Sunday 23 June 2013

June Letter


I have typed up a few paragraphs from a recent letter from Mark:

At Easter we went to a Rodeo at Letham, and then another one at Sand Creek. Nice to catch up with the other volunteers and also meet American Peace Corps and World teach volunteers. I entered the eating race & won my second eating race in Guyana. Woop! I also entered the tug of War. At Sand Creek, for some crazy reason, hungover, sleep deprived me entered a long distance running race & came 3rd. Spent a day or two in Sand Creek - the volunteers there are so lucky - their school is so well equipped! We then visited Dadanawa, a big ranch, run by a white Guyanese man. He’s a cool guy! Has family in N Ireland and even has an ex Project Trust N Irish girlfriend. While there we had to work to earn our keep. Then a very lengthy journey back to Chenapou.

The rain has been ridiculous. The flooding is amazing. The river triples in width and rises about 8m. All the tracks flood, so we have to close school. It’s too dangerous to canoe in this water - the water flows strong, strong, strong! I said to Mrs Dru (headmistress) that I’d buy fuel for the boat, so we can collect children by power boat. Mrs Dru has used her her fuel to transport children to keep school open. Hopefully I won’t have to spend too much, but we’ll see. Last week the education boss for Region 8 visited to check up. She seemed happy with the school, she also explained how to get funding for the school. 

Next week the people in charge of Amailia Falls Hydroproject are coming to Chenapou. Amelia Falls is a massive electricity Dam, that they are building to supply 80% of the country with electricity. It’s a big thing, but no-one in Chenapou seems to realise just how big it is. The boss man is coming as the people from Chenapou are basically the only people to use the land. It’s a two day walk to Amailia Falls area, some people hunt & fish there.

We have also been to Icherak. A mining place that produces the purest metal in the world. (98-99%, Mark doesn’t say what metal!)

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Some Photos

 Butterflies
 Teachers day
 4 classes are in the building
 Kaiteur Falls
 Canoe trips
 Liming or Gaffing
 Fishing, the villagers mash up roots, which add toxins to the water and the fish are easily caught.
 Flying in on a 2 seater plane
Mark sank his canoe during canoe races on sports day
 Kaiteur Falls
 Clearing in the forest for a farm
 carrying Cassava roots back to the village
 Cooking dinner
 Chenapou Primary School
Making a clearing