One brick at a time

We've Learned a lot

In our experience working with rural and other communities in the developing world is that life is truly filled with surprises. We can look at them as obstacles or opportunities, but one thing is certain that we can't do and that is "We Never Give Up!"

It's a slog and we're up for it

In the One Brick at a Time project, I have to admit it has been tough going for the Bergnek community and ourselves. This is a project that is more like a series of projects, or a program. We started with water and continue to work on the water issue. We've addressed day to day needs but we know we have a way to go before we solved the water shortage and access issue sustainably for the long term. 

Things happen much more slowly than we'd like in Africa, and it simply the reality of life in Africa. The approvals for the work we did on the new wells has taken months to get finalized and we are finally approaching the ‘final’ sign off, according to our sources.

We’re not waiting

We don't want to wait before we take the next steps in the overarching project and so you may have seen a new project we started that is directly related to 'One Brick at a Time' called ‘A health Clinic for 1,200 Women and Children’ here on GlobalGiving. You might want to take a look at it and read more about why we started the project and Keabetswe’s story about his son.

We ask that you at least take a look and perhaps forward the project 2 friends or begin your own fundraising page for the cause here on GlobalGiving.

We are always grateful for you our supporters, and especially for those of you who give to the One Brick at a Time project every month. Thank you for your contributions, your messages and for sharing the work we do with the wonderful people of Bergnek. We appreciate you and the people of Bergnek most certainly do too.

We won’t give up, and we know that you won’t either!

Links:

• Bergnek Proposed Clinic

In this report, we're sharing what’s happening in One Brick at a Time as we continue implementation of the related projects and planning for the future. This particular report is focusing on the water needs in Bergnek, and future reports will give you more information about the General Store, and the Community Clinic, that are both in the planning stages although we've made some good progress nonetheless.

New 3rd-Party Survey and Needs-Analysis

In our latest survey conducted by Universal Alliance Partners, we wanted to confirm we are meeting the needs of the community and to check in to uncover and understand changes in priorities within the community. The good news from the report in general was that priorities haven't changed and there is a commitment to ongoing projects and planning for the future, even though there has been a 29.97% increase in the population over the past 6 years.

The Water Project

The water project has taken a large portion of current resources to get to the end of the second phase at a cost of around US$150,000. However, the water supply in the community has been increased to serve the increased population and we clearly need to plan ahead to meet future demand. Part of that planning is the acquisition of an adjacent plot of land to the community. 

You may be wondering why we're talking about land acquisition when we are working on water access. In South Africa, you may not move water across land parcels unless that movement of water is a natural occurrence, such as a river or stream. The land adjacent to Bergnek, contains wells with significant volumes of water on the side of the property furthest away from the community and if we acquire the land we have access to the water and the land will become part of the Bergnek land parcel and we can distribute the water anywhere within the boundaries of the bigger parcel.

Next Steps

We have already made progress and have agreement in principle with the current land owner to purchase the land from them over 3-years starting in January 2018 and an agreement will be formalized shortly. The importance of this additional land cannot be understated, it is what is needed to be able to properly supply water to the community on an on-demand basis as well being able to support the establishment of the brick-making business, you’ve heard us talk about previously.

As you can imagine, everything we are doing to develop community supported and sustainable economic activities is connected. More to come in our next reports on each of the General Store, the Community Clinic, and the other community-based initiatives related to these.

Help us, help the community of Bergnek to help themselves. Please pass this report on to Family, Friends and other acquaintances and consider making a recurring donation to the project.

In Gratitude. 

We went silent for a bit... but we are back

It's been a while since we last communicated through our GG Portal. Unfortunately, our email server was hijacked last year and it took as some time to recover it. Good news is, we are back on track and have put additional security measures in place to prevent that happening again.

What's been happening in Bergnek?

Since we last communicated there's been some great advances in the Bergnek Community and the related projects in the One Brick at a Time portfolio. We have successfully reestablished three wells in the community and are just waiting for the power utility to complete connections and the water per person will be up to 5 gallons a day, which is up from 1 gallon previously. Engineers Without Borders, Houston Chapter has been a tremendous partner.

Now that the water project is i place we are also looking at an additional water source to supply new businesses in the community including the brick-making business and the grocery store we are working on. There is a lot of excitement about these two undertakings as it means up to an additional 20 full time jobs in the community. Keep in mind that Bergnek is a community of only 1,800 people.

“I can’t believe this is really happening!” Says Keabetswe, “It has been a long road to get the water project this far, and now it is really here. It makes me cry for happiness.”

         Keabetswe Mosumane

More to come

There is a lot more to come of course and your generosity has helped get us to the point we are at now. Help us spread the word and take next steps. Please consider forwarding this report to at least 2 of your friends and family.

You should be proud of how you’ve helped the Bergnek Community.

Help make 2017 another great year for Bergnek

When our server was hijacked we were extremely fortunate to receive the we donation needed to get The Bergnek Water Project done. Now we are moving on to the next phases of the project that deal with healthcare and small business.

GRATITUDE

Whatever you decide, please do it today! The girls, women and children we serve extend a warm smile and heartfelt ‘thank you’ for your support. We are all grateful for your support. Please remember to forward this report to at least 2 of your friends and family.

With our deepest Gratitude,

The My Arms Wide Open Family of Communities

P.S. Watch for us an GlobalGiving Bonus Day, July 14, 2017

Links:

• My Arms Wide Open new site

It really is happening! In this report we’d like to update you on the progress of the Bergnek Water Project.

The electrical lines have been installed for both new pumps. This was completed just a week ago. The next step is to finalize the contractor for the actual pump installations as well as securing the pumps in pump house like we did with our first pump. This will all take place during the first two weeks of September.

What’s happening on the ground

As we talk with member of the community, we realize how grateful and unbelievably patient the people of Bergnek are. They’ve waited a long time for the new pumps to be installed and the wells to be reactivated.

What you also realize though is that they want to continue creating opportunities and solving more problems. As Kholofelo, who desperately wants to become an electrician says;

‘I want people to have more access to good jobs. I think the next step of our project should be to get water in the house, so we can have water when we need it.’

 Samuel, who lives in the community with his family as well adds;

‘If we can get the right amount of water and make bricks I can have my dream of building good houses for the people.’

There is so much more to do and your generosity has helped get us to the point we are at now. Help us spread the word and take next steps.

Please. Donate.

What will water enable the Bergnek Community to do?

For the residents of Bergnek, getting access to enough water to meet basic needs will have a direct impact on child development, nutrition and better health. As we work alongside the community to increase capacity, with your help, they will be able to grow more food and ultimately build more homes, a health clinic and a brick making factory. All of this will create employment on the community and literally save lives.

Help make 2016 a great year for Bergnek and DONATE NOW!                  

The Bergnek community needs us to get this project done. We need a total of $5,000 to get the full funding released for the project.

GRATITUDE

Whatever you decide, please do it today! The girls, women and children we serve extend a warm smile and heartfelt ‘thank you’ for your support. We are all grateful for your support.

With our deepest Gratitude,

The My Arms Wide Open Family of Communities

One Brick at a Time

Almost there

The biggest steps in getting infrastructure built in the Bergnek community has been to get the water supply to acceptable levels, increasing distribution points and having the electricity in place to run additional pumps. Each of these steps has taken some significant ‘gymnastics’ skills to get into place and we are almost there.

What’s happening on the ground

Over the two years we have been working towards getting this all done there have been delays, changes and demands put on the community, but we are almost there.

We have most of the funds committed for the project to proceed and work has actually started in laying the lines to supply the power we will need for the new pumps. This work beings next week and will end at the end of July.

“I can’t believe we will actually have water for everybody in the village now, we have suffered for such a long time. Thank you!” says Isaak, who runs the existing pump for a few hours each week when there is water available.

Once the power lines are in place the My arms Wide Open and Engineers Without Borders teams will be on the ground for the actual pump installation in august and September of this year. We are relieved that the Bergnek community will finally have access to the water they need.

Please. Donate.

What will water enable the Bergnek Community to do?

For the residents of Bergnek, getting access to enough water to meet basic needs will have a direct impact on child development, nutrition and better health. As we work alongside the community to increase capacity, with your help, they will be able to grow more food and ultimately build more homes, a health clinic and a brick making factory. All of this will create employment on the community and literally save lives.

Help make 2016 a great year for Bergnek and DONATE NOW!                  

The Bergnek community needs us to get this project done. We need a total of $5,000 to get the full funding released for the project.

GRATITUDE

Whatever you decide, please do it today! The girls, women and children we serve extend a warm smile and heartfelt ‘thank you’ for your support. We are all grateful for your support.

With our deepest Gratitude,

The My Arms Wide Open Family of Communities