To Africa and Back

I've been intimidated to write a blog the past few days back in the states because there is so much to talk about. I feel like I wouldn't do all the stories justice in one entry. However, if I split it up into multiple entries, what do I write about first? Such is life.

I'm back from Africa, and tanner than ever. I didn't get sick like you would expect a world traveler to get sick, but I did get some mild sun poisoning. A bunch of small blisters popped up on the back of my hand and my forearm, and at night I scratched them because they itched, so they bled, and now I'm going to have scars that look like my hand got in the way of a shotgun blast.

As part of the ZAO Water Team, I documented the trip and ZAO's work there via photos and video. Right now, I've got about 4800 photos to sort through, and close to 13 hours of video to import. I'll be taking all that material and editing a series of promotional and informational videos for ZAO.

Knowing now what ZAO does on the ground, and seeing the impact that they have on the community really makes me excited about this project. ZAO isn't the only Non-Government Organization in Africa that digs wells and protects springs, but as far as I know, they are the only ones who have a local staff made up entirely of native Africans to maintain and repair the wells that break down. And they all break down. Now, I don't want to slam the good work that other people are doing, but something that most people don't realize is that when an NGO goes and digs wells, most of them just walk away afterward. They gave people clean water, and that's that. All things tend toward entropy, so when the pump handle breaks, or the seal dries out, the people in the community then have to go back to the water source that got them all sick in the first place. If no one maintains the wells and springs, then it's like giving someone a cellphone without a charger. It's good until the battery dies, then it's useless.

ZAO is unique in that they actually care about the community and the people using the well because the majority of the ZAO staff actually rely on their own wells for their own health. Suffice it to say, I believe in what ZAO is doing, so I'm excited about this project. Now, I just need a few more hard drives to hold it all.