Looking Back on the field

I neglected this blog during my last months in Maldives- as I got rather busy. The day after my post ended with the RCO I had the great fortune to start a contract with UNOPS! It took me back to amazing Laamu atoll to monitor its community rainwater harvesting project under the much larger Low Emission Climate Resilient Development (LECReD) programme. I got to visit many islands and meet with councils and community and visit the water sites- from which I produced a 24page report chock full of photo illustrations (you can see a bit on my webpage laralhill.com). It was truly an honor to work with the UNOPS engineer, Saru, the most professional and gracious colleague. And just as that was finishing, I had the great fortune to work on yet another project for LECReD, a 32page publication on Lessons Learned for the entire programme implemented by 7 UN agencies. I am just finishing the last touches now and will post an exerpt on my website soon. The project took me back to Laamu one last time where I got to work with UNDP colleagues and get to know community members better. I am very grateful to Catarina and Shifaz for making this happen. And grateful to Huda for facilitating my earlier field visits. Looking back, I would say the field visits were the most impactful learning experiences for me during my time there.

One of the ladies featured in material shot for UNWomen book on Women and how they are adapting to climate change

Zuzu and I enjoyed a few stolen moments in our downtime. No need to mention the rainstorm on the motorbike....

A family portrait- single mom, daughters and grandchildren.

Mundhoo council president fondly remembers the support of the Canadian Red Cross after the tsunami. Went to his house for an enormous lunch following this photo and had a local specialty- tuna balls in a curry and kichikeya balls with coconut for desert.

Keeping up with my notes at every juncture- and Shifaz having a laugh at my Canadianess-- I'm a bit of a live 9Gag for him I think.

loading up on mashuni before starting the day

Posing for a selfie with the local kids in Isdhoo

did a lot of hefty eating in people's houses

Exhausted after a long hot day. Love the joalies.

One of my favorite days in Maldives in Maamendhoo.

I have never seen such thorough iphone documentation as what these two covered at a marine training course in Gan.

The only way to get around!

UN staff and Maamendhoo council

traveling in style. With class of course. Had fun with these two...

sampling banana papaya jam at the UNWomen display at the Laamu Climate Change Forum and Fair

Laamu atoll is just over an hour flight south of the capital, on the other side of the equator! I got a certificate for crossing the equator, thanks to Shifaz

Another all time favorite, night fishing with Nawal and UNOPS team in Hinnavaru

My colleague Azaf's little beauty melted my heart. I cant even remember what island this was now, but our missions crossed over here so I got a little squeeze in.

my first trip to Maamendhoo. I love how council makes the effort to greet visitors at the jetty, as well as see them off. Such a nice welcoming tradition in the islands.

at Maabaidhoo with council member

nothing like the wind in one's beard...

Mauroof, just before finishing his Masters project, just down the road from the UN Laamu office

Visiting the hospital in Kunahandhoo with Saru

madly downloading Saru's wisdom

Getting a ride from the Hithadhoo council president- I have great videos from two separate visits here, from my perch on his bike, flying down sandy trails to the island's salt water lake

Saru and me on the top of a buried stuppa in Isdhoo

In the Isdhoo council office

Friends made in Dhanbidhoo

lunching in Kalaidhoo

Trying to assemble my captures and notes at night in Gan

at a luncheon hosted by the RC in Gan for the Womens Development Committee

Made new friends on the street in Hinnarvaru. Couldn't turn down an invite inside for snacks to get out of the beating sun.

I am not sure how to express my gratitude or really describe how profound these experiences have been for my personal and professional life. These few pictures don't even scratch the surface of the things I saw or the number of amazing people I have met. There is no where on earth like Maldives- not just because of the immense natural beauty of the flora, fauna and sea, but because of the rare qualities of the people.