I finally was able to meet with my supervisor and counterpart to discuss what I can contribute. There are farmer groups of 15-30 who have received training by trainers from my office. Each group has formed a VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association). The VSLAs meet once a week to contribute to their savings, and make loans among their members. The trainers are always organizing clusters of groups to meet the goals of the entities which fund ATEFO.
Matthews and I will visit a different farmer group each day and attend their scheduled VSLA meeting. First, I will attend a meeting with their trainer so I can be introduced. I will observe their VSLA meeting and see if they have VSLA issues that should be addressed. Then Matthews and I will go to their meeting the following week. I am developing a checklist of items to follow up on, such as:
- Tell me about your post-harvest handling practices (drying and storage methods)
- Are you storing any of your harvest to get a higher price later?
- Are you adding value to any of your products before selling them? For example, instead of selling quarters of jackfruit on road side stands, consider separating the fruits from the rinds, and packaging them to sell it at a higher price. (Jack fruits are yummy, but they are a pain to prepare, so I would only buy jack fruit that is ready to eat).
- Would a perma-garden near your house be a something you would consider?
What other challenges do you face?
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I will probably end with a lesson on budgeting, post-harvest handling, storage, or explain about perma-gardens.
Perhaps Matthews and I would come back and work with a farmer to dig a demonstration perma-garden.
It all seems pretty loose to me, as Adams seems to be allowing me some autonomy, as long as I am helping these farmer groups. Somehow I will discover my niche. If I am giving the same talk over and over, I am going to buy some rice sacks and put my main points on them with a permanent marker. We will see how it goes..
In the meantime I will also work with the Youth Chairman of the Bugiri Rotary Club to form Interact (Youth) Clubs at the college level (high school is also called college), as a “secondary” Peace Corps activity.
I will continue with language lessons, and I have a personal goal to meet and get acquainted with at least one Rotarian a week.
Last Friday I went to Mbale, a few hours north of Bugiri, to participate with 13 other PCVs from the Eastern region in the annual Welcome Week. Seven new PCVs and seven veterans went swimming at a resort Friday afternoon, and then enjoyed an Indian restaurant. On Saturday morning, we took a taxi to Sipi Falls and hiked to three different falls. It was pretty grueling in parts, and might have been more of challenge for the old “fatter” Charley. I was glad to get some overdue exercise, and I could keep up with the other younger PCVs fine. As you probably know, uphill climbing can be strenuous, but going downhill and avoiding slipping can be pretty scary. We took a circular route, so no backtracking. Here are a few pictures.
These are the first falls we got to. All three were equally impressive. That’s Becky from Wisconsin, who was in my Lasoga language group. My son Clark thinks I am too skinny for my clothes now.
We were able to walk behind these second falls. The PCV is Carson, who was one of only two of us crazy enough to walk among those slippery rocks.
This cave was behind us as we stood behind these second falls but it ends pretty quickly.
These are the third falls. We weren’t too close but the valley below and beyond was fantastic.
A view to the left of the the third falls
Group photo Sunday. I busted out my vintage 80’s Broncos cap and Broncos shirt in honor of the season opener, which I was able to stream at my home from 11:30 pm to 2:30 a.m.