Initiative of the European Union, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian AidOperations department (DG EAC)

AfricaEastern AfricaUganda

About the Project: EU Aid Volunteers ACTingagainst disaster risks(EUAVACT) is an EU AidVolunteers project. Theproject is implemented by aconsortium of ACT Allianceorganisations and involves38 EU Aid Volunteerplacements. The projectaims at contributing tomore effective (EUprovided) humanitarianresponse, Disaster RiskReduction (DRR) andresilience in five countries(Ethiopia, Uganda, Nepal,Bangladesh and Cambodia)through strengthening localNGOs and vulnerable anddisaster prone communitiesmembers.

"My job title could be described as Disaster RiskReduction (DRR) Officer. I worked on disasterpreparedness and coordination of early responseduring an internship with the UN Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Africaand I have a Masters in International Development,including natural disasters. I applied for this positionbecause I was really interested to deepen my skills andknowledge about the issue", Sophie explains.

"The training is on the Church of Uganda’s disaster riskmanagement policy: it’s guiding principles, objectivesand response plan for each disaster and how the policycan be implemented. Right now I have trained around

Text: Jenni Petäjä

Photos: Gregório Cunha

In Mbale, Mbale District, Eastern Uganda

Sophie Schillings, from The Netherlands, is working as anEU Aid Volunteer in Mbale since September 2017 for theChurch of Uganda’s diocese.

One of Sophie’s main tasks is to train area’s disastercommunity teams.

125 people in total", Sophie tells.

"With trainings we try to put in place practices fordifferent churches on what to do in case of disaster,where it is safe to go in case of landslides etc. I havelearned how resilient people are even when living indisaster prone areas: they help each other, aremotivated to work in disaster preparedness and havean amazing attitude", she describes.

"The idea came when I met a Peace Corp volunteer,Michal Matejczuk, who was building this type of tank ata local school in Mbale as part of The Ichupa UpcycleProject; I figured why couldn’t I build it too?! Normallythe water tanks are made of plastic but our newUpcycle tanks are made of water bottles, sand andcement. They last longer, they have bigger capacityand they are easier to fix and patch with cement thanthe plastic ones. In addition, the new water tanks are amore environmental and economic option", Sophiesays.

The Mount Elgon region sees many disasters, because ithas highlands and lowlands: there is flooding, landslides,hailstorms, drought and diseases.

The diocese employs in total eight personnel and countlessvolunteers while working in the area of health andeducation besides DRR for example.

Bright ideas lead to practical solutions

Besides the trainings, she is writing the Mbale DioceseEmergency Preparedness and Response Plan. She hasachieved very practical things as well: she has come upwith an idea of new sustainable water tanks.

Sophie is currently constructing three tanks with the totalcapacity of 30 000 litres. In the future the church and the

"For now everything has gone very well in this pilotphase and I hope that this model will be duplicated toother churches and schools."

"I’m really happy about my life here. The best thingabout my deployment is meeting new people and it isreally nice to get appreciation about your work fromthe communities", Sophie says smiling.

"During the assignment I have come more into myselfand become more confident that this is what I reallywant to do", she sums up.

Building sustainable water tanks and friendships

surrounding community can benefit from free water insteadof paying for it.

Active life with new friends

At the beginning of her employment, Sophie tells, her life ina new place was a little bit lonely when she didn’t knowanyone. As in every new place, one needs to find out thingsthat are ordinary in life back home, such as where themarket is.

However, it didn’t take long before she had built her newsocial network of other NGO workers in the area. Besideshelping each other in work related questions, they go hikingin the mountains, watch football, have dinners andsometimes spend weekends in the pool.

Sophie is grateful for her experience in Uganda.

Sectors:

Disaster Risk ReductionLinking Relief, Rehabilitation And Development (Lrrd)LivelihoodsResilience

Source URL:https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/echo/eu-aid-volunteers_en/meet-sophie-schillings-eu-aid-volunteer-uganda-building-sustainable-water-tanks-and-friendships_en