Wednesday 13 May - Day ? lost count

It's been over a week since my last blog, which was straight after the second Assessment team meeting. It was a tricky one as I had to rethink my strategy and I know I need to write up details of that meeting, which I will do soon when I can connect to electricity and type up on my laptop, rather than in an internet cafe as it will take a bit of time. I'm in the Gambia right now, enjoying cheaper and quicker internet connection, so writing straight in to the blog rather than in Word on my laptop. QWERTY keyboard at last!

I've come to Brikama to buy African fabric to make outfits from. I think it is important to look like you fit in a bit more when communicating with people in Abene, Albadar and Dianna on the assessment as I think it shows I am more committed to the project and am not just passing through. I'm also looking for Mandinka language learning books and a bike for Yousoufa to use when we go to villages together as walking or asking around for a bike takes up so much time. But neither is an easy task. The book shops here are nothing like Borders or Wterstones! They're tiny and with very little stock. So trying to get a book involves trawling around all the shops and shop keepers making phone calls, telling you to come back the next day and so on. Still not got anything yet. The bike I've seen is pricey, so hopefully I'll get something soon in Serekunda, another town in Gambia that should have more choice.

The third Assessment meeting went much better and I really feel now that each time we are able t understand each other that bit better. So we did a historical profile of education in the 3 villages together using bits of paper, felt tip pens and blu-tak on the wall. Then we did a Venn Diagram showing the important institutions and groups in Abene, drawing it in the sand. The Chief (Alcalo) and his Elders were of course large, in the centre, and then the school association, nursery, health committee, hospital, Imam and church featuring smaller around the Chief in the centre. Followed by the traditional healer both in and out of the circle and the secondary school outside the circle. This reflects its geographical position and relationship with the village in terms of it being so distant.

The historical profile showed that there is a history of courses being provided in all three villages in the local languages, Mandinka, Jola and Fula. But that the only courses running now are those funded by Tostan in Abene and Albadar. But they are not focused on literacy, but general adult education.

It was really good to be able to discuss the information I think we need to gather, such as the existence, coverage, accessibility and acceptability of educational services in the area; levels and sources of income and levels of employment; a community profile and evidence of self-help projects that the community has led and sustained, etc. I'm using the book Partners in Planning again as a guide on this.

We have had difficulty in working out how to get information quickly and easily as members of the team have said they would build a community profile by walking house to house rather than asking government for data. As I understand it they are not seen to be a suitable source of reliable information.

I have had a really interesting, a long chat over cups of Attire (Green tea) with Ossaino, who works with a school that is supported by the Christian Children's Fund, in Brikama. He has lots of experience of doing participatory needs assessments here in a community that is very similar to the Cassamance region, where I am based. It has been a real boost talking over the methods and difficulties with him. He has used many of the methods I've been reading about in my book and was able to give great advice. He has very kindly offered to come and help us out at the action planning stage of the assessment. At only 5 weeks to go before my return flight I hope we will be able to arrange that soon. The clock is ticking on my assessment and we both agree that this 3 month period is too short for a thorough assessment which is needed and that perhaps we could plan a longer assessment for later in the year, autumn maybe. He agrees with me that the members of the Assessment planning team really do need training in order for it to be most effective. Fortunately for me he is an experienced trainer and has been trained and has experience in participatory needs assessments. So the plan for this period now is of course to make the most of this opportunity, but recognising its limitations at this stage and working towards planning a pilot programme depending on the results, of adult literacy for example.

With Ossaino I have been able to work out the best methods to use to get the next information I need at this stage - social and resource maps of each of the villages ( I have a resource map of Albadar only so far), including showing roads impassable in the rainy season which has an impact on communications, and areas where different ethnic groups live, as well as some form of wealth-ranking to highlight the poorer households and levels of wealth in the villages. Ossaino suggested doing this by a walk around the villages with a map noting the building and roofing materials of the house as an indicator of wealth.

Also a Seasonality Calendar to show times of malaria which has an impact on school attendance, farming also as this has a knock on effect on every aspect of life for the community, periods of most power cuts, etc. And a Transect Diagram to put together all the information gathered and easily compare it for each village, looking at the 6 main issues that the team has identifies - needs for vocational training, improves school resources and infrastructure, school food, adult literacy, library facilities and improved access to the internet.

So when I get back to Abene, from the Gambia I will have my work cut out and will hopefully be in a position to go full steam ahead with the assessment process. I am pleased to say I have had continued support from all the original members of the planning team and none of them have dropped out!

I've also been learning about local building methods which will be very useful if we do come to build a school, or centre of some kind. I've even been giving a hand brick-laying for the first time in my life! It's been hard work, but great fun and a good opportunity to practice my Mandinka on the builders. I learnt more about Ju-ju practicesm including putting little plastic bags of Koranic texts on paper folded up tightly and tied with thread into the foundations before the cement is laid. Interesting.

As my friend points out there is more to the place than just nice weather and friendlt people!