Attendees:

Attendees:

Matt Carlson, Jean Paul

Summary:

• Jean Paul suggests we should finish the series of workshops we planned, so far only had 1 for 3 days because we only planned funding for 3 workshops of 1 day each
• 1st one about using compost and fertilizers, proper mixing with soil [was 3 days]
• 2nd one planned about how to manage land (reduce erosion, identify appropriate crops for certain soils) [planned 2 days]
  
• 3rd one about showing the results of all the efforts either in the land in the valley or the original demonstration plot land [planned 2 days]
• The land in either the demonstration plot or the valley would be ready for harvest in January, so the 3rd workshop should at least take place at this time
• Discussed other organizations in the District, and in Muramba
• 
  

Action Items:

Danielle Lee: TBD
Joe St. Peter: TBD
Carl Houtman: TBD

Attendees:
Lee, Kyle, Tom, Julia, Erick, Elise, Jean Paul, Matt C., John

Summary
Discussion of fundraising packets

• Julie, Matt, and Emily are putting together fundraising packets for EWB members to send to their families
• The packets are more of an informational tool than a blunt request for money
• Let Elise know if you would like to request some for your family! BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30!

Tom presented a theoretical cross-section of a building foundation, wall, and roof. He included specific questions and recommendations in this evaluation.

The team reviewed answers (by Rwandan clinic staff) to the questionnaire sent out several weeks ago.

• Please review if you have not already done so!

http://sites.google.com/site/ewbuwrwanda/tasks/gashonye-clinic-expansion/answers---fall-2009

Discussion of road cleanup and accessibility of materials

• Should we propose a 1-week repair period before Clinic construction to speed materials transfer once we begin construction? 
• Question feasibility, but would like to explore the idea further

We need to get a better understanding of government initiatives and requirements, also options for government support.

• Electricity
• Healthcare institution qualifications
• Healthcare supplies
• Funding
• To do this, we should start by exploring the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Infrastructure's websites.

Action Items

1. Translate report sections into paragraph form. We will review and edit them for the majority of next Wednesday's meeting.
2. Take a look again at the links that Kyle found earlier this semester. He did great work finding relevant sources, and they may provide insight when writing report sections.
   1) http://catapultdesign.org/projects/pv-for-health-clinics
   
   2) http://www.theihanganeproject.com/solar_power_project.html
   
   3) http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/3632
   
   4) http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=455C489EDE314A3DAF5A3007903ED5A7
   
   5) http://vim-sandiego.org/plans.pdf
   
   6) http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=12671019&siteID=123112
   
   Happy Halloween!!
   

• Is there a local microfinance presence in Rwanda?  We recognize that money might be an impediment to accepting practices presented in workshops and in order for us to have a lasting effect in the longterm, we have seek ways to overcome starting costs.
• Have we experienced other ways to boost soil fertility than commercially produced and 10times more expensive non-organic fertilizers that are equally effective? Can we use other non-animal compost?
• Do we have any market studies of crop prices?  Before we suggest a farming technique to locals we must determine if heeding ISEA's suggestions equates to profitability.
• Who is are target group?  Are we teaching the pivot people: those people who are respected in the community or are we reaching out to the poorest with the most need?  Which allows for greatest desemmination of practices.  Are we targeting subsistence farmers from producers?  Are we targeting them differently? Will they use these crops differently?

• We know their transportation.
• We know current farming practices and crops produced.
• We know current radio systems.

• Often when outsiders or people of authority attempt to change practices, people are reluctant to accept.  Ideas of creating a support group/organization/coalition or equally-minded/skilled farmers were suggested.  Hopefully this will produce a high adoption rate, because of the added confidence of being in a group and discuss ideas.  "Top-down" doesn't work.
• Substainability of the project comes into question.  With workshops, how do we focus on the long-term and motivate attendees to adopt practices in a non-forceful manner?  Often the same people are attracted to workshops.  Are the benefits we offering (free meal, getting to keep a portion of the use) inducing more short-term behaviors?  Does it detract from the application of these processes?

• Millenium Project: They have stations in Uganda and Rwanda
• EDGE: A student org on campus working on agricultural practices in an island on Lake Victoria?
• People at the meeting with Jean Paul at a later date.

Attendence:

• Erick
• Tom
• Mike
• Matt
• Joe
• John

 

What happened at the meeting?

• ·       Announcement: We got a $5000 grant for both of the water projects to share!
• ·       Went over preassessment report
• ·       Tom J. sent us his notes—thanks!  We’ll look at this for future considerations.
• ·       We’re about halfway done with preassessment report
•       We should use EPAnet to map what data we have right now.

 

Questions to ask:

• ·       Find out flowrate of current pipeline
• ·       Freehand CAD sketch—using GIS, and put it in a spreadsheet
• ·       Strength of pipe? – it’s a 16 psi PVC pipe (doubtful—something was lost in translation) according to Alonze, which causes it to burst often.
• ·       How many people? Peak-5000people, but may be additional 1-2 thousand people.
• ·       Are there benchmark altitudes anywhere around the area?

What to do in country:

• ·       Need pics & specs on pipe, preferably bring back a sample
• ·       Find costs
• ·       WHO recommends 14-15 liters/day not counting agriculture—once we get census data, we can approximate need.
• ·       Should we incorporate other sources? Possibly a dam? It’s a possibility—lets think about metrics to figure out how to determine what the best path is.
• ·       Find out whats broken and what’s not.
• ·       Survey the eroded section vertically and horizontally.

 

*First thing we do is figure out what the flowrate is to determine which plan is even reasonable.

 

To do’s

•        Mike-Mentor portion of preassessment report

10.14.09

Attendees:

Elise, Erick, Kyle, Rita, Tom, Matt M.

 

 

Summary

Tom discussed his meeting at Strang

·         Literature to guide layout suggests bubble-floor plan approach

·         Strang architects willing to meet to discuss once we develop a layout

Tom suggested landscaping to provide informal reception area and increase building’s appeal

Focus group research discussed

·         Kyle mentioned existing developments in Rwanda with multiple levels

o   Tom agrees that materials used (clay) would support two-story plans

·         Kyle mentioned existing developments that utilize solar power

·         Elise shared link to Rwanda Ministry of Health website

o   Shows health facility classification standards, typical capacity, typical staff, activities, promotions, and management activities associated with each type

§  http://www.moh.gov.rw/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=37&Itemid=54

Group created questionnaire to send to care providers in Rwanda, in order to develop a better idea of the services they provide and the problems they want solved.

 

Goals

Develop gant chart to map expected progress until January.

Begin to review pre-assessment template (Due Nov. 8)

Continue to communicate with providers to tweak equipment, space, needs list.

Get a program, floor plan developed by January to present on Assessment trip.

·         “bubble” approach – an idea of the spaces that we want, and how we want them organized within the building

·         Review initial plan with Strang

·         Review initial plan with San Francisco EWB

 

Action Items

Tom will develop list of materials used in different places in building

Rita will contact Doctors Without Borders in an attempt to find floor plans of clinics in environments similar to or in Rwanda

Matt will ask Medical Foundation about machines/equipment used to provide treatment in U.S. hospitals

Elise will ask medical school contacts about our current lists and assumptions, and about disease/equipment/treatment methods commonly used in Rwanda and similar countries.

Elise will get the Project Delivery guide in .pdf form

Kyle will type up questionnaire 

Erick will put together a brief explanation of the fundamentals of construction planning for the group’s benefit

Everyone will review pre-assessment template and focus group research links.