Today is our final day here in Jiu Long. I spent the morning handing over to Jean, my replacement from the British Red Cross. She will spend the next month here doing hygiene promotion and is accompanied by Dan the team leader and Theo the engineer.
The local school phoned to say that they have organised a talk with parents and asked us to present some information about how they can promote hygiene in their homes (tents). Zhao Xiu Gang, one of our peer educators, accompanied us and explained some of the main points, which they included in the peer education activities.
Last night, the villagers presented us with a banner thanking the friends from Spain, Britain and Denmark. It was very humbling. Today the deputy mayor also brought us local handmade gifts.
We have distributed 297 latrines as well as foot plates and plastic sheeting for latrine rehabilitation, and we leave teams of local people trained in latrine construction and hygiene promotion. Now we can return to the UK content in the knowledge that the team replacing us will take the project forward with their new perspectives and ideas. They will work closely with the Chinese Red Cross so that the project can be handed over to them next month.
We went to Chengdu for a farewell dinner with our colleagues at the Chengdu Red Cross. Looking back I feel like I have crammed three months of life into just 30 days. This deployment has been one of the most challenging and fascinating months of my life and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to come to China with the British Red Cross. Now I’m looking forward to a long soak, a roast dinner and a hug from my gorgeous chubby niece in London.
I hope that the new team will enjoy continued success and touch as many people’s lives as hopefully we have managed to do. |
