Sunday, December 18, 2011

Belated Update, from Canada

Hello again,

I realize it has been a whole month since my last update. It has been a mix of business, laziness, rest and work.


View over Nyukambani area and Kisayani
In the past month I have concluded my final interviews with community members and government employees, held several workshops to share some of my initial findings, revisited the Umani Springs, travelled to Uganda, and returned home to Edmonton. It was challenging to know what and how exactly to communicate my finding back to the individuals and groups that I had promised. Some of my findings I think they could benefit and learn from, while others they sure didn't want to hear. Ultimately, I am learning the future of the community and the project lies with them, not me. It is their project and they must learn to be stewards to the things they have been given and work hard at extending its benefits to others in the area in this time of a changing and increasingly unpredictable climate.

Significant progress on the new project at the Spring
It has been a whirlwind of a month, mixed with lots of travelling and meetings and writing. I am currently sitting at my parent residence in Edmonton working on my final report to be handed in before the new year. It's becoming quite the task to synthesize all of the knowledge I have taken in and learned over the past four months and summarize in a single paper to be written during the holidays. But it is not only important but stimulating. I strongly believe my findings are important and relevant. In time my professor Dr. Spaling and I hope to have a published paper (maybe even 2) out of it. Something I can only hope with be of use to development practitioners

In other news, I will be returning to Kenya in early January. I was given a short-term job contract with CRWRC (Christian Reformed World Relief Committee) and their Disaster Response Services in East Africa, where they are quickly expanding their relief programs throughout the region with the assistance of the Canadian Government & the Canadian Food Grains Bank. I am extremely excited as this is an organization I know well, and one I know does good work throughout the world. My work will be conducting further research on their more innovative approaches to relief work as well as writing and reporting on behalf of some of their relief projects.


I hope to have at least one more post summarizing some of my findings and conclusions. Until then, enjoy some of the photos I have taken over the last month, including my travels to Western Kenya and Uganda with my friend Amelia.

Biking...

Visiting Sipi Falls in Uganda
... and hiking through wildlife parks







Drenched at the bottom of the falls
Visit Hell's Gate near Lake Naivasha
Soaking in the beautiful wildlife and scenery of Kenya