Potential project list to-date (written February 13)

Since we've been at site for a month now, long enough to get a pretty good idea of what our options are for work here, we decided you all might be interested in seeing our current list of potential projects.*

Long-term/Primary Projects

Rural Development Institute (government school that trains government-employed Community Development Assistants and some non-governmental organization workers)- 1) Help redesign outdated curriculum, 2) Develop a set of resources for students to take with them when they graduate.

Soma Health Center - 1) Support the Public Health Office with various activities relating to immunizations, growth monitoring, health education, environmental sanitation, food safety, etc, especially relating to gathering and analyzing data, 2) Introduce more proactive nutritional counselling for mothers of underweight children at weekly clinics, combined with follow-up and home visits by Community Health Nurses, 3) Introduce the sale of moringa powder (moringa is a local tree whose leaves are packed with an incredible number of vitamins and minerals) at weekly clinics.

______ Well - Assist in developing a proposal and aquiring funding for a small nearby community without easy access to safe water.


Short-term/Secondary Projects

Rural Development Institute (government school that trains government-employed Community Development Assistants and some non-governmental organization workers) - 1) Help teach students and train teachers on basic computer competency, 2) Start/lead after-school gender and small business clubs.

Soma Scouts Skill Center - 1) Help teach students and train teachers on basic computer competency, 2) Help brainstorm better marketing of the Center's services, 3) Attend/assist with management and business development courses, 4) Improve business practices/improve income-generating capacity.

_______ Skill Center - 1) Improve business practices/improve income-generating capacity, 2) Help with developing new activities (computer training, poultry raising, basket weaving).

Ad Hoc Basic Health Education - 1) Formal presentations (schools, Community Health Nursing School, Red Cross Clubs, Scouts), 2) Informal teaching (village/family level).

Divisional Health Team - 1) Participate in workshops/trainings/campaigns as they arise, 2) Meet with nutrition officer to identify ways to collaborate.

Village Development Committee - Assist chair of the committee with improving and submitting project proposals for funding.

*Caveat - This list is very much a work in progress. It is by no means comprehensive and we have no intention of trying to do even half of these things. It is simply a laundry list of options for us to work from as we move forward. Also, depending on our time and interests, we will most likely work together on some projects and split up for others.