Erin Boehmer Overviewed the University of Virginia “Water and Health in Limpopo” (WHIL) Project in South Africa at Kiwanis July 20 Meeting

Project site is about six hours drive north of Johannesburg. UVA teams had worked in two villages (Tshapasha and Tshibvumo) for a few years and extensive planning was done for this year’s May through July trip to the South African site. A first water filtration system was built earlier and this team’s goal was to expand the water filter.

Erin enjoyed working with South African students in the local school. Using a microscope, she showed students that coli form bacteria was present in the drinking water. South African students are enthusiastic and will do anything to please their teachers. In class they raise their hands and snap their fingers to be called on by their teacher.

Working with people in the villages was really a challenge. The “Chief” UVA had been working with in the past was actually a stand-in Chief. A new Chief came to power and he did not get along with the stand-in Chief (whose back yard was the site of the first water filter). Existing plans made with the agreement of the stand-in Chief had to be replaced with new plans developed on the spot.

There is no electricity or Internet in the villages. Most resources are non-existent. People are not literate. Getting people to understand and believe that they can do better was difficult. Communications with the villagers was a problem. UVA team members wanted to have community meetings with villagers but Chiefs prefer to relay information to villagers themselves. Villagers wouldn’t show up for UVA team communications meetings. To overcome this, the team built a message board to improve communications.

This year’s addition to the water filter was completed. The UVA water filtration project will continue for the next three years. Lessons from the trip will be evaluated and be used to determine how to help the villagers get what they need. Click on “The Water and Health in Limpopo Report” (a Blog) to learn more about this project. Photo shows Kiwanis President Rich Behling introducing Erin Boehmer.