Project Planning



me, John & Nat & our new home in the background



The next couple of months are going to be split into 3 main phases.  Phase 1 & 2 will be building a gravity water feed in a village (kampong) Nuguh. With my fellow phase 1 project managers we went out to visit the site, meet the locals and our project partner and prepare for the 12th when we finally head back with another 10 volunteers in tow and the responsibility to provide 20 homes with water.



meeting the head man & family


After a few hours of taxis, minibuses and 4x4 we arrived at the village, about halfway between Kota Marudu & Pitas for anyone who wants to look on a map. 
First stop was meeting the head man with our project partner Eddie.  Without Eddie we would have been lost, not only is he able to expand on our Malay (hello, thankyou, rice & noodles only get you so far) but he's also built some of these things before and knows what to do with a strap wrench

 

view from my bed


We spent a couple of nights in the village in the place we will soon be calling home.  The head man's son is building a new house, it may only be half finished but most importantly it has a roof, a first floor, which once the floorboards are all nailed down will be a sleeping area with a view - no walls for extra ventilation & uninterupted sunrise & sunsets.


my new quarters





current water supply


The second day was spent surveying the village by GPS.  We visited the 20 houses & church to confirm the gravity aspect of the system really will work.  There are around 100 people currently living in the village & this gave us a chance to meet a number of them.

We also got to check out the local school in the neighbouring village, 300 kids aged 7-12 come in from 6 villages.  It's the other side of what will be our swimming & washing facilities the river at the bottom of the hill.


a local house




washing facilities




Tobacco drying