Morning Blogsters, I’m back in Papua New Guinea with unicef, where I’ll spend close to three months in the bush. Of course it’s great.

Looking at improved school and community sanitation strategies with youths and community/traditional leaders. 

You can be reassured that despite stereotypes, no one is running round with spears and clubs nor roasting any of their neighbours for lunch. But as we spend weeks delving in to traditions and culture, its all incredibly other worldly.

I’m currently based on an archipelago which is the soon to be autonomous

island region of bourgainville and write to you on a white sanded beach surrounded by palm trees and turquoise sea lapping below me.

Behind are local farms of cocoa, mangoes, pineapples, lychees , papaya , bananas and coconuts. Just in front are a few canoes out bringing in this evenings meal. The birds are incredible colours and the butterflies incredible sizes……..

Bathing in the jungle.

Of course it’s pretty basic…noting that we are looking at water and sanitation.  Thus morning and evening bathing is done in a jungle surrounded river which is wonderful as long s you get there before everyone else does their morning ablutions. Timing is of the essence

When I got here the local chief told me they didn’t really have shower blocks and to use the river…but I should watch out for crocodiles

So it’s eyes wide open for all and any floating objects.

Working with communities

The project has real potential and we’ve spent lots of time building interest from national down to grass roots levels and up to 50 million euros worth of European Union money depends upon them believing it can make a difference…….no pressure then!