"Behavior Change through Effective Communication" training

I'm so happy today. We led a fantastic training with 3 Health Extension Workers and their supervisor on "Behavior Change through Effective Communication." The HEWs were very engaged and enthusiastic.

Then I found out that a counterpart and I have been selected to attend a "Grassroots Soccer" training on Life Skills and HIV/AIDS in Addis Ababa in late November. Grassroots Soccer is a program that uses soccer to teach different topics. I'm looking forward to learning more about it!

Life is good.

A few photos of my living space.

So grateful for these super comfortable couches!

I love this beautiful shelf and little stool where I store some food and cooking supplies and do cooking prep.

Thank goodness for my propane stove! It makes cooking so easy!

Water storage. Rain water in the big blue bucket. Rain water collection in the orange bucket, then transferred to the big blue one. I use rain water for bathing, clothes washing and dish washing. Cleaner borehole water chlorinated in the blue bucket, then filtered for drinking and cooking.

When I collect cleaner borehole water, I usually use those two small 5 liter and 3 liter jerry cans, rather than the big 20 liter one, which is very challenging to carry up a big hill and then a walk to home.

Those water bottles are filled with trash (mostly). There are many more filled ones under the desk from the previous volunteer at my site. Eventually I'm going to use them to make an "Earth Bench" - a bench made with them, sand and concrete - at one of the schools or health posts.

Thank goodness for my mosquito net! It keeps me safe from the mice and insects.

school clubs

Good news from one of the primary schools today. In a meeting with the school directors and all the teachers, four teachers enthusiastically agreed to be my counterparts for: Gender Club, Health/WASH Club, English Club and HIV/AIDS Club.

Hawassa vegetables and fruits - I love you!

gardening success by Ayinalem and Biru

Wow, I'm so impressed with this family's commitment to grow their vegetable garden! They've transplanted plants from the initial small garden all throughout their plot of land, and even built fences around them! It's so encouraging to see this hard work and dedication! Good job Ayinalem and Biru!

quotes

Enjoyed these inspirational quotes at the school until I saw that the last quote is from Hitler!!!