Report 3 Guerrero Assembly 21.9.11

Report of 3rd visit to Guerrero,
Where: Guerrero – past Capaderillo, before La Aurora & Don Juan
When: 21.9.11 12.40pm
Who: Saul, Holly (Cedesa), Waldo & Alva (Sapasma) Laura (Rotary), 18 women (2 men), 10kids, 4 dogs

Purpose: To prepare for the water cistern project to be funded by Sapasma, & co-ordinated & administered by the Team (Laura, Saul, Chela & Holly).

Saul was there when we arrived & “passed the list” (called the roll).
Saul asked the assembled group to introduce themselves, each person in turn said their name. He remembered they have been working for more or less 1 year, & that today was a special day as Sapasma is with us & have confirmed they will provide funds for this project.

Holly, Waldo, Alva & I introduced ourselves.

Saul called for a co-ordinator & record taker, he briefly described the function of each role, & emphasised it was important to take good notes, especially of actions that are decided.

Eduviges was appointed Co-ordinator & Irene – record taker.

Holly asked for exception to be able to speak while others were speaking in case she needs to translate for me…I asked for permission to take photos (& they all immediately began giggling & started to “primp” for the camera)

Points for the agenda were called for.
1. Contaminated water/cisterns
2. Sanitarios secos
3. Forming of groups
4. Training pilot.

Saul stated one of the principle objectives of today’s meeting is to determine how united you are in your “mission” & how to achieve/create the plan of work, what’s involved, how etc.

Re item 1. Contaminated Water/Cisterns
Saul “why do you want this project? What are your water issues?”
Antonia – we know the water is very contaminated
Sylvia – as well our well doesn’t have any water, even now at the end of the rainy season
“we also have to carry water a long way from other sources if we don’t have a well”
“often the wells are shared between families, there are as many as 13 families sharing one hand dug well”
“the river was clean & clear, now it’s not, & our wells have fluoride, & rivers are polluted so no choices”


Page 2 of 2
Salud now has no problem because she has a cistern (she was lucky enough to be part of an earlier project with Capaderillo – neighbouring community).
It’s 2 wks since the pipas (water trucks) have come, when they come they don’t provide much water, 2 tambos (large buckets) per family only, & we haven’t even had that for the last 2 wks.

Saul reiterated that dental fluorosis & the pains in the bones they are having are all symptoms of fluoride contamination. The solution that is most viable & they can be confident in is Cisterns.

Waldo spoke briefly to mention that hearing the issues they are having at present is sad, he is happy they are here today & working to resolve their issues.


Item 2. Sanitarios Secos update – was briefly discussed


Item 3.& 4. Forming of work groups…& pilot training.
Saul said to get this done efficiently let’s talk about the process involved in the construction of cisterns & the general process.

Salud was asked to explain more – since she has already participated in a project, & is now part of the continuing process.

They have decided to do the Pilot training in the primary school & have already confirmed this is ok with the teacher. The kinder has not been constructed yet so it is not an option.
Holly proposed that the date of 17/10 be (tentative) date of the pilot (1st day), it will run for 5 days, & then they will need to be ready to work the following 6 wks to complete all of the cisterns in their groups. By 12/10 we will confirm the pilot date – it is dependent on the money being available from Sapasma in time with the specification of the entire project (including 2 other communities).

Groups were formed…A = abanile, L = leader total 23 family cisterns + 1 pilot = 24 cisterns
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
1. Irene / Luis A
2. Juana
3. Berancia L
4. Leticia L
5. Salud Juarez
6. Berta
7. Elvia / Mario A
8. Mercedes Alejandra L
Rosamaria
Raquel
Maria Conc. L
Antoninia /Margarito A
Cecilia / Javier A
Julieta Carmen
Marisela
Eduviges / Ignacio A
Maria Zeferina
Felicitas
Antonia
Sylvia L / Federico A
Angelica L

Holly mentioned it is important for each of the groups to make agreements within the group of hours they will work, who will provide food etc, & that it is important that each stage of the cistern is the same for each family, ie that they proceed at the same rate.

There was a discussion about the lack of abaniles, it was pointed out that much of the work can be carried out by the women, (as in other projects) & if an abanile is needed they can group together to contribute to pay for one, Salud described all of the things the women did, & it was essentially a bit of each process…

Saul discussed the roles of – co-ordinator for the whole community Irene & Juana were elected.
& roles of co-ordinator for each group, these were volunteered & appointed.

Tools required on the day(s) of the pilot
Palas, Picos, Mangueras de Nievel, large cutters, cushions for knees, cucharas, escaleras, cubettas etc.

Water required per cistern is 3000 litres, at the school they have access, but at many houses this will be difficult, there are 7 people who have no access to water, one of the men Mario volunteered to help, he will drive water on his pickup truck.
Pilot will start at 8am, & finish depending on how fast they work each day.

Handshakes all round & we (the team) headed off to the next assembly – in Los Magueyes…

Meeting ended at 2.40pm

1st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Los Magueyes Water Project

Where: Los Magueyes community (across from Los Labradores gated community)
When: 21.9.11 3.15pm – 6.35pm
Who: Saul, Holly, Chela – Cedesa, Waldo & Alva – Sapasma, + 28 adults (incl. 6 men)

Purpose: To know more the situation of the Los Magueyes & La Palma communities with regard to water. To determine if they are to be included in the next Sapasma funded Cedesa/Rotary water project.

We all decided to eat first as it was late in the day.

Chela gave a brief introduction re the project history & asked those from Los Magueyes & La Palma to identify themselves, 15 from La Palma raised their hands, & 9 from Los Magueyes raised theres.

Each person in turn introduced themselves & we joked that there were so many “Maria”s, everyone had a good laugh when I introduced myself as Maria too.

Chela described a little about Cedesa, her work for the last 40+ years & the work of Cedesa. She described the history of our work together, ie Rotary & Cedesa since October 2008 & that in May/June 2010 Saul started working with Cedesa after having come to Los Torres during an assembly, as he was doing a temp. job with Desarollo Social at that time, she explained Saul has the sensibility to unite & organize to improve standards of living.

Sapasma have been participating in water projects as a result of the proof of concept provided by the success of the previous projects. They are now working with us to provide resources & learn the process of the water projects.

Chela talked a little on the subject of fluoride & arsenic in this region, & the symptoms/damage it causes to the human body.

She explained we have uncomplicated & good relations with Sapasma & she asked the participants what they know about the projects & why they are here today…
“we don’t have any water, so capturing water is important to us”
“we don’t have potable water & want to learn about capturing water”
“I heard Enrique from Club Rotario, on the radio talking about cisterns, & we always have to pay for petrol to go & collect water from somewhere, I went to see Enrique, we are 7 + 2 families”
“we in La Palma have water so highly chlorinated it’s undrinkable”
“La Palma were invited originally to join in with Los Magueyes as we were told the minimum number for a project was 20 & we are very small – only 9”

Holly asked the history of the 2 communities…
“Los Magueyes families were all from La Palma, 20 years ago we came here, there was nothing here, no electricity, no water etc”
“Los Palma is a ‘bario’ of Rancho Viejo”
“it’s only 600 mtrs from Los Magueyes to the pozo in La Palma, but it is across the highway, so very expensive to pipe the water across”
“La Palma people do not have land or produce food, they all depend on work to buy food”

Chela asked the attendees if they can – from what they know – describe the process…
“attend assemblies”
“have patience re resources”
Chela described the forming of the Consejo (citizen’s council), it was formed to identify issues in common & work together to find solutions, including resources, mutual work commitment, attendance at assemblies & patience. There are many advantages of working together in a Consejo. Organisation is the key to advancing issues. Apparently 3 yrs is the normal amount of time to be working on an issue before achieving a resolution.

It’s a “journey” to lean & grow in general through experiences, talking, working & taking initiative. It’s a way to work together & get to know other communities & be more united in approach to life.

Holly gave an example: Los Torres had a project & inauguration & invited Lucy to come, they decorated, & were all excited & waiting for her to arrive… She didn’t come, in place she sent a representative… Then when the Consejo was formed she has been very responsive & attended almost monthly meetings of the Consejo. She has been very co-operative & supportive & encouraged other departments to be likewise.

“We should continue to meet, there will always be a ‘falling away’ of attendance along the way, but the ones that stay the distance will be the ones to achieve change or objectives.”

“I can imagine there are communities with a much higher need, that are worse off that we are, & for this I imagine we will be lower on the list”

Holly suggested there are other alternatives, if they have to wait, like a ‘tanda’ where people contribute each week & build each cistern as they can, until all are built.

I asked for clarification – if La Palma have water, why do they want to participate in this project?
“because the water is undrinkable, when we turn on the tap, the smell of chlorine is so strong”

Why not tell the water committee person to add less chlorine?
“we did, but we were not at the meeting to vote & so we have no say”
ACTION:
Waldo agreed they will organize a Sapasma rep. to go to La Palma & ensure only the correct dose of chlorine is being added.

So – if the chlorine issue is resolved, will that mean La Palma no longer want a cistern project?
“no, they still want them because sometimes they turn the taps on & no water comes, especially the ones in the upper community”

They are aware this water is only for drinking & cooking. They also know they will be low priority, but that participation changed the priority order, even if the need is high… ie if you don’t participate you lose your spot in the list. Meeting notices are not always advised, (sometimes people can’t get a message the right person) it is important to stay in touch with Saul to keep up to date with when the next meeting is.

INFO, there are approx. 200 families in La Palma.

The meeting finished at 6.35pm, we had a mini tour of the chicken farm, the family sells chicken every Friday.

Next meeting will be Consejo Meeting at La Tinaja on 28.9.11 at 11am