Getting Sweaty with Rain, Roofs and Reservoirs in Ghana -- March 2013: April 2013

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Putting the Frame in Place and Plastering the Cistern

If you ever have the chance, I highly recommend NOT being confined in a circular cage in the sun. But hey if you want the experience, join the club!

It wasn't until after we were inside the cage, tying the walls to the foundation piece that someone realized a ladder had to be built! So from lumber it was made, and out we came:

photo credit: Alex Downs

Next up, the frame was put in place and concrete was poured over the mesh to secure it to the foundation:

photo credit: Alex Downs

Plastic tarps were wrapped around the outside so that we could start to plaster the inside and the plaster would stay in place. Let the plastering begin....

photo credit: Alex Downs

Plaster Time

When it came to preparing plaster for the cistern, thank goodness we had Crystal for this. Medassi, Crystal, medassi:

Also thanks to Hakeem (in the red), our cistern coordinator, and the home owner (blue) whose name I never got.

Sifting sand:

credit: Alex Downs

After mixing all that plaster, we could then apply it to the inside and the outside!

We totally brought calculus along....

photo credit: Alex Downs

Can you tell which side we plastered, and which side Joseph did?

photo credit: Camille Sabino

Next Post: attaching and plastering the roof, and nearing the end!!

First Few Days in the Community

Welcoming Ceremony

So to start things off, the community hosted us in a welcoming ceremony. Community leaders spoke, and there was loads of dancing. Check it out:

credit Es Teran

Dance contest:

credit Hannah Marie

Just some obrunii's (white people) getting down:

credit Hannah Marie

Sarah, our group coordinator, has got some moves:

credit Hannah Marie

Family Meetings

From here, we toured the community water resources and were introduced to life in the community. We met with families and discussed what life is like for them. The most common request my group heard: people want jobs as a means to make money, but there are few available in the immediate area. From my own personal anecdotal experience, this seems to be a common issue in rural areas around the globe, including in the U.S. We spoke to one young man (Echo) that wants to go to secondary school, but doesn't have the funds. Primary school is free for all people, but secondary school requires a fee. Apparently, scholarship opportunities are limited.

credit Terrence O'Connor

Beginning the Work

And so begins the sweaty time!!!

Thankfully, the students from Bayreuth completed much of the digging work the day before we started (thanks y'all).

credit Crystal Villanueva

credit Hannah Marie

There was so much wire to tie together -- the systems we were creating collect water from the roofs and convey to the cistern by way of gutters. The cisterns themselves have a concrete foundation and are composed of a steel wire frame, cement plaster and a waterproofing sealant.