BioSand Filter Workshop w/ the USAFA

April 1, 2013

Last week I participated in a 3day workshop in Dondo put on by 2 professors and 4 cadets from the U.S. Air Force Academy. They have been researching BioSand Filters for some time and designed a trip/project to come to Mozambique and put on a workshop on the subject matter. There was 19 community members (church leaders, missionaries, and their students) in attendance in addition to the two members from my association (Dona Berta and Nerzita). Since my association (ATM) use to build and install BioSand Filters, they were invited to the workshop to facilitate the training and provide their testimonies. The workshop ran smoothly and I was impressed to see how critical of a role Nerzita and Dona Berta played in facilitating the workshop. Apart form attending and documenting the workshop, I also spent most of my free time with the cadets, the professors (and one of their spouses) from the Academy. They were an interesting group and I got a kick out of seeing the cadets experience Mozambican transportation…  their angst reminded me of when I had first arrived in country and it made me think of how interesting it will be to meet the new group of health volunteers arriving at the end of May.

Youth With A Mission, Dondo


Nerzita




Building the filter 


Crianças hanging around

Dona Berta and Nerzita
Group picture after completing the workshop
Dona Berta and Nerzita (from my association) and I with the USAFA folks


In addition to hanging out with a new group of Americans, I also befriended a couple of Argentinean doctors that work in Dondo. I can’t explain it, but there was something about meeting these Argentineans that made me feel so happy. It’s such a treat to meet other Latin Americans when you are so far removed from your country of origin and perhaps it was the chance to speak my native language that made me feel instantly connected to them, although we had just met.

My new friends! :)

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