3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project

Record of Event pg 1 of 2
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project


Where: Vivienda de Arriba (40 mins from SMA)
When: Monday 22nd March 11am – 2.10pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Juan & Guillermo Alvarado (Trainers from Los Torres) & 7 adults (5 men & 7 women), by the time I left at 2pm.

Purpose: Pilot – construction of cistern & water collection system at the Vivienda de Arriba primary school.

Background: This pilot was “bought forward”, Juan & Guillermo liaised with the community directly to begin earlier than previously planned. As a result the order for the materials was placed hurriedly by me last Saturday. I had given a typed list of the standard materials required + a list of the variable materials (ie the piping & bricks etc, that changes depending on the location of the cistern in relation to the roof, & roof size etc).

Observations of the day
The supplier, Materiales Rivera – in San Miguel, had assured us the delivery could be made before 9.30 on Monday – it was now 11am & no sign of the materials.

There were 5 men (plus Guillermo & Juan – the trainers), all digging a hole for the pad for the cistern, with shovels & picks. The men were all grandfathers, & none had been at the assemblies, so was good to see them involved. These were all old cowboys, complete with cowboy hats & boots...

Again, they all asked if it was only me – (& my less than fluent Spanish!), & Juan broke out a few words from his English vocab in solidarity.

I met the Maestro (teacher) who was very happy for this project to be happening in his school. They have a small school of just 19 kids, in contrast to Cruz del Palmar, who have around 200 kids!!

I called Holly & asked her to call Materiales Rivera to see what was going on, she called back to say the truck drivers’ mother had died & he had not made it into work today, so they were just sending another truck now. (that was at 11am, & the drive is only 40 mins or so, so we remained hopeful).

Around 11.30 some women arrived laden with buckets, filled with plates, cups, & food.

We assumed it was for almuerzo for the kids but after 20mins the women finally told us they were waiting for us, & that it was to feed the workers...

The cowboys downed shovels & we ate delicious lunch of rice, beans, tortillas & some hot vegetable soup that was described as a hangover cure!! All very delicious & nutritious & washed down with water flavoured with guava (or coke, but the coke bottles remained closed while there was agua fresco available)...

Still we waited, & joked about the truck being lost, until I decided it was time to make another check up call, 2 hrs after the other one!

Again I called Holly, who in turn called Materiales Rivera, to be told the truck had left 15mins ago... hmmmm....

Record of Event pg 2 of 2

The cowboys finished the preparation for the pad, & began to sift the sand for the cement, & finally, with a lot of hurrah! The truck arrived at around 1.15...

By 2.10 when I left, the materials had been unloaded (those old cowboys can carry 8 bricks in one go!), & the mesh was rolled out & being crocheted... More women arrived when the materials go there, & there were 12 people working (+ Juan & Guillermo) when I left...This is a much smaller community than Cruz del Palmar, so a good turnout!

Click on this link to see Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/ViviendaDeArribaWaterProject?feat=directlink

I couldn’t help thinking those old cowboys would have some interesting stories to tell about their lives & adventures in the States, but bid them farewell & congrats on the first stage of their mission, & headed back into town.

Next event – day 4 of the pilot 25th March 2010