Saturday, March 16, 2013

Middletown goes to Magueyes


Our visit started at the home of Senora Lilia, whose initiative led to the current project at Los Magueyes and La Palma. 

Our group consisted of Rotarians from San Miguel and Connecticut in the US, as well as Unitarian-Universalists from San Miguel.  We were warmly greeted, in spite of the fact that we were interrupting an active phase of the cistern construction at Senora Lilia’s house.  

One work group was busy putting concrete on the inner and outer walls of the cistern there, while another group was doing the same around the corner.  Nearby we saw a cistern which was completed except for the final sealing with a mixture of lime and nopal extract, an extremely effective and low cost method we learned.

Saul and Holly from CEDESA, along with Senora Lilia, gave us a very comprehensive summary of the process of a water harvesting project, from the initial community meetings to the maintenance carried out by the families in the years following construction.  

We were very impressed by the central role played by the local residents themselves, who are responsible for every key decision along the way, for the construction itself, and for the ongoing maintenance.  

The pride of ownership and the certainty of sustainability were very evident. 

What was also evident was that this was likely to be just one step in a much larger process of this community working together to better itself.  

The first part of our visit ended with a delicious meal prepared by Senora Lilia and her helpers, and enjoyed by everybody, including those of us visiting and the adults and children of the families involved in this incredibly worthwhile project.

After lunch we crossed the highway to visit the completed pilot cistern at the home of Dona Beatriz.  There we learned a lot more about the water problems in the state of Guanajuato, where the depletion of the aquifer has led to increased concentrations of fluoride and other harmful chemicals.  We learned about the potential health effects of these chemical concentrations, especially for children, and we saw in Senora Lilia how increased awareness is being translated into community action.  

The cistern at Dona Beatriz’s house was ready to be filled by the summer rains, which we learned will support a family of 14 until the next rainy season.  

As we left we could not help but to be amazed by how much good will come from such a modest level of financial support.
Howard Reid, Rotary Club of Middletown CT. Saturday, March 16, 2013



Howard  & Melanie (Middletown Rotary), Senora Lilia & Lee (SMA Midday Rotary)