Diary - Monday, Nov 6, 2006 

Here are a few pictures of some of the latest work:

Goodness, the time seems to have evaporated here since our last update. Hoping this latest version finds you all well and enjoying life. Pat and I and all the team here in Jambiani are well and keeping focused on all that we have on the go at this moment. Pat has been particularly busy co-ordinating a huge number of tasks that are required to facilitate the arrival of the TWECS group this coming Saturday. This has been a huge responsibility and Pat has done just a superb job of setting up schedules, organizing transportation, arranging for interpreters and liaising with local hotels to provide meals and accommodation for the "team".

We will be having an opening ceremony on Sunday with invited dignitaries from the Ministry of Health, local and regional authorities as well as members of parliament. We are expecting about 80 people at this event so it should be a great day.

The eye clinic will commence on Monday, November 13th and will finish up by November 24th. Plans are to see in excess of 3500 patients so we will be buzzing here I'm sure. We will try to document this event as much as possible with pictures and stories so keep an eye out for the latest on TWECS, the Third World Eye Care Society... 100% Canadian!

The building of the school continues. There was a bit of a slow down for two weeks during Ramadan but we are now getting back to full speed once again. They are starting to place re-bar into the forms that will eventually receive the cement that will make up the ceiling of the ground level of the school and the floor of the first level. This has been a big job and when it comes time to pour the concrete, this will all be done primarily by hand although they will be using gas powered mixers to help. Manual labour is definitely more than the President of Mexico in this part of the world. :-)

The first four pictures were taken on the second floor and show the form work for the concrete slab as well as some of the support pillars in the front section of the school which is where the training juice bar/restaurant will be located.

The last pictures were taken from ground level and show some of the details of construction methods used here.

OK, that's about it for now. I will be coming back with an update shortly after the TWECS team arrives and then I'll do another at the end of their stay.

We are "Rocking" here in the "Jam" and we continue to be motivated by upcoming events like this and of course from the support we have had from people like yourself who have contributed in one way or another and from organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Cordaid, Wild Geese and others. Without you, we wouldn't be touching as many people in need as we are and will continue to do in the future.

Take good care of each other and much love to you all from Zanzibar and the Hands Across Borders Society.

Ali Baba and Patima