orking in the beautiful area of SNNPR (Southern Nations,

Nationalities, and People’s Region)in Ethiopia hardly feels like an emergencycontext, but that’s what it is or the IRC(International Rescue Committee) would notbe here. Drought and crop failure aside,diarrhoeal disease is ubiquitous in many ruralareas, and it is this that our intervention isseeking to prevent. We are taking aninnovative approach by using the PHASTmethod (Participatory Hygiene and SanitationTransformation), which involves thecommunity at every step of the decisionmaking process. In effect it is their process,not ours. By giving democratically-electedcommunity representatives the tools theyneed to identify and analyse the problem,we merely facilitate the development of acommunity-driven action plan which we thenassist with technically.

Previously hygiene promotion has been theneglected area of the WatSan sector, generallytacked on the end of projects rather thanbeing an integral part. The result is all toooften a small increase in knowledge but nochange in hygiene practices. The beauty ofthis approach is that the community discoversits own ability to solve its problems, and thepride generated from that feeling ensuresthe sustainability of the solutionsimplemented.

The main challenge has been to get thevillages motivated to participate. The rainthreatens to come early, so the farmers areunderstandably hurrying to harvest their crops.Still after a few meetings with groups ofvillagers the word has spread and people arerecognising the value of the project to thepoint where a veritable hubbub of enthusiasmhas been created. Everyone on the team iseager to see the end result, and personally Iam extremely grateful to be a part of thisproject.

Jonathan Pease: Ethiopia 2008

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Winter 2008/09Issue 85

Editorial

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Projects update

Community Meeting - Ethiopia

W

4 0Y e a r s

Lebanon• Management o f f r eshwate r

wetland and forest restoration

• Environmental education programme in the community• Scientific study and practical

conservation work

Kenya• Working with the local communities to achieve the long-term conservation on of threatened habitats and species in the Malindi-Watamu area.• Environmental education and scientific research

• Design water supply systems

• Train locals in water system related activities• Measuring Flow and testing water quality

India• Low cost rain water harvesting structures• Water budgeting (water and sanitation and health education to locals), gender (women empowering), equity issue and governances

EthiopiaEthiopia• Design, installation, operation and management of environmental health infrastructure• Development/improvement of data collection systems for monitoring and evaluation of environmental health activities• Report writing and development of concept papers and proposals• Conducting emergency environmental health assessments

Guatemala• Design water supply systems• Train locals in water system related activities• Measuring Flow and testing water quality

SAFA

D We

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Feb

400 Volunteers, 30 countries, 40 years: SAFAD has left its mark. As acommittee we are excited about taking SAFAD forward in its 40th year andbeing part of sending students overseas. Our objectives this year are toexpand the diversity of our portfolio, reach out to beyond resourcemanagement and raise awareness of local and national issues on campus.

I have great faith in SAFAD I believe its mixture of inclusive and independentorganisation and diverse experience enables it to provide effective andsustained development. As I have been digging in the archives of volunteersand projects I’ve been struck by SAFAD’s breadth and its continuous evolution.From large teams of agriculturalists providing technical advice towardssmaller projects focusing upon development. Hopefully a snapshot of SAFADwill give you an insight into our diversity.

This year we have sent out 5 volunteers to 5 countries and are looking toset up 10 new projects. SAFAD week is approaching and will be jam packedwith talks, events and opportunities and we hope to expand the farmer’smarket.

As SAFAD enters its 40th year, we extend our gratitude to our donors,advisors, speakers and members who make SAFAD work possible.

Tom Heath President (2008 - 2009)

The Annual Seminar will takeplace on 7th May. This is a goodopportunity to come along andfind out what SAFAD has doneover the year, hear first-handfrom some of the volunteersand there will be a talk fro SirChrispen Tickell. Check outthe SAFAD website (at:www.safad.org.uk) for furtherdetails in due course.

The Derek Sutton MemorialLecture is another importantSAFAD event, where a guestspeaker is invited to present atopical subject. This year’slecture is still being finalised- again, see our website fordetails shortly.

Throughout the wintersemester we had fortnightlytalks on issues ranging fromsustainabitly, biofilters andnut harvesting with new talksplanned for this semester.

At Christmas Cranfield enjoyedthe voices of SAFAD’s carollsingers. The farmers marketswere a great sucess and weshould hopefully have somenew stalls.

The biggest event nextsemsester will be SAFAD Week.There will a host of talks,debates, dancing and feastingwith plenty of cake. We wouldlove you to get involved, havea chat with the committe orjust come along.

Hannah Posner Awareness and EducationOfficer

FundraisingActivities andEvents

A Snapshot of 40 Years

2008-2009TrainingProgramme

Early in the year we will inviteDr Jane Wilson-Howarth tocome and give her talk ontravel health entitled 'Bugs,bites and bowels' to cover allthose health problems thatnaturally are a hazard ofwork ing in developingcountries. This will be an openlecture for all students. Alsohere at Cranfield, AlisterHillman will be giving first aidtraining - vital skills forvolunteers unable to reachmedical assistance easily inremote locations.

In April, there is a key trainingprogramme when volunteersundertake a weekend coursein 'practical water supply andconstruction' organised byEngineers Without Borders(EWB)/RedR. Here they willgain many of the practicalskills necessary for successfulproject implementation andsustainability. This will befollowed up by current trainingofficer James Miller carryingout a ‘design and build’ sessionto teach some basic buildingskills, and how to manage ac o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c tefficiently. This will probablytake the form of a weekendproject building a small-scalehouse with basic electrics andplumbing, and some waterstorage/waste facilities.

For many of our volunteers,the cultural gap may be a bitof a shock. I would like toinvite a speaker to talk aboutcommunity engagement,probably James Webster, whoteaches the Community WaterSupply option of the MSc WaterManagement and has muchexperience of working at agrassroots level.

Justin SalmonTraining Officer 2008-2009

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Prince Philip talking to SAFAD members

The Changing Face of SAFADIt is amazing and impressive to realisethat SAFAD is approaching its 40thbirthday. As a small, volunteerorganisation, which by its nature lacksmuch continuity from year to year,SAFAD has nevertheless evolved andbecome increasingly professional inits approach. I have personally beeninvolved in SAFAD's progress sincejoining the university in 1981, and Ihave observed at first hand thecommitment of those running theorganisation, and their differentemphases over time. Each year thecommittee takes on a different setof priorities for change andstrengthening, and over time theseefforts build up to create an evermore competent organisation. SAFAD

will probably continue to be arelatively small and specialisedorganisation, but its modest size doesnot undermine its impact. Betterthat a small but bright light continuesto shine and show the way, than thatover-ambit ion d imin i sh theeffectiveness of the organisation. IfSAFAD can continue in its primarymission of capacity-building, of UK-based and overseas studentvolunteers, and of the partnerorganisations with which it works,then SAFAD can rightly continue tobe proud of its achievements.

Richard Carter (SAFAD Advisor andProfesor of Development)

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A selection of projects completedby 40 years of SAFAD volunteers

Iran: irrigation efficiency

Malawi: designing portable rainfallsimulator, oxen rollers and maizeshelters

Tanzania: wind pump, methanegenerator, maize mill, rainfallsimulator, sprayer

Malaysia: mapping shiftingagriculture

Nigeria: soil conservation, land useplanning and irrigationPakistan: drying apricots, installinga hydraulic ram, bubble irrigationdemonstration, river bankprotection and canal improvements

Honduras: teaching croppingsystems in an orphanage, newWATSAN provisionNigeria: well rehab, irrigationscheme, pump repair trainingUganda: protecting springs,rainwater collection tanks, pumpfilters

Bolivia: low-cost appropriate ruraltechnology advocacyBurkina Faso: game reserveconservation strategyKenya: vegetable self sufficiency,WATSAN. Flood control andabstraction structureIndia: hospital review

270 volunteers sent to 25countries!

Burkina Faso: water management,land management, rangemanagementCameroon: water surveyGuatemala: gravity-fed watersupply

Peru: restoration of Inca terracesand waterwaysUganda: coordinating training daysfor farmers and developingrainwater harvesting system in treenurseryGuatemala: initiating reforestationin rural areas, making stoves,researching medicinal plant

cultivation, health promotionprogramme, designing householdlevel water and sanitation provisionCameroon: developing spring forwater supply system in amountainous region

Malawi: setting up micro-financescheme for macadamia producersGuatemala: investigating anddeveloping remediation for soil andwater contaminationCameroon: continuation of watersupply project in mountainous region

Kenya: designing and building smalldamsCambodia: national social marketingcampaign to increase latrine useand promote hygieneMyanmar: multi-sectoral programmeimproving food security,development of water supply in WaregionZimbabwe: sanitation and rainwaterharvesting for kitchen gardenBolivia: designing and building watersupply system and training localtechnicians

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In our 40th year we are approaching our 400th volunteer in 30 countires!