Hoe kijkt onze partner terug op het project?
De partner vertelt... van 6 november 2018 door Say Say Phaw
Na elk project vragen we onze partner hoe het project is gegaan en welke lessen de partner heeft geleerd. Je vindt hier het bijbehorende rapport.
1. CONTEXT AND SUMMARY
1.1. The original plan of the project
MY 118 and MY 218 - Yes, the project been executed as planned. In early February 2018, there were discussion about the situation with the proposed project at the Mamlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital (MLCH) - discussion mainly about World Servants not being able to support the proposed construction of the multi-purpose building and to consider the construction of the new quarters for the MLCH medical staff and after several discussions with WS head office it was agreed to execute according to the original plan, improving the housing facilities for staff of the MCLH and TLM Myanmar and MLCH is to develop a plan for the new quarters which will be ready for 2 World Servants teams in July and August. Although it was such a short period available for staff housing plan (getting MCLH’s board endorsement, selection of building site, the subsequent government’s permission) by the grace of God we could overcome all these obstacles and made all the preparation on time.
1.2. Implementation of the project
In April the hospital EC meeting agreed on the building of the staff quarter and also got the board meeting approval on 5th April 2018. Foundation was laid on May 2018 and after one month the plinth level was completed and first floor beam and slab were ready for first group. In July while the first groups were working on the ground floor, MCLH management again need to negotiate with the contractor for the preparation of work tasks for second group. According to the year one agreement with the contractor (the budget, terms and condition of the contract) the year one potion is only up to the first-floor beam of the building. But in order to prepare the works for second group, the first floor slap need to complete and finally the hospital EC decided to use 213 lakhs to raise another floor.
2. CONSTRUCTION
2.1. Buildings worked on
The building is four-storeyed with 4 apartments on each floor and could accommodate the total of 16 families. The contractor is the same contractor who built the hostel in Chaung Zone. The tasks for the 1st team is to work on ground floor- laying of bricks, transporting raw materials (sand, bricks, cements bags) to the building and work with concrete mixing and other core work. Tasks for the 2nd team – to work on the 1st floor, walling/Steel working/Concret mixing and others core work.
The weather: this year the raining season is a bit extreme compare to other year with torrential rain almost every day especially during the time while the teams were around. Which hinder some of the planned activities but it was really inspiring to see the young visitors enduring the weather, getting soaked and really wet but keep on working for the whole day under the heavy rain. Moreover, it was hard to lay the brick as the bricks were really wet and hard to work on. Also, in the beginning the team faces some difficulties with the communication with the construction team as there isn’t a translator on the construction site during the first week. After getting the translator at the sites the communications among the team become smooth.
2.2. Tasks to be done
Selection of the constructor, preparation of the construction site, getting official approval from board member as well as the local authority for the building. Application for the visa and stay permit for the team, especially for the whole team to be able to stay in the hospital compound. Pre-visit from TLM Myanmar head office for the building inspection and also to conduct meeting with the hospital management team for all the preparation and arrangement for the coming teams.
3. FACILITATION OF THE TEAM
3.1. Children Program
It was easy for the hospital to arrange children program as the hospital has a day care and a disability resource department for children. But for public school visit there are some regulation and usually needed approval from the authority in advance for at least one month ahead. So instead of visiting a public school a visit to private school was arranged for the first group.
3.2. Cultural and touristic outings
The arrangement for the home visit to the hospital staff houses to learn the daily life is quite ok as the houses are within the hospital compound and also near the vicinity. Tourist outing is ok with both groups. Also learning Myanmar dance and cooking lessons and the activities for the team to have interaction (meetings) with the medical staff, the leprosy patients in the hospital as well as meeting with youth from the church took place.
4. COOPERATION AND INVOLVEMENT
4.1. Leadership team World Servants
Both leadership teams from World Servant are very cooperative and supportive which made things a lot easier for all the arrangement and planning.
4.2. Local leaders / key persons
TLM Myanmar mainly communicate with World Servant head office especially with the focal person for all the arrangement and also coordinates with departmental concern DSW to attained approval and also with the hospital for all the preparation of practical activities on the sites. As for MCLH Hospital parts: The hospital management took care of the day to day arrangement and the activities of the team.
4.3. Community
The teams interact mostly with members of hospital staff's families and youth from the church who are also somehow related to the staff families. There is a leprosy community nearby where some of the WS team members visited during their house visit programme. The joint sport activities and the discussion were quite an experiences and exposure for the hospital community and they are really thankful for that.
4.4. Beneficiaries
Create safe and pleasant environment for hospital staffs with better housing condition.
4.5. (Local) authorities
The local authority are really supportive and help the hospital staff for the submission of all the necessary paperwork.
5. PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
5.1. Accommodation
The first team stays at the hospital’s training hall and the dining room downstairs was used as the meeting hall as well as the dining room. As for the 2nd team, as there was a training event to the basic health staff taking place at the same time, the female team stayed at the main hospital guest house and the male team at the smaller guest house nearby.
5.2. Food
The kitchen team usually prepare Myanmar dish apart from the breakfast. They avoid cooking spicy food and were always trying to read the faces of the youth to check whether they like the food that was serve and felt happy if they all seem to enjoy the food that was put on the table. All the kitchen team and the helper felt really happy and accepted in a way they did not feel looked down on but are treated as equals.
5.3. Transportation
As the accommodation and the building site are within the same hospital compound, there is no daily transport needed apart from the cultural visit at the weekend and the hospital hired the trucks for the transport. During the week days if there is occasion for some of the team member to go to the markets or bank, the hospital vehicle is arranged for the transport if the vehicle is available, otherwise they will arrange other options.
5.4. Safety
The safety and security for the team is the priority for TLM and try to take all the measure in terms of (Health, road safety, transportation and weather condition and security of the team) and they are planning to improve their service in the future.
- Health care of the team, they can consult with the doctors from the hospital.
- Passports were kept safe at the hospital.
- Keys for the accommodation were provided.
- Change the sightseeing scheduled to visit to the island because of bad weather focus.
- Arrange the return trip by flight for the 1st team because of the flooding
- To take care of crossing the road.
6. LESSONS LEARNED
To plan the detail activities and apply for the travel/meeting appointment permission before the team arrival.
