Hello! I hope all is well with you. All is fine here, there was a busy period but this has calmed down this weekend. There are a few aid projects which we give operational support to from the base and like all things they have periods when they are busier than others. As a result though, Pete and I have got to know the staff here really well. Below is a selection of photos of the staff in their different roles.
Mbaki and Julien: supervisors on a bridge rehabilitation project, which means that they oversea the construction workers and check the work is running on shedule. The construction workers (men and women) are people from the local area and are are all people who are in particular need of work; such as people with large families to support or who live in extreme poverty.
This is Kasereka and in my team (the logistics team). He is a field driver /mechanic so often drives the vehicles on trips out of the base, usually to transport staff for their work. Here is loading the vehicle with spare parts and drinking water. He also takes a mattress just in case!
Manu, a guard at our warehouse, he also works as an aide to the driver on trips.
Didier, the Head Guard at the base. Pete works with him alot on the infrastructure in the base. He also goes on trips to support project staff and is a good mechanic. He sometimes also represents the other guards if they need more equipment such as waterproofs and warm coats as they do get cold in the night (although to me it is boiling!). Recently Didier, Pete and I went on a trip to the market to purchase the coats for the guards and we also came away with a couple of lovely, colourful shirts for Pete!!
This is Thomas, he is from France and manages the bridge reconstruction project. The work will mean a better supply route for aid agencies to remote communities, to internally displaced people and health clinics.
Jon le Bon - he works in the admin & finance office and focuses on HR issues. Here he is presenting the staff elections for a staff representative (see Pete`s last blog entry!)
Some of the logistics team, my desk in in the background. Left to right, Ugwaro, Kaseraka, Didier and Hubert (who Cath has had a nice conversation with on the phone as he now has my old mobile! He said she spoke very good French).
Another one of Hubert. He has recently been promoted to Assistant Manager and has worked at 3 of the 4 Medair bases. He has alot of knowledge about the organisation and how things work and seems to understand me quite well! On Friday he instructed me to get lots of sleep this weekend. I am very glad he is around!
Pete at his desk - with French verbs taped to the wall behind! I have the same, very handy!! (as long as the person talking to you doesn`t mind you swiveling around and studying the wall every now and then!)
Tony, a mechanic in the garage. He told me the other day that his favourite singer is Shakira so I am thinking how can I get a Shakira tape or CD to him?!
Thomas with Kaserake and Israel; Israel works on the bridge project. Most of the staff are married with families and both Israel and Kaseraka families live in a different town in the region. They have a more annual leave to account for this and fly home to see them for 2 or 3 weeks at a time.
Catherine who works in the admin & finance office. She analysis data from the health project (which provides a response to malaria and gives support to health clinics in terms of delivering medicines).
Pete talking with the driver of our truck making plans.
Our `cover person` Hassan! We always put Medair flags and stickers on the vehicles we use.
Kayumba a local artiste who designs and and paints different signs for us to highlight the work the organisation has carried out. This is one for the entrance to the base.
Finally the view from my window, perhaps I need to cut the plants back, they grow so fast here! The person you can see is Mokendo who is an aide to the driver of our truck.
Thanks for reading, Lizzie. xx
