Project Origins - Letter from Tanzania

Sheri,

I’ll start by saying the trip and meeting was productive. There is so much to tell, but the main thing is that the people of Hedaru are so thankful for what is being started, they want to be a part of the process, and together, a whole lot can be learned and accomplished.

Engineer Mtango and I arrived, we met the Hedaru Village Committee and had tea. The main thing there was to introduce me and Engineer Mtango to the committee and to briefly outline what we are trying to do together. I produced the contract, for their review. Then it was off to the Rangeni intake area. The method was via my car, then by foot up the mountain for a 1-1/2 hour vertical hike. It separated the fit from the others, but we all made it after soaking our shirts and underclothes in sweat. We reviewed the area and then stopped by the existing intake structure at Sine.

There is a lot of work to do for the engineer and for all others in coming up with workable plans and detailed activities. The engineer suggests hiring surveyors for the proposed pipeline from the new Rangeni intake to the tie-in point at Sine (a bit down the road). Some discussions with the Hedaru leaders including Rev. Leonard with the Engineer occurred about the size of pipe that will exit the new Rangeni intake structure and feed everything downstream. I suggested to Mtango that he re-calculates flow amounts to ensure that we use the correct pipe size. The engineer will also further design the delivery system for exact pipe types and quantities of each size, and provide a sketch of the Rangeni intake structure which will be put on an official drawing within two weeks.

I want to warn you - there will be some budget estimate changes. Some items could make the project less expensive, and other items will definitely drive the costs upward such as using galvanized pipe for protective purposes as it makes its way down the mountain. There will be so many details and I hope to bore you with many of them.

The Hedaru folks will meet next week to discuss the implementation of the work (who to use for the work, where to get their materials, how to get the building materials up the mountain), and to sign the final contract. I told them that we would meet again in about 2-3 weeks for an official project kick-off meeting. We will have some funds transferred to them at that time. We hope to have the intake structure drawing and hand it over to the Hedaru committee.

So, we’re off and running. I was thinking of so many good things to write to you and your group when I got home, but forgot them. The main message is: this was an historic day for the Hedaru people and Rev. Luhwa and Clement are extremely happy to be able to present this project to the Hedaru town. After we got back to Hedaru after our mountain trip, we met again as a group, had a nice lunch, then many words were spoken. I am in the receiving end of your project, and hear firsthand the thank yous and appreciations. But, it touches me ne’er-the-less, and it is a pleasure to represent your group for this worthwhile endeavor.

What you are attempting to do will change their lives. What I realized as we were walking the mountain was that this is not a small project. It will take a lot of effort and hard work for many people, and even some sacrifices of time and resources in Iowa. But this is the stuff of life, and we are so grateful to be able to participate in the lives of the Tanzanians.

Thank you all for your efforts in making this project happen. There is a long ways to go, but you have given the people of Hedaru hope. And that is worth more right now than a card, an e-mail, a letter or even a handshake.

Todd Byerly