Assessing Needs in the Community

As we get Honest Aid started in Jambiani, Zanzibar we have begun the process of assessing the needs in the local community where we operate. The approach of beginning the work of an NGO with a field office in the community is in some ways novel, but we find it a great way to begin work by actually doing work "in the field". For Honest Aid's team in Zanzibar "the field" literally begins in the space around our office and spreads thoughout the community.

In Jambiani we've developed the following work plan:

Honest Aid Workplan - How Can We Help Our Community?

1. Understand the Community and Build Our Own Capacity to Help

- Review written documentation and studies related to the community and our activities;

- Get to know community stake holders and local people;

- Assess NGOs in the community and projects that have been implemented in the past;

- Conduct our own assessment of the community, starting with the environment;

- Begin pilot projects that we think can help the community.

2. Take Action to Help the Community

- Share information that we gather in our work with stakeholders and the general public through written media, photographs, and video, utilizing old and new technology;

- Turn successful pilot projects into demonstration projects to assess interest, potential challenges, costs, and opportunities;

- Seek funding to expand and improve demonstration projects;

- Advise and advocate with stakeholders for community improvement.

We're working on different ways to share the findings of our assessment work with each other and the public.

If you'd like to learn more about the Environmental Impact Assessment work we've done please visit what we call "The Temple of Artemis" to learn about the environment.

To date we've begun 5 pilot projects:

1. Work to make our base of operations, Dhow Beach Village, a model of responsible tourism;

2. Begin developing a model garden with beneficial and appropriate plants and animals;

3. Develop a "wood saving" Justa stove using local materials;

4. Develop a system of integrated waste management;

5. Work on finishing a home to understand best practices in home construction and improvement and prepare the home to be used for demonstration.

We'll post content on each of these five pilot projects in the coming days.

Rob