We asked to have a photo with our 'Aunty' but she didn't feel comfortable having her picture taken with two men and not her husband there, so she asked her father-in-law to have his picture taken with us instead. This was the first time we actually got to speak with the grandfather as we had our translator with us, so we got hear a bit about his life and thank him for letting us stay with his family. Also, I have never felt so tall as when I was beside him.
After this, 'Aunty' found her son, so she was more inclined for a photo with us, which was really nice. We presented a few more gifts and headed out for a walk for one last time around the village.
From here it was off to see some more fields of potatoes going in - again all work by hand or with simple tools for hilling. They had just spread some fertilizer on the field as well. This field was around 1/10th of an acre.
We spoke with a few of the local farmers in the next village to discuss their biggest challenges in growing potatoes and discussed other solutions that might help them be more successfull. By the time we finished the chat we had attracted a good crowd so I asked if I could take their photo and they were very happy to oblige.
As we walked back a bunch of children were crowding around a courtyard and I got to see a happy mother feeding her little pups! She didn't seem too shy so I just took her picture without asking.
In the end we finished up another round of group interviews in this village, which was much more remote than the other villages we had spoken with. There was no access to power and no toilets in any homes.
The picture above illustrates making due with what you have. Here they have used animal manure and dried it on sticks. They then use this as additional burning fuel for heat and cooking.
This village was an example of they knew they needed more but just didn't know how to mobilize to work towards it. When asked if they wanted toilets the answer was completely honest and true - if you spend money on toilets you don't have money to eat, so you wouldn't need the toilet anyway. We shared with them some ideas (as we are now at the stage that we have interviewed more than 200 growers and many other players in this chain) about what we are going to propose the local NGO partner could implement after we leave as a long term plan and the main speaker for the group seemed happy with this.
This is the last large focus group as we are finishing up our last week in the northern part of Bangladesh and now it is about consolidating the information we have gathered. I am truly going to miss these large group meetings as the people of the villages are so welcoming and willing to share from their lives.
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