Need a Laugh? Read This.

The last few months have been a little crazy here in Senegal! I have been doing a lot of traveling, and working on quite a few different projects. Overall, I am really happy with how my first year as a Peace Corps Volunteer has turned out. One of our biggest challenges as PCV’s is feeling like we aren’t actually making a difference in our communities. Often the work that we do does not have immediate results, so it is hard to feel successful.

I have managed to do some bigger projects throughout my service, and those projects have made me feel like my time here is worth something. You can read about my chicken project in previous posts! It was my first big project, and is going so well! Now, my village is knee-deep in our new project which I so creatively named…Women, Water, and Wee Ones. Which in all honesty is a terrible name because it is not at all descriptive. But hey. It’s cute.

The project was designed by my counterparts and I over the last few months. I wrote the grant and now we are in the implementation phase. The project is three-fold. One, run a new water line to the school in my village so that they have water for the first time, and also run a new water line to a section of the village that has also never had a water line. Two, rebuild the school bathrooms so that the teachers and students have a clean and safe place to use the restroom. Three is to build a school garden where the children can learn basic gardening techniques. In theory, the garden will also supply the school with some extra funds for maintenance and supplies.

We just recently acquired funding for the project, and since I am going to America in two and a half short weeks (insert me freaking out with excitement here) we won’t be able to get it all done while I’m in country. This worried me a little because I knew that my community would want to have everything as soon as possible, but as my wise and wonderful sister Alyssa reminded me,  Ron Swanson once said,

So my counterpart and I talked it out and we will be constructing the water lines while I am still in the country since they are first priority, then moving on with the rest when I get back. This got me thinking about how many moments in the grant process could be described by hilarious Parks and Recreation moments.. So here is this. You’re welcome America.

It all starts with an idea. An idea brought to you by someone who wants to make a difference or get something done in the community. And you’re like..

Then there are the meetings where everyone has an opinion on how things need to go and you’re like..

And because everything is done in Wolof ..

And when anyone asks you any questions at all about the project..

No matter how hard you try, every large gathering of people talking about the project ends in someone asking you to marry them..

But then finally, the project is planned and it’s time for you to head to the city and write that grant! Then you remember that grant writing is

You get half way through the application and say to yourself,

You may ask some staff members, or other older PCV’s for guidance, and while usually you get help, sometimes it’s like..

But then you finish the application! Complete budget done, goals written and ready to send in for your boss’s approval and you feel pretty great!

Your project is approved! Yay! But then Peace Corps tells you it could take 2-3 weeks before you get your funding..

One week later

Then Two weeks later

Finally! You get an email notification that your grant funds have been deposited in to your account!

No matter where you are, or what you are doing, any of these reactions are appropriate..

 

If you run out of your hut dancing like I usually do, your family looks at you like Tom is looking at Jean Ralphio and Mona Lisa..

You go to the bank to withdraw the grant funds so that you and your counterpart can buy all the supplies when you realize just how much money you are responsible for keeping track of..

But you’re a rock star! You buy all the supplies and it is time to start implementation..

Two weeks in, a friend calls and asks how the project is going. You respond

There are a few hiccups with the implementation and you are basically Craig all the time.

When you are sure that the project will not succeed you tell your PC bestie..

And finally, after weeks and maybe even months, the project is almost finished..

But then it is finished..and you have something to look at and say ‘hey, I helped do that.’

You realize you still have to close the grant and it’s back to..

If you made it this far, I hope you enjoyed that ridiculousness! As mentioned above, I will be in America very soon! I am so excited to see my family and friends back home, and also to eat so much ice cream. Thanks for reading, and as always, Peace and Love!