Merry Christmas from STT

It was so much amazing working at STT as my first appointment after my studies without any working experience but STT accept me to work with them as a Team. I thank Anna Tracy my first PDO who show me the way before she sign out her contract with STT and Lillian Nsyenge who also show me my responsibilities as PDA before she leave to Dar es Salaam after her wedding, without forgetting my colleagues Gideon and Justin who also give me more experience and encourage me when I get challenges in my daily tasks.

During our daily village visit I met some challenges which gives me strength and competences and those challenges comes from our STT car, the first moment happened soon after when I joined STT when me, Anna (X- PDO) and Justin we were on the way to Nzuguni (cancelled village) for monitoring it was rain season when our car stuck inside a mud hole, we spent more than 2 hours trying to come out of the mud for sure I was very much disappointed.

Another day I remember when me and Justin we were back from the village we got a puncture on the fore right side tyre and the car went out of tarmac road to the ditch, we spent more than 2 hours and a half changing the tyre and I help my colleague to remove the puncture tyre by using a Jack and put a spare tyre, I was shocked and tired enough.

Another moment I remember it is when we were back from Mpunguzi village visit, we stuck somewhere to the forest for some hours when our STT car stop suddenly after the electric wire inside the bonnet cut off, we remain at the road until some electricians come from town to help us while the sunset. For sure I was very much disappointed with the car we use because we risk our life for using it.

But hope full we are going to get a new car as soon as possible and I would like to thank the donor who support STT some money for buying a new car. God bless him/her. All in all my shocked sometimes disappear because I have the opportunity to work with an Amazing team of people who encouraged me sometimes when I was shocked and from 5th January 2009 when I start working with STT up to this moment I have enough experience to work with community especially in the village and I enjoy much.

MERRY CHRISMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Update from Dodoma

Hello STT friends and supporters! The STT team would like to apologize for the recent lapse in blogging. We have been hard at work here in Dodoma, and we promise to keep you more regularly updated on our activities. I have now been in Dodoma for more than 9 months. Being Project Development Officer with STT is a challenge, but it also brings a host of rewards and joys. Each day, as I become increasingly familiar with the people of Dodoma region and the economic, environmental, and social difficulties that they face, I am even more convinced of the necessity and impact of STT’s work. The past couple of months have been an especially exciting time for STT, with a record amount of stoves having been built. Villages such as Chololo and Nzali are building 50 or 60 stoves a month! The current total of STT stoves is now more than 1100, which is more than double the amount of stoves at the beginning of the year. It is very inspiring to see the builders being so active and enthusiastic about their work, and to visit satisfied customers using their new rocket stoves. Of course the dramatic increase in stoves has meant much busier and more hectic village visits for the STT team, as we attempt to see all of the stoves. With rainy season approaching, it is very hot in Dodoma, and the sun is especially fierce. Therefore village visits can be very hot, rushed, and sweaty affairs! The team keeps lots of water handy for guzzling, and I’ve taken to carrying a parasol, to protect against the worst of the sun’s rays. But even the tiring weather cannot dampen the enthusiasm and excitement about STT’s work. Later this week we are having our regular (i.e., held every 4 months) meeting of builders from STT villages, to discuss the stove project. At previous meetings the village representatives have shared and learned from one another—sometimes while fostering a friendly rivalry about who can build the most stoves! I’m looking forward to witnessing even more collaboration among the different villages. The builders certainly will share their own lessons learned and their tips and ideas for increased stove building success. We’ll also be announcing a target for number of stoves to be built in the first half of next year, and a reward (a mobile phone for the builders’ monitor) for those villages which reach the target. This is a repeat of this past year’s hugely successful target and reward scheme, in which the builders of Nzali, Makoja, and Chololo won bicycles for their stove-building efforts. Just as the bicycles have facilitated travel to new customers around the villages, the mobile phones will improve communication among the builders and STT staff. And, as a prized reward, the mobile phones will hopefully encourage even more record-breaking numbers of stoves built! Stay tuned...Amy

Goodbye from Lesley

I have now come to the end of my contract with STT and arrived back in UK just before Christmas. The UK has felt particularly cold, especially as our heating broke over Christmas! Overall my time with Sunseed was an enjoyable and rewarding experience. It has been a privilege to work with such an excellent team. Over my last month, village visits showed an increase in both stove numbers, which has been encouraging and is a sign some of our hard efforts are starting to pay off. Stove performance and rates of use are also improving. I have particularly liked the way STT works very closely with the rural communities and is thus able to respond to the challenges faced in order to make the projects more relevant and acceptable. Momentum is in place for STT’s work to continue in 2009 with new villages welcoming us to start the projects there. STT will also continue to support existing villages where knowledge of our work is spreading. The many challenges have helped me gain excellent experience that I take with me into future roles. I have just been offered a Project Officer role with i-HUG (Help Uganda Grow), which works to provide education opportunities for children in a slum area of Kampala. The project management skills and experience gained with STT will be applicable to this new role and will help me to meet the new challenges. Asanteni sana na kwa heri (Many thanks and goodbye). Lesley