock washing superstar! Usually the most dreaded part of the BSF construction and installation process, she spent time after the training day ended washing tirelessly and even commented in the training evaluation that more time should have been allotted to this task. All of us who have done BSF salute you!

Ruth Odhiambo washing rock (she hated this part by the way!)

The BSF training women sifting sand.

BSF training participant George Ogal mixing concrete in preparation for pouring a BioSand Filter.

Extracting the BioSand Filter after 18-24 hours takes a lot of hands and muscle!

And even some feet!

BSF training women working together to build diffuser plates. The physical challenges were overcome by these amazing particpants with a bit of teamwork. All the participants of the training are positive with HIV or AIDS.

Proper hand washing includes cleaning your fingernails. The BSF training participants learned many new techiniques and approaches for teaching basic water, sanitation and hygiene that they will be able to replicate in their communities.
Mariah helping the BSF training participants understand procedures for contructing and installing BioSand Filters.
Elizabeth and BSF training participants discussing sanitation using a pocket chart to analyze sanitation behaviors and how to encourage better practices.
Jesca of Solar Cookers International introducing the BSF training participants to the idea of cooking with the sun.
Solar cooking and water pasteurization demonstration. The trainees were skeptical if cook would really cook in the Solar CooKit, especially their staple, ugali, but after 2 hours they ate delicious food and were convinced and vowed to go and spread the good word of solar to their communities.

Training participants placing in order the transmission route of germs that make us sick.

Mariah conducting a demonstration of the BioSand Filter installation.
BSF training participant Iddah Anyango enthusiastically presenting during her group's WASH teach back lesson. This aspect of the final day of training was intended to give them the chance to recreate some of the lessons they had taught during the 5 day workshop.
BSF training participants installing a BioSand Filter.

BSF training participant Millicent Ochieng teaching her fellow trainees about the transmission of germs.

BSF training participant being serious about relaying to her classmates the importance of good sanitation.

The training group members from various areas in Oyugis, called the "Others" group during the training.

The training group members from Tupendane.

The training group members from Tuvumiliane.

Iddah and Beatrice filling out training evaluations.

Millicent Ochieng happy to be going home to see her family after a long 5 days of learning about the BioSand Filter. The training participants stayed at the training venue.

Veronica concentrating on filling out her training evaluation.

The Oyugis BioSand Filter training participants. The training was sponsored by Care Centre, conducted by A Single Drop, and assisted by facilitators from GWAKO Ministries in Kisumu and solar cooking representatives from Solar Cookers International.

Mariah and the BioSand Filter trainees after the closing ceremony of their successful training.

Sister Rose Ngacha, the community leader who initiated this training and will be working with the training participants during the implementation of their project, presenting the training groups with their new Solar CooKits.

A song for the closing ceremony of the training!

Brother Leo, Director of Oyugis Integrated Project, the host organization of the training, giving an inspirational speech during the closing ceremony of the training.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

It is interesting the training given the people of Oyugis to wash hands. Maybe that should be taught in our medical facilities in the USA.
I have been accepted to be on a medical team going to Oyugis in May 2010. (Project-helping-hands.org) I went to Bolivia with this group. Doing research in as many aspects of the culture and country before leaving. Your Blog is of interest since I might be able to refer to BioSand Filters while there teaching the need for sanitation.
Thanks