KARAGWE 2019 SUMMARY REPORT – ETI / KAD ANNUAL SUMMIT

January 27 – Feb 3, 2019

Introduction

I have been back for one week and am busy with follow up and TO DO items from the ETI/KAD Summit. The Karagwe 2019 Trip is well described as friendly, intense and productive. The two 8-hour flights, the layovers and ground transport all went smoothly – a real bonus when a trip involves this much travel and transition. I met Bruce in Amsterdam and headed to Kigali together. Highlights include: visiting the Women’s Opportunity Center in Rwanda that Bruce designed, moving plans for ROC#1 forward in relevant ways; working with Dr. Andrew and the ROC Task Force; meeting the KARUCO students; and paying our respects to Frida Bagonza. We accomplished our ETI/KAD Summit goals and a whole lot more. Everyone at KAD asked me to send many happy greetings to our ETI Team and supporters.

ETI/KAD Summit Goals

1. REFINE PLANS FOR RURAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER #1 (ROC1).
2. BEGIN KARUCO IMPACT STUDY BASELINE WITH KARUCO’s FIRST STUDENTS
3. ENCOURAGE KAD AND PEOPLE IN KARAGWE

People 

It was a joy to work with Dr. Andrew as Chair of the ROC Task Force. In his new job in Mwanza, he is the coordinator for all bishops (interfaith) and the liaison between religious institutions and the government to ensure that social services are best carried out in Tanzania. His job is huge and he is responsible for coordinating efforts in health, education and social service. We find him efficient, hard-working and insightful as we go about our tasks. We have been assured that his leadership with ROCs will remain. Elgoodness Emmanuel, contract engineer for KAD accompanied Bruce and ETI to nearly every activity and meeting. Her twin daughters, Brightness and Brilliant seemed to get a kick out of escorting their mother and us to various functions. In all, we learned a lot professionally and personally. We also met with Bishop Bagonza and KAD Management, got updates on stark conditions in Karagwe, and learned of government cutbacks to the private sector. As always, it is pure joy to work with them. It is also a joy to work with Bruce Engel whose professionalism and heart are inspiring and contagious. His main words for ETI and KAD are “so nice”.

Women’s Opportunity Center (WOC), Rwanda

What a highlight to have the Project Manager/Architect for the Women’s Opportunity Center in Kayonza, Rwanda – Mr. Bruce Engel – as our tour guide while we explored this amazing center. It is architecturally, aesthetically and functionally impressive. Dr. Andrew kept saying, “This far exceeds our expectations, and our expectations were very high.” I was impressed with the tented lodging, two cafes, two gift shops, work areas, training space, gathering spaces, food processing units and of course, the garden plots. Dr. Andrew, Elgoodness, Bishop Bagonza, Treasurer George Rumanyika and Dustan Lushasi from Karagwe got to see the WOC and help envision translatable pieces to the ROCs in Karagwe. Fascinating visit.

ETI/KAD SUMMIT – ROC#1

After a couple of hours at the WOC, we drove another 1.5 hours to cross the Rwanda/Tanzania border and then 3 more on to Kayanga. We began our site-visit there with a reception and meeting with the ROC Task Force to establish priorities for the week and set up daily meetings with various persons involved. We had two more summit meetings where we compared four site designs that Bruce Engel Design proposed, discussed intricacies and functions, and finalized a lengthy but energizing “TO DO” list for all parties involved with ROCs. Dr. Andrew, Chair of the ROC Task Force, did an excellent job outlining goals and keeping agendas on target. Once the site plans are finalized and approved, we will share with our broader audiences.

During the week, Bruce re-visited the ROC sites and gathered information needed for planning. He also visited KARUCO and gathered data on the water harvesting, storage, purification and distribution system that was begun in 2015. Those data will be shared in a summary report Bruce is preparing. This will help enable the ETI water team to complete the application for the Rotary grant in spring 2019. Elgoodness led a tour of traditional Tanzanian architecture and a tour of the Karagwe Diocese Cathedral and facilities for ELCT/KAD Management. Meanwhile, Bruce and I had just one meeting. And it lasted from when we met in Amsterdam enroute to Africa and closed eight days later when we parted in Kigali to head home.

 

KARUCO Site Visits

Mid-week we visited KARUCO and toured the barns and chicken coop funded by ETI. We saw the three cows – all pregnant – and 50 goats, their habitat and seclusion areas. The goal is 12 cows and 200 goats.

KARUCO STUDENTS

We were then honored to meet the first class at KARUCO! Eighteen students make up the inaugural class: Men and women who are the face of Tanzania’s new tomorrow. Dr. Katabaro made general comments, introduced Bishop Bagonza as founder of KARUCO, introduced me and Bruce Engel.  Then each staff and student introduced themselves. It was a momentous morning, long-awaited and long-anticipated. The students did not disappoint. All had cultivated plots as children, walked for water and knew a life of hardship and toil. Subsistence farming is not what they want for their futures. In a more private time with Professor Jan, I learned their individual goals and heard their stories. Families and friends had sacrificed so they could attend school. Most did not know how they were going to continue to pay fees but knew they would find a way. It was approximately 90 degrees that day and although it was very warm, students huddled around each other and me to share their goals and dreams. Hope at KARUCO is palpable. What a day!

KARUCO Students/Staff; Students & Prof Jan; Dr. Dixon, DVM; Mrs. Sophia Kanyamwenge; and Dr. Katabaro

I left copies of the KARUCO Impact Study with Mrs. Sophia Kanyamwenge, Assistant Principal at KARUCO. The study will assess KARUCO’s impact and is intended to be the first in a longitudinal study led by Dr. Johnstone of the University of Minnesota. ETI also donated 80 demonstration PICS bags (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) for demonstration and use at KARUCO and ROCs.

      

Move Forward Points

ETI, Bruce Engel Design and KAD are in discussion currently about the following post-trip TO DO items to move ROCs forward:

For KAD:

• Answer list of questions generated during the trip. See “Questions for ROC Design Development”. When identified questions are answered, BE Design can move forward with architectural plans.
• Hire consultant / expert to answer identified questions regarding food processing at ROCs.
• Get Geotechnical soil bearing test (location of test holes based on map provided by BE Design.
• Talk with local brick making cooperative about possibility of brick production improvements.
• Complete Concept Paper addressing all areas of ROCs.

 For ETI / KAD:

• Secure 90% of initial funding for ROCs.

 For BE Design:

• Provide KAD with locations for geotechnical soil bearing tests.
• Revise Program Matrix based on discussions.
• Revise Budget Estimate based on agreed program for Phase 1 on Site 2.
• Propose Brick Making Improvements for local brick cooperative (if green lighted by KAD/ ETI).
• Design Development: development of drawings and concepts (contingent upon KAD’s answers to Questions for ROC Design Development).

For ETI / BE_Design:

• Agree on Fee Structure for Architectural Services

Summary

I’m quite certain we could not have accomplished more in one trip. The site maps, design plans, and concept paper were all forwarded. Bruce left KAD with four pages of questions to be answered prior to beginning design work. To the person, each individual showed such motivation and engagement. I am so encouraged by this group of people who know that a preferred future for their children and themselves is possible and are working tirelessly to make it so.

Participants:

ETI        

Dr. Jan B. Hansen, ETI, Minnesota

Mr. Bruce Engel of Bruce Engel Design, New York

KAD      

Rev. Dr. Benson Bagonza, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese

Dr. Andrew Cesari, Chair: ROC Task Force

Rev. Yoram Karusya, Dean, KAD

Rev. Anicet Maganya, General Secretary, KAD (absent due to a death in the family)

Mr. George Rumanyika, Treasurer, KAD

Ms. Elgoodness Emmanuel, Engineer, ROC Task Force

Ms. Linda Mambo, Planning and Development, ELCT-KAD

Rev. Dr. Brighton Katabaro, Principal, KARUCO

Mrs. Sophia Kanyamwenge, Assistant Principal, KARUCO

 

KARUCO FIELD WORK

Mr. Horace Kamkoto, KARUCO Farm Manager

Mr. Magushi, Facilities Manager, KARUCO

Mr. Vincent M, Facilities Manager, KAD

Faculty, staff and students of KARUCO

 

KAD SUPPORT

Ms. Accurate Bamuhiga, Manager, Karagwe Hotel

Ms. Genegeva Edson, Staff, Karagwe Hotel

Mr. Dastin John Lushasi, KAD Driver

Staff, Karagwe Hotel