Sorry for the long delay, but you can release your anticipation now

I am currently typing this update back home in America, which may seem strange considering the project was in Patriensa, but let me explain...the final days of our time in Patriensa were nothing short of mad chaos. We ran more errands than one should ever need to in the span of  few days, met with the chief's court, and finished up the last minute tasks necessary to leave our project at a point of satisfactory completion. All that, paired with the very regular storm and accompanying blackout, allowed for little room to go to the tech center and update you on the progress of the project. So, I am doing it now.

Our time in Patriensa was an incredible whirlwind. When we arrived we knew our orignal scope was impossible and had very hesitant hope that our updated scope was feasible either. But, through encouraging conversations (mostly thanks to Tim, our social work Obronihene) with the Krontihene, Pastor Kofi, and the other members of the Patriensa Pure Enterprise Board of Directors, and dedicated hard work by the team and community members, the 2011 implementation trip was a success.

When we left Patriensa on June 25th, the building was completely dried in and the Presby Primary School well had running water. The building now has a floor, made of sand and concrete, plaster on the interior and exterior, soffet, an aluminum roof, plumbing and electrical work, windows and doors. We have also purchased the ceiling panels and paint. The Board of Directors is in the process of selecting the well keeper to collect money at the well and alert them when maintenance is necessary, and an initial sustainability plan and maintenance manual has been presented to the Board to use to help ensure accountability and ownership of the well.

As for where we are now: I returned to the states on June 29th; Mary is in Tansania with her Dad for a wildlife safari, and won't be back until the 9th. After a few days of rest, Tim and Alex Breckel, from the Briquette Team, have returned to Patriensa to continue working on the projects and will be back on the 18th. Tim was left with a sum of the project funds to purchase the floor tiles and pay for the labor costs to install them along with the ceiling panels, painting, and  the stairs and ramp that will lead up to the front porch. By the time they leave, the building is expected be be finished. An amazing accomplishment!

Tim will be returning to Patriensa to do his Master's Program internship from January to May, and will be the main on the ground contact for the continuation of the project. Mary and I have committed to staying with the project to see it to completion, and as of now, there is a very high chance I will be returning for the final implementation of the Sachet and Trashy Bags enterprise  implementation.

Our time was met with immense hospitality, laughter, struggles, frustrations, and joys. It was a whirlwind adventure that would not have been possible without the help of Marty Rumbaugh, Dr. Kristin Wood, and Dr. Christina White, our amazing, selfless technical advisors, Nana Krontihene, Pastor Kofi, Nana Yaw Kwyake, our partners from KNUST, and the wonderful people of Patriena. Thank you all for your time and efforts.

 The building the first few days we were there.

 The inside of the building when we arrived.

 Women of the village on community labor day, helping to haul sand into the building to level the floors

The most updated photo I have of the building. Before the final exterior plaster was finished.

 Tim with school children when we did the Trashy Bags fashion show.

 The Sachet and Briquette teams along with Dr. Wood and Dr. White by the full functioning Presby well.

Hook 'em!

For now,
Kelsey

So things work a little differently here...

Sorry it's been a few days since we updated about the happenings of our project. A lot has been happening here in Patriensa--some good and some not so much. The good news is that our 2nd set of technical advisors, Dr. Wood and Dr. White, arrived...eventually. They had a flight delay which put them into Accra at 3:30 AM. There was a mix up between their hotel driver and our driving service, giving us a few hours of concerned panic, wondering where the heck they were. But, don't fret, they are here and have jumped in fully, adding a fresh pair of eyes and hands to the team. Marty departed this morning after doing an incredible amount for us and the community of Patriensa. We could not have done so much without him.

The other good news is that masons have been working still, and another room and a half have been plastered in the building, everything is complete with last year's well and the children at the Presby Primary School have running water again. The electrical and plumbing is finished in the building besides the final fittings and installations of the lights and fans.

Now for the bad news. Our team has found it extremely difficult to work in the business fashion expected of us by UT and not step on the toes of the Ghanaian workers we have been dealing with. Don't get me wrong, they have all been kind and diligent workers, but in America everything has an upfront price and what you see is what you get; in Ghana everything is negotiation. It is not their custom to let you know the cost prior to finishing the work, but rather bargain it afterwards. Unfortunately, because we have a budget we have to fit in and account for, this makes things complicated. The electricians, plumbers, masons, and carpenters we've been working with are not so pleased with our American ways. We've found that our "forcing things on them" has up-ed the price to give us an "Obruenie cost" rather than what it should be. It's been really frustrating and resulted in some really heated conversations, and at this moment, we are behind schedule and over budget. It's been nothing short of a learning lesson and curve for us. With only 5 work days left in Patriensa, we are doing all we can to bring everything into fruition in order to hand off a fully dried in and finished building so that next year the business may be set up and become a thriving enterprise. We are having to squeeze our funds to the bitter drops, and  have some heavy conversations, but the Kontihene has been an invaluable resource, neutralizing some situations and stepping up as the face of Patriensa Pure as of now. We are incredibly thankful for all he has done for us and the beautiful hospitality we have been shown.

Yehn ko! Let's go!

6/15/11
It was an eventful day that detoured a little from the original project as the social work maymester students arrived in Patriensa. We organized for all of the schools in the village to meet us at the Presby Church and quickly divided up into teams. We set out, kids in tow, to scavenge the grounds for empty sachets packages and most definitely found some. It became a competition to see who could find the most and the kids ran crazily full of excitement. The elementary school kids I was with were some of the most precious children ever! They wouldn't let me pick up anything and wanted nothing but to hold my hands or fingers and walk, talking to me in twi and giggling when I attempted to respond. We all congregated together to view the Trashy Bags products to build up hype for the future Trashy Bags extension out of Patriensa Pure Enterprise. It was mad chaos, but full of energy and pretty successful. 

It was a really busy day but fun to get to show off our work to the social work students while they were here. The masons got here today and plastered the entire sachet production room and did an incredible job! The electricity and plumbing ground work are laid, the roof is completely finished, the borehole near the building has been analyzed for the depth and flow rate of the water, and the well that PUC put in last year has been repaired to restart the water flow. it's been crazy to see how much has happened in 6 days but there is still quite a bit to do before we leave. Dayee (good rest) 

Rain and Children Run the Day

Yesterday was Sunday and a surprising gift of a day. We were given the opportunity to sleep in a little and wake to a wonderful breakfast prepared by Tim. We had scrambled eggs with sauteed vegetables and avocado on top, ripe Ghanaian grown pineapple and mango, oatmeal, grits, and bread and jam. It was a feast that settled reminders of America on all of us. After filling our bellies, we got ready and headed to church to attend Pastor Kofi's service at the Presby Church. It was Pentecost Sunday, and even though we couldn't understand much of the service because it was in Twi, it was a glorious event. The entire service was a great celebration; there were women dancing, singing from all directions, and some of the most passionate speaking I've ever heard. It lasted for about 2.5 hours, much longer than any service back home, but this is the way of the people here. Sunday isn't simply a day to attend church for a check list, but a day of complete rest. They put all things aside and don't count down the minutes left until their next chore; they enjoy every moment they experience and delight in all they see. It's been a beautiful refresher to be embraced by such a culture.

Once church ended, we headed home with the intention that we would have lunch then do a little work at the site. But our plans were not needed, because in the process it started to rain. We took the little gift of weather as a chance to nap and rest, expecting it to slow down eventually. It did and we ventured to the building site to see what the progress was, and found a considerable amount done. On the way home though was when the humor really kicked up. It began to pour buckets of rain with no introduction, soaking us to the core. Tim, Mary, and I had to come to the Technology Center at the high school (where yours truly is currently typing) in order to send an update email to the profs. We decided to continue braving the rain and quickly realized if we didn't stand out before, we definitely did now. Soaked obruenes walking in the rain. Pitiful. It provided for some funny conversations though.

When we got home we took full advantage of the patter of the rain and all nestled up in comfy clothes after a warm shower. It was an afternoon and evening of full rest, reading and writing and catching up on tasks put in the shadows of manual labor. The plans that we had were washed away with the rain to leave us with nothing but the Ghanaian lifestyle of a complete restful Sunday.

Today, (and I'll keep this short, sorry readers) we spent time on the site again clearing the dirt from the front of the building to help the plumbers, and let me tell you, I'm going to be soreeee tomorrow! We got a standstill during the day because we became constantly in the way of the carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, so I went into Konogo with Christabelle, Alex, and the Kontihene for some errands. When we got back we detoured to the elementary school to look at last year's well, and this simple task became a funny sight. As we started to walk across the field, I realized I was rapidly attracting followers. Flocks of children were trailing behind me laughing and yelling "Obruene!" I turned around and smiled and waved and a ruckus exploded from the crowd. I started talking to them as best I could with my limited Twi. They laughed and grabbed my hand, dragging me all around. Needless to say, I've never felt so popular. We started taking pictures and it became the ultimate game of who could get in the most. They posed and laughed and grabbed on to me. Sweet little ones were the delight of my day, and the almost full completion of the roof, plumbing, and electrical only added to the reasons to be thankful.

Patriensa

Akwaaba to Patriensa! (Welcome in Twi, the local language in Ghana) It's day 3 here, but it feels so much longer. All of our days have been extremely full. We wake with the sunrise and don't stop until dark, which happens about 6:30 here, but even then we have team meetings at night before bed. Here's a brief update of what we've done:

Day 1: We drove from Accra to Patriensa, which was beautiful! We saw some of the most lush terrain I've ever experienced, and many small villages along the way where people set up huts made of red clay, wood, and aluminum tin, and sometimes cement blocks. They line the roads selling anything you might need. Talk about customer service! When we got to Patriensa, we met Tim and Pastor Kofi and went to the compound where we are staying to drop our stuff off. Then we went to the sachet building site to look at the progress so far, and were slightly shocked to see that not much has been done since construction first began, and it was no where near what we originally agreed on. Because of this we had a serious sit down discussion as a team and agreed that we have to complete the building before we can purchase any of the sachet machinery or implement it. This rearranged our entire schedule and caused a bit or disarray at first. We met with Pastor Kofi and the Kontihene (the 2nd to the chief) and they agreed to do whatever they can to motivate the village to make the project a success.

Day 2: It was an early morning arriving at the site to meet the Kontihene, but an amazing site to view. When we got there there were locals already working. Some were weeding near the entrance, some were discussing the roof construction and others were clearing the floor. From 11 at night until 7 in the morning, simply by word of mouth the Kontihene had led this village to work. We quickly joined in to help remove rocks and weeds from the building dirt floor. We worked for about an hour before Pastor Kofi picked us up to go into Kumasi to buy the building supplies. It was supposed to be a short trip, but everything moves much slower in Ghana, so our short trip took the entire day, but we got the plumbing and electrical supplies. We got home and had dinner and budget meetings.

Day 3 (today): It has been one of the most exhausting days! We woke up at 5:30 this morning to be at the building site at 7 and did hard manual labor all day! We got there to find part of the roof constructed, but unlike yesterday, no workers. We set to work on the floor again and cleared out 2 full rooms with shovels and our hands. We weeded, and scooped rocks and dirt, and removed it to reveal a long forgotten slab foundation. It was an exciting sight to realize leveling the building would be easier than expected. While we were working the local children joined us and made a game of helping us work. They laughed as they taught Mary and I to carry buckets of dirt on our heads like they do and when we attempted to speak Twi to them. We were so thankful for them though because they worked so hard and provided entertainment, or maybe we were the actual comedy? It was crazy hot and humid though so we took a break for lunch around 12. During that time 2 of our friends from KNUST joined us, Kristabelle and Ken, to help us with the project. After a rest break, we headed back to finish clearing the floors. The kids joined us again and we got the floor completely cleared!! The carpenters also worked extremely diligently and by the time we all left the site the structure for the roof was finished as well! It was an exhausting day, but rewarding. We're all really tired right now, but in Twi, Mahoya (which means, my body is fine.)

“Which one is not like the other? I spy, Obruene! (white guy)

So this day was the not what I expected it be but ended up being culturally rich! To inform you about funerals in Ghana, well, let’s just say it’s a big party with people and music and donations and formal greetings. All the makings of a wedding, but for the exit of this world. I told Pastor Kofi today that when I pass along to the greater part of my story I want people to laugh and talk and spend time celebrating who I was and how they all remember me. Now, to preface, I am not getting morbid, I just find this type of celebration incredible. I mean PARTIES for Days. Today there were about eight within a mile period. It was awesome. I was blessed to join Pastor Kofi and his family as they paid their respects. As we entered the funeral area, think of it more as a space where people are gathered for a revival. There are three sections of tents that meet at one end to form a “u” around flowers and pictures of the pastor being honored with the celebration. We approached the edge and one of PK family members motioned me to fall in line behind him. I walked closely to my patriarchal friend dressed in his ritual black garb and I in my t-shirt and Capri shorts. This was a site to see. I didn’t take pictures out of respect of the event but you would have loved to see this image. We waked around the perimeter being announced to the sub-chiefs and then proceeded to shake the hands of everyone on the row of honor under each tent, maybe 100 people. As I was moving past one of the speakers I heard the announcer say, Akwaaba, Obruene (that’s me!). I turn and said Me Daci (Thank you). As we made it to our seats for our stay at the service, I felt as though I was a childhood game of which one does not look like the other or I spy. I never felt uncomfortable. I am being very patient with my learning of Twi. I know I will get it. Today at the meeting with the plumbers and electricians I was able to decipher exactly what they were saying by reading their gestures and understanding some technical words that were spoken in English. I am learning!!!

“Respect your elders…but please put on your seatbelt!”

So my fast friend here in the village has become the chief of all the land of Patriensa. Since my arrival in town he has taken great strides to make me feel welcomed. As we sat and visited on the first day, he called for two Star beers to be delivered, the big size. He continued to refill my cup as I drank. I was the only one there drinking. Needless to say I felt and though I was being a lush. Pastor Kofi called it suffering in silence. He said there may be some time that I would have to entertain the wishes of my new royal friend. He is so kind and reminds me a lot of my Papa Tanner. He is a young man of a mere 90s. He told me stories about his homes in Kumasi, Accra, and Brooklyn, New York. He gave me the address of the New York one and told me how it was seven stories high. I told him that would be plenty of room for me to stay when I go to see New York. He laughed, but I wonder if he knew I was serious? He took me by the hand and led me just beyond the palace to the location of the old post office. It is currently in construction to become the first police station in Patriensa. A group of honorable community members and myself listened as the chief described his plan for the property. He was so proud of this project. When I first arrived he was showing us his new car, a BMW X5. Very snazzy, one of 16 vehicles he owns he told me. And although he is of matured age, he does not let his driver chauffer him down the road, he continues to drive. His first attempt to gain my humor was to offer me the keys to this vehicle to use while in town. Now mind you that would have been simply incredibly cool, the story did not end that way…

He grabbed my hand and we walked over to the car. I helped him into the seat where a pillow nestled nicely to give him a little boost of height. I go to the passenger’s side and get into the vehicle. He is waiting on me to put in the key and start it. Then I am instructed to put it in gear and make sure the parking break is off. After several minutes of trying to decipher the workings of a vehicle I have not driven from view of the passenger’s seat, we feel confident the “D” in the dashboard is saying you may now drive, and away we go, just me and my chief. Cruising through Patriensa in a BMW X5. He laughs so cutely when I ask him would he rather I drive. He said I couldn’t or he would die. Where would he get that from? I am the grandest of drivers. The initial movements of ride were not as bad as when dared to go throughout the village, waving at people, and then hit the main road. Here was the challenge. The chief had something in his mind. The rest of us had something different. Apparently no one communicate each plan to the other. So the chief and I passed the road to the work site and as he kept driving I calmly mentioned that he may want to go where Pastor Kofi and the Kontihene were heading. He said, No, I am going to see your place. OK. So we roll forward to my guesthouse and I get on the phone with PK to let me know they should alter their route accordingly. We arrive at the guesthouse and Prince, my house mate is not there at the moment so he gate is locked to get in. I talked with the chief and said he would be back. Let’s go look at the jobsite for now. Then we began a ten minute dance of drive to reverse to pray we don’t pull out in front of a car on a busy Ghanaian roadway. We continued on a bit further and then were lead by the Kontihene and Pastor Kofi through an obstacle course of dodging buildings and trees in order to make a path. Finally we arrive at our location, the glorious Patriensa Pure Enterprise, LTD site. There were several more moments spent strapped in with the Chief in our pursuits around Patriensa. I like my new friend. I love seatbelts. His fighthing spirit is much like my Nanny DeVaughan. He has come to check on me every morning and asked my presence several times to join him. He has offered me to meet the Chief over the whole Ashanti region and he also introduced me to the Medical Director of Agogo Hospital. I have learned that I am good with him I just MUST remember to buckle up!

Life is so fickle and fun. It is everything you need and nothing you want sometimes. But when it all works out into some comediac and relevant bliss, you just have to think….a divine eye must be pleased we all made it to this point. Gye Name.

It's finally here!

After a very long plane ride and a five hour time difference, Mary and I made it to Accra. We got in last night along with the the Briquette team from PUC and our technical advisor, Marty,and ventured out to the mall for a late meal. We ate a pretty American meal of broiled chicken wings and fries before returning to the hotel to shower and sleep,both of which felt wonderful!

This morning we got ready and went downstairs to meet the guys from the other team for breakfast. Then our driver came and picked us up and took us to get Kwame, who's served as our excited and informative tour guide all day. We all piled into a van and went to the museum honoring Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah. We learned all about his history and the way he lifted this country into one of drive and service. He did a lot for Ghana and the union of Africa before being overthrown by his people (and supposedly the CIA) out of fear of socialism. We took a group shot but I forgot the chord to upload my camara so it will have to wait.

After that we went to the cultural center, which is actually just a market, and looked at all the crafts designed by the people in Accra. After that we had lunch at a restaurant on the beach. We all got typical Ghanaian dishes and experienced "African time" as we waited for a long time for our food. The culture here isn't concerned with rushing or pressure, but likes to enjoy the time they spend together. We didn't mind sitting and listening to the ocean though since we are all still getting acclimated to the time change.

After that we went to Trash Bags and spoke with Stuart a little before purchasing various bags and touring the facilities. Now, we are back in the hotel for a little break before we meet the social work maymester students for dinner. That's the day so far, but we'll post again when we can.

-Kelsey

And let it continue

So I (tim) am headed back to meet our friends in Ghana for the continuation of the project. After months of planning, countless unexpected turns, and many memories our team is ready to hit the ground running. Can't wait to share pictures and stories with you all!
Tim

T-shirts

Our team is very excited to announce that we are now selling t-shirts (design above) to help fundraise our personal expenses for the trip, including airfare and food when we are in Ghana. The t-shirts are $15 each and the profits go directly to fund the travel of the person you purchase them from. They are a very soft cotton and won't shrink very much. If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, please let one of the members of our group know.

We are really excited about this fundraising prospect and the idea of traveling becoming more and more of a reality.

Oh what a week!

To even begin to process all that has happened this week is not humanly possibly in the amount of time I have to write this blog. The essence of this recon trip was to gather information and develop relationships. We have collected more information about the project than expected. We learned so much about the culture, history, and livelihood for the Ghanian people we encountered. Most importantly, we built a solid foundation of trust, honesty, and committment with our partners that will surely be the building blocks for a successful project.

When we return to the states, we will post blogs about the different stages and connections from the week. We have so much to share about the willingness of the team and the contributions of the community. Until then, I will leave you with a thought.

Last night we were able to step out with our UT friends Lindsay and Erika with a group of Ghania friends. As we sat around a table, listening to music, enjoy cool beverages, and spending time getting to know one another, I became fascintated by the dancing....

At the front of the outside bar area was a band. They wore traditional gard of yellow cloth and sang with smiles in each note. The people around us joined in singing the words spoken in a native tongue. The beats of the drum beckoned for you to dance. There is a movement to the way of life here that is similar to the dance. A community of dancers joining in on a great time. I will explain more soon!

Tuesday Blog Post

Yesterday morning we drove 4 hours from Accra to Patriensa. The greeting we received by the Conticini, Queen Mother, and Chief's council was humbling. Tim and I feel very assured in the success of this project after walking in the village, seeing the water pump that was installed last year, the potential location of the sachet production building, and much discussion with Pastor Kofi, Nana Yaw Kwakye, and the Conticini. We were able to measure the parameters of the land that will be utilized for the proposed building, determine where we can T into the current well piping, and the pipe length that will be necessary to run from that T to the proposed buliding. We also visited some sawmills to determine what sawdust and lumber is available.

Today we traveled to Kumasi. We were able to visit a sachet water production company. We were shown how the machines work and get a visual idea of the building requirements and layout necessary for such a project. We also visited the store where the machines and necessary equipment (pumps, filters) are sold.

We can't wait to give more updates after we meet with Nana Yaw Kwakye and Pastor Kofi in the morning and have a social with KNUST students in the afternoon!

Sunday in Ghana

Today we woke up feeling rested and excited.  It was our first day in Accra.  What an incredible new adventure we are on together.  Mary and I (Tim) had breakfast in the hotel cafe alone.  We sipped on our single brew hot tea and listened to the music and dancing of the church service above us in the gathering hall.  As we enjoyed the hospitality of our Ghanian hosts and a delicious meal, we talked about this program.  We discussed our personal expectations and our lingering worries of the implementation.  We are not doubting the success, just analyzing how to get everything done in our short time here to make the next few months go smoothly.  I enjoyed hearing Mary talk about what she thought of our program and experience.

The schools of engineering (Mary's background) and social work (my background) come from different frameworks of thought.  We bring very diverse and unique perspectives to this shared experience, but recognize the amazing opportunity the UT Program for Underserved Communities (PUC) offers to students.  Beyond the educational learning from project management, the greater social lesson is founded in community empowerment.  Pastor Kofi, the Presbyterian minister who is one of our partners in Patriensa, talked with Mary and I today about his community.  He talked about their challenges but also emphasized their potential. He is such a kind man.  You can recognize from his word that his is passionate about helping the people of his community.

We went to Trashy Bags to meet with Stuart Gold.  Trashy Bags is helping to address a societal issue of plastic pollution from litter by repurposing and recycling used sachet waste.  A sachet is a small plastic pouch that holds individual servings of water, juice, ice cream, etc... We were able to hear about the exciting work this organization has been doing in Ghana and the plans for expanding the impact throughout Ghana and to other areas with similar issues.  When beginning our process of planning for the sachet packaging project, we learned of the threat to the environment of these bags.  Dr. Dorie Gilbert, UT Social Work professor who has been working in Ghana for 12 years, had advised us of the amounts of litter scattered across the landscape.  We made an intentional decision as a group to make sure we had a recycling and repurposing portion of this project.  After our meeting today, it seems we will effectively be able to facilitate the creation of a micro-finance opportunity for a group in the village that will employ 10-15 people and create sustainable revenue for the community. The main product they will be creating is called a SMART bag.  It is similar to a shopping bag you would take to the grocery store with you.  It folds up and zips closed for storage and ease of carry.  This bag is made of 70 sachet bags sewn together.  What sticks in my mind from our meeting was that those 70 bags represent 70 different stories from the people who consumed the water and yet are now together for a single purpose to create a bag that provides a new product and helps eliminate litter.

What an amazing day.  We are resting for a moment now.  I am sitting here in a quiet room listening to the sounds of the city.  There is an light breeze blowing and the air is warm and thick.  In the distance I can hear children playing and traffic buzzing up and down the nearest streets.  As I reflect on this moment I am still in awe that we are here.  Although the hardest of the work is before us, the most rewarding lies there as well.  Dr. Gilbert told us that in Ghana, especially when working on international projects like this one, the journey does not fully begin until they are able to see us and make a connection.  Mary and I are being humbled by what we see and inspired by who we meet.  Tonight we will be dining with Dr. Osei Darkwa who the President of a local university and a community leader in development for Patriensa.

There will be so much more ahead, but thank you all for your kind thoughts and well wishes as we are on this journey together.  As we are more remote throughout the week our updates may not be as frequent, but we look forward to sharing new experiences with you along the way.

Til then,
Tim and Mary

The time has finally arrived!

Mary and I (Tim) are all packed and ready to go.  We are greatly anticipating meeting our Ghanian partners and meeting the wonderful people of Patriensa.  There is so much planned for the upcoming week, but Mary and I are so anxious to being.  Stay tuned for updates, pictures, and videos!

Until we get to Ghana!
Tim

How You Can Help

PROJECT SCOPE:

Task 1: Fundraising Efforts

The success of this project depends on the success of our fundraising efforts. Afren, a pure play African independent oil and gas company, has generously agreed to donate $28,000 to  PUC Ghana Sachet Team. This contribution amount is substantial but is based on a preliminary budget the group developed. We have since then found needs that were left out of the budget. The team is currently developing a detailed budget to ensure all funds necessary for the project are accounted for. In order to raise the funds needed in addition to the $28,o00 already received, Kelsey Koszela, will be leading the fundraising efforts to generate activities the team can participate in. These efforts include:

• Grant proposals to foundations and corporations
• Letters to friends and family requesting donations
• Music benefit at SXSW
• BBQ at the park

Task 2: Sachet Building

The structure to house the sachet machine will be built in April and May by the community, prior to the team's arrival for the implementation trip. The Ghana Sachet Water Team will determine specifications as to the dimensions and design parameters after researching the sachet packaging equipment. Nana Yaw Kwakye will oversee the construction of the building. During the reconnaissance trip, the student travelers will meet with Nana Yaw Kwakye to go over the specifications of the building and organize a building crew and schedule for construction. The building crew will comprise of community members established by Pastor Kofi. Also during the reconnaissance trip, the student travelers will identify an electrical consultant, potentially from KNUST, the local university, to oversee the electricity needs of the building. The community will also be responsible for digging the trenches to run plumbing from the existing well to the building. During the implementation trip, the student travelers will run the plumbing to complete the building and prepare for installation of the sachet packaging equipment.

Task 3: Sachet Packaging Equipment

In order to ensure the team purchases and installs appropriate and cost-efficient equipment, much research will go into sachet packaging machines. Greg Iles will lead the efforts of this research by spending time conducting research on the Internet, contacting manufacturers, and meeting with UT professors and faculty who are knowledgable of water packaging equipment. Also, during the recon trip, the student travelers will visit sachet packaging sites, including Nana Yaw Kwakye's to research machines that are currently being used.

Once the team has made a decision on which sachet packaging equipment, we will purchase the machine, arrange for its delivery in Patriensa, and request an operations and maintenance manual. We will review the manual before our implementation trip to ensure a successful implementation. Once installed, the system will need to be tested and monitored before handed off to the community and the local Advisory Council. The Ghana Sachet Water Team will ensure that the water quality meets the standards outlined by the World Health Organization before operating at full capacity.

Task 4: Business Plan Implementation and Testing

Francis, an emerging leader in Patriensa and law student, will assist the PUC team in creating a business model for the sachet packaging enterprise. Tim Bailey is currently enrolled in a course that should assist him in leading the efforts of completing this business model. The business model will be structured around having the oversight of Advisory Council. The council will be made up of leaders in the community and employees of the business. Pastor Kofi will assist in the identification of these members. During the implementation trip, the student travelers will meet with Francis to discuss the details of the business model and meet with the potential members of the Advisory Council and employees of the business. As of now, the business will be modeled as follows.

The Advisory Council will:

• Ensure maintenance of the well and the sachet machine
• Make decisions about use of the profits from the enterprise
• Guide decisions for future expansion of sachet production

The administration of the enterprise will be made up of an operations manager, well water attendant, and delivery and distribution staff.

The Operations Manager will:

• Manage daily operation of the water enterprise
• Order supplies for sachet production
• Be responsible for the accounting of funds for the enterprise
• Manage the staff
• Keep the business licensure current for enterprise
• Package and allot the number of sachets per day and maintain the sachet machine in the beginning until a packaging staff can be employed

The Water Attendant will:

• Notify the manager if the well needs maintenance or repair
• Collect funds from community members for water distributed directly from the well

And the Delivery and Distribution Staff will:

• Drive water out to nearby villages to sell in bulk
• Deliver water to any local business where a contract is set up to carry water

The sachets will be packaged and dispensed in one of two ways:

1. They will be sold to women in the village who will sell them to the community for individual drinking purposes
2. The Delivery and Distribution Staff will take them to surrounding villages

The business will be monitored for the remainder of the time in Patriensa and alteration to the plan will be made if necessary to further the productivity and efficiency of the Sachet Water Enterprise.

Task 6: Sanitation and Recycling Education

It is estimated that in Ghana, waste produced from plastic packaging amounts to 270 tons per day, adding up to 22,000 tons in one year. It is common in Patriensa, for community members to simply throw the used sachet packages on the ground with no regard for the impact this has on the environment. In order to counteract this social and environmental issue, the PUC team will attempt to educate the community on the importance of recycling. The PUC team also intends to provide educational materials regarding sanitation and the importance of washing ones hands and drinking clean water. Over the next few months, educational materials will be developed for the student travelers to bring on the implementation trip including:

• Pamphlets with facts regarding sanitation and recycling
• Skits to perform in front of younger students
• Puzzles and worksheets for older students
• Microscopes to bring to the school to show students and community members bacteria that can not be seen with the naked eye

Red Cross, Engineers Without Borders, and Peace Corps will be used as references for these educational materials.

PROJECT SUMMARY:


The village of Patriensa, Ghana is located in the south central region of the country.  There are about 4,000 residents in the village and it is mostly a farming community. In Ghana, sachet water is the main source for drinking water. Sachets are one-time use, disposable bags that can be manufactured hygienically and filled with well water. Sachet water is used by 85% of the village, but currently, the people of Patriensa must travel to a neighboring village in order to purchase these sachet waters. This is both a time and money cost. 


Through discussions with the community leaders about the true needs and desires of the people, the sachet water project was conceived. This project will establish a sachet manufacturing facility in Patriensa, creating a sustainable income generating business. Because it is individually packaged in sanitary bags, sachets help prevent water contamination that otherwise could occur by drinking the water from unclean containers. It is estimated that in Ghana, waste produced from plastic packaging amounts to 270 tons per day, adding up to 22,000 tons in one year. It is common in Patriensa, for community members to simply throw the used sachet packages on the ground with no regard for the impact this has on the environment. In order to counteract this social and environmenatl issue, our team will attempt to educate the community on the importance of recycling, but the people of the village need another method to dispose of these bags to prevent contamination of their community. Our project will help to meet this need by partnering with Trashy Bags, an established company out of Accra that repurposes used sachets in order to create fashion merchandise. We will help to set up teams of 10 women to create these bags and add another profitable aspect to the enterprise through training provided by Trashy Bags. By creating a business enterprise and recycling and repurposing initiative, our project is responsive to the needs of the community in a holistic manner. 


This project will provide the village with a local source of clean drinking water, a sustainable income generating business, and education and employment for the village, while promoting the health and well-being of the people and protecting their natural environment. 

Our Partners in Change:

Pastor Kofi

Pastor of local Presbyterian Church that manages church where the well we will use is located

Nana Yaw Kawache

Owner of startup sachet water production company and active in helping Ghanaian communities with wells

Dr. Osei Darkwa

Native resident of Patriensa who supports PUC's involvement in the community

Francis

An emerging leader in Patriensa. Has a business and economics degree and is now studying law

Honorable Mr. Kwame Antwi

Native of Patriensa and member of Parliament who is involved in development of the community

Chief and Queen Mother

Team is expected to meet with them to announce our mission and report back at the end of the trip

Dr. Dori Gilbert

Honorary Queen Mother in Patriensa and highly respected in the community, she has been going to Patriensa for 12 years and is familiar with the operations and customs of the village.   A UT professor in the School of Social Work she is the main local contact in the project

Dr. Tommy Darwin

A UT School of Social Work professor who is teaching a course in community development through business enterprise and will be using this project as a class assignment to help solidify the details

Dr. John Burgin

A professional engineer and professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering he teaches project management in the civil and architectural department with a focus on environmental and water resource engineering. He is teaching the spring PUC class and helping to guide us through the details of our project before implementation

Our Team

Tim Bailey, Project Director, is a first-year graduate student at the UT School of Social Work.  He entered the program with seven years’ experiencein medical administration and an undergraduate degree in business administration from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS.  He is actively engaged in many civic and humanitarian organizations around the Austin area, mostly in AIDS services, most notably as Vice-Chair of the Austin Area HIV Planning Council.  He has served as coordinator and clinic manager on projects in Mexico and India and also has been part of community development in The Dominican Republic. Tim is organizing the business portion of the project.

Mary Clayton, Project Manager, is a senior in Mechanical Engineering, graduating in May 2011. As an undergraduate research assistant of the Webber Energy Group, she has conducted research on the nexus of energy and water. Mary plans to attend graduate school to continue to explore her interest in sustainable energy. Outside of the classroom and lab, Mary participates in service projects including volunteering at a food bank and engineering projects for underserved communities. 

Kelsey Koszela, Communications Manager, is a sophomore Civil Engineering major, working on a certificate in Social Entrepreneurship and Non-profits with a specification in International Development to pair with her degree. She is heavily involved with Young Life, a ministry organization that reaches out to high school students, and volunteers with Feed My People and other community service organizations. She is heading the fundraising and recycling education portion of the project.

Gregory Iles, Production and Structures Manager, is a junior in the Civil Engineering department at the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. After finishing his undergraduate degree at UT, Gregory plans on attending graduate school to earn a Master's in Environmental Engineering with a focus on Water Resource Management or Renewable Energy.

Bridging the Gaps:

Projects for Underserved Communities (PUC) is a program at the University of Texas – Austin involving the Cockrell School of Engineering and the School of Social Work.  It is designed to give engineering students the opportunity to use their academic learning and apply it to real world problems while helping others.  PUC believes in empowering engineering and social worker students to think outside the box and collaborate multiple disciplines in order to come up with a united solution for an issue in an international country. The class encourages creativity, innovation, and sustainability in order to meet the technical and social aspects of a problem. During its pilot year, PUC earned a 2010 International Award for Innovative Practices in Higher Education from the University Design Consortium at Arizona State University.  

Phase I: Project Assessment

The first semester students enroll in a class designed to teach effective project assessment.  The stage-gate process is used to choose the best project based on feasibility, risk, impact, and sustainability. The project proposals must be approved by a Service Learning Advisory Board (SLAB).  This board will be composed of engineering professors from UT and local professional engineers, ensuring the most successful project is chosen.  

Phase II: Concept Selection and Design

Once the project is chosen, the second semester class involves concept selection, design, and fundraising.  Reconnaissance trips are also organized to solidify details with the communities.

Phase III: Project Implementation

During the summer, team members travel to their international destinations to implement the engineering projects with the help of community members and professional volunteers.


Learn more about PUC at www.utexas.edu/international/puc