Where: Vivienda de Arriba – courtyard of church(40 mins from SMA)
When: 14th Sept 2011 1.50pm – 4pm
Who: Holly & Saul, (Cedesa) Laura, (Rotary), + 19 adults (incl. 3 men) & 5 kids
Purpose: A dry toilet was begun by a colleague of Cedesa & has not been completed.
This toilet was to be the first public toilet & first dry toilet of this model in Vivienda de Arriba so it would be ideal to complete the project (including training).
There is an excess of funds from a direct grant project with Tallahassee & Walla Walla Rotary clubs, both of the administrators of these funds have agreed that to complete this toilet would be a worthwhile use of these funds, this assembly is to ensure the community are committed to the project & understand & commit to the ongoing maintenance requirements of a dry (composting) toilet, before the funds are expended to complete it.
Saul began the assembly with an apology for being late, he asked if everyone knew who we are (a resounding yes!), he grilled a specific person about our names & they knew them… all had a good laugh.
The roll was called – of the list of 30 approx 19 were here, some are in SMA some are picking up their kids…
Saul explained that we traditionally appoint a co-ordinator & record taker at the beginning of every meeting, he went on to explain the role briefly, & that it was important for everyone to have the experience & not rely on the same people each time.
Marisella will take the records. Holly proposed Lorena for co-ordinator.
Lorena asked who had points to raise for the agenda:
1. Cisternas (how are they going?)
2. 2nd stage/phase of cistern project
3. Other proposal/solicitud for dry toilets
4. The incomplete dry toilet
1. Cisterns – working very well for those that have them. Some families did not participate in the project.. Lorena “I never have a lack of water, other people have to go to the river, but I don’t I always have my water”. There are some people in the upper part of the community who do not have water, there have been no problems with the cistern water, only people using the river water are having health issues… Holly reminded people that if they are forced to drink river water, they should at least be using the SODIS method of purification, Holly suggested those who know it, could explain it to the non-project participants.
2. 2nd stage/phase II of cistern project – Saul asked if they all knew that a Citizen’s council (Consejo) had been formed as a result of the efforts of all the early water project communities & that this consejo had prioritised the communities to receive water… they have agreed that all communities should have a phase I before Phase II is started. There are apparently a list of another 16 families for Phase II - & we confirmed these were only to be families living in Vivienda (not ones absent & working in the USA). Sporadic water supply has caused people to want to join the 2nd phase, now they have seen how well the cisterns work.
3. Sanitarios Secos – joint solicitud update The consejo has been working on a joint community (18 communities) request for assistance to construct dry toilets. Saul gave an update of where they were up to with Govt. assistance, the municipality has respected their request & granted them funding, there are conditions which are now being worked on.
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4. Finishing the partially constructed dry toilet – Saul asked for comments on the history of the dry toilet. Ana said she had talked to everyone involved, & all agreed it would be very useful to have this toilet operational but that no-one has funds to be able to co-operate to do it.
Holly suggested the community put together a proposal stating essentially who, what, where, when, why, how & how much - & that there was a potential for funding from Rotary. It was suggested this be used as a training run to show how to apply for a grant. Holly explained a little more of the process & Filiberto (one of the young guys) seemed to know exactly what she was asking & said he was able to help work on a draft proposal.
We gave a deadline of 28/9 for them to submit their proposal to “Rotary”, I committed to responding with a yes or no, within a week, Holly reminded them to include an amount for training on the ongoing use & maintenance .
PS this will be an excellent location for a demonstration dry toilet, 1.the people of Vivienda de Arriba will have public use of a dry toilet 2. All visitors will have a toilet to use when we attend assemblies & regional assemblies here,
The next meeting which Saul called , for him to assist with the process on 5th Oct at 3pm
Next regional Consejo meeting at La Tinaja on 28 Sept. at 11.30
