Sustainability

Creating and measuring long-term impact

AOSCI Aids Orphan Safety Center (TIOS in Portugeuese) is currently selling the filters to people in Chimoio. Their target audiences are NGOs who are ordering in bulk to bring to their target areas. OSEO, a swiss based NGO, Halo Trust and National Council on HIV/AIDS have all purchased filters or paid for trainings offered by the women. They now have a steady supervisor who is Mozambiquan (the others were foreign volunteers) and who has the potential to provide them with the guidance and encouragement they have been lacking.

We supported the women through numerous trainings and refreshers in all the technology logistics, WASH education and a Pilot Program. They have also assisted in the conducting of a BSF training to build confidence and affirm their knowledge.

With supervision from the foreign volunteers, the women designed their own marketing materials, public presentations, workspace, reporting materials and bookkeeping schemes.

The combination of the RWH supplying water for the Centre's farm, and the BSF micro-business, TIOS is well on it's way to having yet another income-generating activity to contribute to their sustainable vocational center for safety and livelihood.

Other Issues

Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution

BSF Challenges:
The biggest challenge we encountered was the turnover of management. The center has had a rough year with upper and volunteer management leaving or being let go, so there was no consistent supervision for the women to build their skills. The volunteers were only able to provide minimal support to the women, themselves not being well versed in the technology or its implementation, and spending quite a bit of time relying on the girls to teach them. The Pilot Project was designed to help the women self-motivate as it gave them daily tasks and a set schedule on building, installing, doing follow-up, taking inventory, making phone calls and other project management issues.

RWH
We were trying to complete the implementation of the RWH at the same time conducting follow up with the BSF ladies and preparing for and conducting a BSF training for the women to assist. The original intention was to train the BSF ladies to install a RWH system but time constraints and the need to focus more on BSF project follow up and support led to the decision to hire skilled laborers to complete the job. The Centre's director and the girls were however given basic training in rainwater harvesting system maintenance.

Also, supplies and material shopping is always a bit of a challenge in Chimoio, especially without having experience with a particular technology implementation or locally knowledgeable people to assist. It took quite a while to locate, canvas, purchase and deliver the materials.

Lastly, the original location selected for the RWH system at the farm was the farmhouse. The roof tiles are asbestos so it was decided to find a different surface to collect rain water.

Learnings

Knowledge of project and process for sharing

We found that the women needed more supervision than was available at TIOS. One way we kept them on task and motivated was by asking them for weekly reports really which encouraged them to feel a sense of accomplishment and well-organized. Also, the women needed more focused and attentive supervision and guidance because they had no experience in having their own business and were very used to be being told what to do. Foreign volunteers as supervisors had difficulties for a few reasons 1) the language and cultural barrier; 2) the finite commitment; 3) and the lack of support from upper management. When we first planned the project, ASD felt there was solid upper management support to move forward, but TIOS had a very challenging year losing its Mozambiquan ED and the foreign Founder having other commitment outside of the country. So, much of the responsibility was left upon the foreign volunteers. We realized how difficult it is to identify and provide effective support to the trainees and volunteers from a distance, especially when advising on hands on technical components of the project. Their real needs and the reality of the situation on the ground was difficult to communicate via email and phone calls. This has finally been remedied by TIOS finally having the capacity to hire a responsible local person to supervise and mentor the women.

Impact

People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 302

22 households, 1 community center, 3 offices (places where filters are installed)

School Children Getting Water: 300

People Getting Other Benefits: 602

502 WASH Education