Record of Event:
Where: Vivienda de Arriba (Church yard)
When: 26.1.11 12.20-3.40pm + meal time afterwards
Who: Communities represented:
Vivienda de Arriba, San Isidro Capadero, Montecillo de Nieto, Cruz del Palmar,
Holly, Chela, Saul, – Cedesa, Laura Midday Rotary,
21 adults attending, including 5 men & 3 kids
Purpose: To meet as a micro region & to decide who would receive priority of next available resources for this region re water cisterns, & discuss other issues common to all communities.
It was discovered that Los Torres & Tierra Blanca were not present & this was because they were not advised of the meeting time. There was miscommunication as to who was to advise them.
As a result of these 2 communities not being present we were unable to continue with the intended purpose of the meeting, ie to vote on the priority of the next community to receive resources. A general discussion was had instead.
The general discussion covered many topics, including responsibility for remembering when the meetings were, how many communities were on the Consejo (citizens water council we have recently formed), San Isidro is not a member of the consejo yet.
(Subsequent to this meeting Jesus Rico from San Isidro attempted to organize support for this project in his community & was unable to, so reluctantly pulled out of the group – it should be noted that we had not met in this community & so, although Jesus Ricos was convinced of the benefits he was unsuccessful in his attempt to mobilise his community).
The Consejo & it’s purpose was discussed
It was formed in December 2010.
Has approx. 15 communities joined. La Palmita & Coralejo are still to join, as are La Aurora.
The next Regional meeting on the 2.2.11 at Presita Santa Rosa at 12pm, was reiterated.
Chela reminded the attendees that each representative at the micro regional & regional meetings was tasked with keeping a record of attendance & decisions/actions decided, & they were responsible for reporting back to their communities.
Funding sources/resource sources were discussed re:
1. Cisterns – Rotary (a huge round of applause!!) & Fondo Verde.
Chela explained that their presence at the meetings, along with the reports & photos documenting their motivation to resolve their own issues, has enabled the success of finding funds for these projects. It provided proof of concept as well as proof of need for the funders & is important to continue to attend even if it seems there is no funding imminent.
Another project is soon to be funded by Fondo Verde, & there has been a commitment to continue to support these projects with the funding they have available.
2. Sanitarios Secos (dry toilets) – we don’t currently have a source of funding for this. We need to work on this as a group. For example, Montecillo de Nieto & Vivienda de Arriba both have cisterns (thanks to Rotary funding & their hard efforts!), & they are here to find a way to fund the building of dry toilets now.
Cruz del Palmar, Los torres, Tierra Blanca & San Isidro all need water…
Chela gave an update of what had occurred at the previous micro regional meetings,
The priority for the recipients of future resources for cisterns was established with a vote, based on need & deservedness (ie attendance at meetings & length of time on the list).
In Micro region 1 – La Cienega, Villa de Guadalupe, Juan Gonzalez, 5 senores, San Lorenzo (+ La Palmita & Coralejo pending), they had voted that Juan Gonzalez & San Lorenzo were to receive the next resources available (in this case $150k pesos from Fondo Verde).
In Micro region 2 – Guerrero, Capaderillo, Presita Santa Rosa, Vivienda Urbana, (La Aurora & Don Juan? Pending) they voted Vivienda Urbana was to receive the funding available from Tallahassee RC & Walla Walla RC.
Chela continued to run the meeting with Ana (from VdA) responding & taking notes.
This is more or less how we have begun grouping the communities to begin to organize as a whole.
Micro region 3 is near the arroyo de San Damien, which is a tributary of the Rio Laja.
There was discussion as to what to name this region, (ie not just micro region 3, but a more relevant name re the geography or location perhaps).
There was discussion about what was unique to this area, apparently they have a type of mushroom here that is not found elsewhere, no-one knew what they were called except maybe burro mushrooms as they grew in the shape of burro poo! Hongo – wild mushroom.
Chela put the question who were the native/indigenous of this area? They thought Otomi, one man said he understood the language of Otomi & knew a few words, his grandmother had taught him, he told us a few & eventually agreed to sing us a song he knew in Otomi, he was embarrassed but sang it well & all laughed & enjoyed it, it sounded like Navajo songs we had heard.
Someone mentioned that in San Luis de La Paz (a neighbouring municipality) there is a national council of indigenous peoples. Areas of native people are called congregations (not the religious sense).
Funding is available for people able to prove their indigenous roots, for example they do needs analysis in communities & will provide funding proportionate to the %age of indigenous in a community.
Cruz del Palmar is one seat of the indigenous council.
Indigenous blood was discussed & the importance of knowing your roots, most did not seem to know their indigenous roots. The indigenous have been stepped on & discriminated against for centuries, so many people have shed that identity, but it involves dignity & the pride of knowing who you are. There was a brief discussion about the national indigenous movement. The indigenous have rights, they are the original people of this country.
Holly asked if the people knew the original names of the rivers & trees of the region. These words contain deep pride, history & dignity, the people were tasked with finding this out, discovering who still speaks Otomi, the language has almost died out.
The old man told us some words he knew the-ee (water), Do-oye(guttural on the oye) – mescal…
Chela asked him to write them down, he said he had no idea how to write the sounds, Saul suggested they video it…
We have lost the specific roots & are now all campesinas, one woman was talking about a non-official councill who were offering classes in continuing the language & culture.
Chela – the indigenous are really the abandoned, but they have many people in this region, it is your own heritage & the future of your identity… Maybe there are resources that can be accessed through these indigenous roots too, to strengthen your identity.
Saul talked about an assembly of indigenous 30+ communities attend for days, & everyone has their say, they walk as many as 8 hrs to get there, they are very organized, we are only 5 or 6 communities, they are to be admired.
Holly explained that many of these indigenous communities are self sustaining & semi autonomous, they depend on their own production etc.
Chela asked “what do you know of the word autonomy?” “not depending on anyone for anything”.
Dignity & autonomy are the 2 principals the indigenous are fighting for. Respect for their rights, culture & identity. Making their own decisions, taking/making their own actions.
We are talking today about your own organization, you taking your own decisions, & resolving your own issues.
Plan, analyse your own needs, change things to work for you.
We are unable to work on the cistern priority as planned because Los Torres & Tierra Blanca are not present.
Another reason to organize is to make sure you don’t sell your land, as it is tempting to take the $$ but is very shortsighted for the future of your family & ultimately your community.
Saul mentioned another reason for organizing is to ensure there are no environmental hazards allowed in your community, like sewage, fertilizer, etc if you are organized you can ensure the best for your community.
Chela asked one woman about her indigenous blood, she replied she wasn’t sure if she had any (indigenous that is), but that she still believed in making sure the community is retained.
Next Micro region 3 meeting Tierra Blanca 23.2.11 1pm
Next Project/Community meeting Vivienda Urbana 26.1.11 10.30am
Next regional meeting Presita de Santa Rosa 12pm 2/2/11
Next micro region 2 meeting (3rd Wednesday) 16/2/11 Capaderilo 1pm
Meeting minutes respectfully submitted by Laura Stewart
We were treated to another wonderful “bucket banquet” with blue tortillas, red rice, chicheron, beans, tostadas & more…ahhhh…
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
1st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Urbana Water Project (part of Micro Region 2)
Where: private house Vivienda de Urbana
When: Wed 26.1.11 10.30 am – 1pm
Who: Saul & Holly (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), community of Vivienda de Urbana participants in water cistern project 26 adults incl 2 men, + 9 kids & 4 dogs!,
Purpose: The first planning meeting re the implementation of the Project for 25 cisterns (1 pilot + 24 family cisterns) funded by Tallahasee RC & District simplified grant, + Walla Walla + San Miguel Midday)
Item 1. Introductions all round, each person introduced themselves – including Holly, Saul & Laura & their respective organisations.
Saul led the meeting initially to explain that people who had attended previous meetings were probably aware of the standard format of a community assembly, ie to first select a co-ordinator & secretary (to take notes/record decisions), & then to create an agenda of talking/discussion points for the meeting.
He reiterated that everyone’s voice deserved to be heard so if you wish to speak, please raise your hand & the co-ordinator will “give you the word”.
Irene was proposed & voted on as Co-ordinator, & Dona Luisa was proposed & voted secretary.
The points for the agenda were suggested as follows:
• Total number of cisterns v list of people interested in participating
• List of the names of the people to receive them.
• Where the pilot will be (ie training session, & first cistern built)
• When the pilot will begin, & when the family cisterns will begin
• Work groups, names/qty, rules for participation/leaders
• Time to complete
• Visiting Rotarians from Walla Walla arrive in SMA 18th Feb
• Technician is Rafael Cruz from Los Torres (Saul has been in contact with him already)
• Issues with Materials & deliveries & how to resolve
• Co-ordinator of the project for this community
We have sufficient funding ($17k) for 24 family cisterns & 1 pilot cistern.
There are 26 people attending & 26 people on the list so we need to rationalize & we asked if there were some families that were close & small & therefore able to combine/share.
One woman asked why small families were no longer eligible, citing families of only 3 people in Capaderillo phase I who received cisterns… Saul responded that we have a large waiting list (360) & lack of resources & the fact that we need to be able to share & assist as many people as possible.
One of the women attending was representing her daughter & grand-daughter, they already have 14 in their family & were part of the first phase at Capaderillo so have one cistern, but it is stretching capacity with size of family, she was asking for another cistern.
After much discussion & debate as to who would receive cisterns & who would not, a list of names was put on the whiteboard, along with the size of the family. It was decided that the daughter (mentioned above) & one other young family would receive tinacos (plastic tanks) & that left 24 on the list.
Laura raised the point that we are not able to renovate people’s roofs, & asked if everyone’s roof was suitable for collecting water, they all said yes.
Pilot location
There are 2 potential pilot locations, 1 the kinder with 35 kids, & 2. The secondaria with 100+ kids
There was much debate, it made sense to be able to help more children, but also the younger children are at the greatest risk re fluoride & formation of teeth.
In the end a vote was held & it was decided to construct the pilot cistern at the Kinder.
When to begin the pilot – several options were discussed, & then eliminated for the most popular on the 7th Feb. The hours were decided as 9-4pm or “as long as the body lasts” as one woman put it!
Saul mentioned the kinder maestra needed to be advised the pilot was taking place.
He also mentioned that only natural drink & food was wanted, ie no cokes & made a “serious” joke of this… This was to reiterate the message that the communities are drinking & eating too much junk & need to be taking better care of the health of themselves & their kids.
A list of tools needed was created:
Shovels, a grinder for making the little metal hooks out of rebar, wheelbarrows, big buckets, ladder to get on the kinder roof, sieve for sifting the sand & rocks, wire cutters…
Work groups – 26 participants, so 2 groups of 7 & 2 groups of 6. (L = leader) (AB= abanile)
Group 1
Ana Maria (L), Alejandra (AB), Edith (L), Cristina (AB), Benita (AB) Ma Catalina (AB), Amalia (rotoplas)
Group 2
Francisca, Maria Luisa (Grande), Maria Salud (L) (AB), Ma Luisa (menor) (L) (AB), Petra (AB), Lorena (rotoplas), Luisa Luna
Group 3
Isidra, Silvia (L) (AB), Fabiola, Jacqueline (AB), Eusebia, Irene (L),
Group 4
Concepcion (L), Soledad, Juana, Nosaria, Ma Refugio (AB), Erica (L) (AB),
The need for abaniles was discussed, essentially each group should ideally have 2 abaniles (experienced masons), the majority of the work does not require skills but the finishing touches, ie application of the concrete/plaster does. If there are not sufficient in the group they may have to look at contributing to pay someone for their time. They were tasked with finding abaniles within their groups, brothers, uncles, fathers, grandfathers…
Saul advised the community also needs to appoint a co-ordinator, kind of over-seer go-to person for the whole community, this was discussed & debated & Ma Salud was appointed with Maria Luisa (menor) her standin.
Q&A (dudas & preguntas)
The mother of Amalia (to be the recipient of rotoplas) asked what Amalia will need to contribute, Holly advised this is something that her group needs to decide, since they are all working in a group.
Amalia definitely needs to attend meetings to be part of the planning process.
Holly suggested all groups meet & define their guidelines/rules for their group, re participation, who’s bringing food etc.
The assembly was also advised there is a limit of the $$ apportioned to each family for the PVC piping part of the project. The cisterns can be located wherever works & wherever the families choose, but they need to bear in mind the cost of the piping from the roof to the cistern. Limit will be $500pesos per family, but if families wish to move them further they can pay the difference in tubing costs.
The next planning meeting for Vivienda de Urbana will be 23.2.11 @ 10.30am – same house
The next regional meeting is 2/2/11 @ 12pm at Presita de Santa Rosa
(we headed off to the next meeting, micro region 3 in Vivienda de Arriba)
When: Wed 26.1.11 10.30 am – 1pm
Who: Saul & Holly (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), community of Vivienda de Urbana participants in water cistern project 26 adults incl 2 men, + 9 kids & 4 dogs!,
Purpose: The first planning meeting re the implementation of the Project for 25 cisterns (1 pilot + 24 family cisterns) funded by Tallahasee RC & District simplified grant, + Walla Walla + San Miguel Midday)
Item 1. Introductions all round, each person introduced themselves – including Holly, Saul & Laura & their respective organisations.
Saul led the meeting initially to explain that people who had attended previous meetings were probably aware of the standard format of a community assembly, ie to first select a co-ordinator & secretary (to take notes/record decisions), & then to create an agenda of talking/discussion points for the meeting.
He reiterated that everyone’s voice deserved to be heard so if you wish to speak, please raise your hand & the co-ordinator will “give you the word”.
Irene was proposed & voted on as Co-ordinator, & Dona Luisa was proposed & voted secretary.
The points for the agenda were suggested as follows:
• Total number of cisterns v list of people interested in participating
• List of the names of the people to receive them.
• Where the pilot will be (ie training session, & first cistern built)
• When the pilot will begin, & when the family cisterns will begin
• Work groups, names/qty, rules for participation/leaders
• Time to complete
• Visiting Rotarians from Walla Walla arrive in SMA 18th Feb
• Technician is Rafael Cruz from Los Torres (Saul has been in contact with him already)
• Issues with Materials & deliveries & how to resolve
• Co-ordinator of the project for this community
We have sufficient funding ($17k) for 24 family cisterns & 1 pilot cistern.
There are 26 people attending & 26 people on the list so we need to rationalize & we asked if there were some families that were close & small & therefore able to combine/share.
One woman asked why small families were no longer eligible, citing families of only 3 people in Capaderillo phase I who received cisterns… Saul responded that we have a large waiting list (360) & lack of resources & the fact that we need to be able to share & assist as many people as possible.
One of the women attending was representing her daughter & grand-daughter, they already have 14 in their family & were part of the first phase at Capaderillo so have one cistern, but it is stretching capacity with size of family, she was asking for another cistern.
After much discussion & debate as to who would receive cisterns & who would not, a list of names was put on the whiteboard, along with the size of the family. It was decided that the daughter (mentioned above) & one other young family would receive tinacos (plastic tanks) & that left 24 on the list.
Laura raised the point that we are not able to renovate people’s roofs, & asked if everyone’s roof was suitable for collecting water, they all said yes.
Pilot location
There are 2 potential pilot locations, 1 the kinder with 35 kids, & 2. The secondaria with 100+ kids
There was much debate, it made sense to be able to help more children, but also the younger children are at the greatest risk re fluoride & formation of teeth.
In the end a vote was held & it was decided to construct the pilot cistern at the Kinder.
When to begin the pilot – several options were discussed, & then eliminated for the most popular on the 7th Feb. The hours were decided as 9-4pm or “as long as the body lasts” as one woman put it!
Saul mentioned the kinder maestra needed to be advised the pilot was taking place.
He also mentioned that only natural drink & food was wanted, ie no cokes & made a “serious” joke of this… This was to reiterate the message that the communities are drinking & eating too much junk & need to be taking better care of the health of themselves & their kids.
A list of tools needed was created:
Shovels, a grinder for making the little metal hooks out of rebar, wheelbarrows, big buckets, ladder to get on the kinder roof, sieve for sifting the sand & rocks, wire cutters…
Work groups – 26 participants, so 2 groups of 7 & 2 groups of 6. (L = leader) (AB= abanile)
Group 1
Ana Maria (L), Alejandra (AB), Edith (L), Cristina (AB), Benita (AB) Ma Catalina (AB), Amalia (rotoplas)
Group 2
Francisca, Maria Luisa (Grande), Maria Salud (L) (AB), Ma Luisa (menor) (L) (AB), Petra (AB), Lorena (rotoplas), Luisa Luna
Group 3
Isidra, Silvia (L) (AB), Fabiola, Jacqueline (AB), Eusebia, Irene (L),
Group 4
Concepcion (L), Soledad, Juana, Nosaria, Ma Refugio (AB), Erica (L) (AB),
The need for abaniles was discussed, essentially each group should ideally have 2 abaniles (experienced masons), the majority of the work does not require skills but the finishing touches, ie application of the concrete/plaster does. If there are not sufficient in the group they may have to look at contributing to pay someone for their time. They were tasked with finding abaniles within their groups, brothers, uncles, fathers, grandfathers…
Saul advised the community also needs to appoint a co-ordinator, kind of over-seer go-to person for the whole community, this was discussed & debated & Ma Salud was appointed with Maria Luisa (menor) her standin.
Q&A (dudas & preguntas)
The mother of Amalia (to be the recipient of rotoplas) asked what Amalia will need to contribute, Holly advised this is something that her group needs to decide, since they are all working in a group.
Amalia definitely needs to attend meetings to be part of the planning process.
Holly suggested all groups meet & define their guidelines/rules for their group, re participation, who’s bringing food etc.
The assembly was also advised there is a limit of the $$ apportioned to each family for the PVC piping part of the project. The cisterns can be located wherever works & wherever the families choose, but they need to bear in mind the cost of the piping from the roof to the cistern. Limit will be $500pesos per family, but if families wish to move them further they can pay the difference in tubing costs.
The next planning meeting for Vivienda de Urbana will be 23.2.11 @ 10.30am – same house
The next regional meeting is 2/2/11 @ 12pm at Presita de Santa Rosa
(we headed off to the next meeting, micro region 3 in Vivienda de Arriba)
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