Record of Event pg 1 of 2
24th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Where: Los Torres Kindergarten.
When: 4th April 2009 12:30 – 3:30
Who: Chella, Holly Yasui, Quika & Benigno (Cedesa), John & Sharon Doherty, Gary & Marilyn Peterson, Steve & Laura & Abe & Ella Mae, David Bossman, Enrique Orvañanos (Rotary), Suzanne Ludekins (Atencion Newspaper), Jose Miguel & Ma Jesus (delegados), many members of the LT community.
Apologies: Enrique Nuñez (Presidencia), Donna Foudray (San Miguel Community Foundation).
Purpose: To celebrate the completion of the 12,000 litre cistern, by the Community assisted by CEDESA (& Funded by SMCF Grant) for the Kinder.
Summary of the day
We arrived at 12.30 to find the Kinder decorated with balloons & streamers. Everything was in place for a big feast & singing & dancing.
We first went into the kinder where CEDESA presented a power point slide show on the topic of water.
The show was set in 2070 & demonstrated the drastic situation that will exist if we don´t begin to treasure & conserve our water supplies.
It showed the dire health effects of not having sufficient water to drink & the effects on the environment. It was a very thought provoking display & the whole audience sat mesmerised (including young children).
Chela explained a little about the local situation, where the rivers (or should I say river beds) are & used her hat as a prop to explain the rapidly reducing aquifer & the resulting increasing concentration of fluoride.
This was followed by a presentation by 2 different speakers. One on the topic of genetically modified corn seed – there is currently a move by some of the large seed producers to introduce a new strain of corn that is genetically designed germinate only once.
This corn is patented & is being given to the people for free or for very low cost. The problem is you are not able to grow future crops with the seed from this strand of corn & the people will therefore have to purchase all future seed from these suppliers.
The other issue is even if you do not choose to grow this strand, it is likely to cross pollinate from neighbours & could cause your corn to not germinate in future.
It was impressed upon the Community, they should look very seriously at any corn seed before they buy it or accept it & do their utmost to protect the heritage of the seed they currently grow.
The other speaker spoke on the topic of nutritional health & wellbeing. She explained some of the issues relating to eating “junk” food, ie instant lunches & cheetos (which are predominant in the rural communities). She listed the benefits of growing food in backyard gardens & the link to general health & wellbeing. She stated that it was important for children to develop the habit & taste for good food.
At least 50 adults & 30 children had crammed into the small kinder to listen to these speakers & all of the information was well received.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
24th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
The Community then moved outside to the Cistern. The kinder children were given small spikes from a cactus & loved popping the balloons skirting the cistern.
The delegada cut the ribbon, thank you´s were exchanged & the feast began!
We were treated to homemade tortillas, nopal, rice, & beans. With many cups of agua fresca. With a plate of fruit & cake for desert.
We staggered (with our full tummies) to sit & watch, first a song performed by Chela & the team from Cedesa & then a dance by the young children.
A fun day was had by all, & everyone left feeling uplifted by what we had experienced.
Photos abound – please see the links below.
Suzanne Ludekins from our local Newspaper attended & plans to do an article on the 24th April. I will forward this when we receive it.
photo albums:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/LosTorresPilotProjectDay1?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.ca/sharondoherty008/LosTorresWaterHarvestingInaugeration?feat=directlink
Showing posts with label los torres kinder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label los torres kinder. Show all posts
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
22nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Where: Los Torres Kindergarten.
When: 24th February 2009 1.30pm – 3pm
Who: Benigno (Cedesa), David Gillis (Videographer for CEDESA), Laura (Rotary). George & Anne Stewart (Laura’s dad & Stepmum) & approx 25 men & women & 10 kids.
Purpose: Today is the 2nd day of the demonstration of the building of a 12,000 litre cistern by CEDESA (Funded by SMCF Grant). This will enable the community to build their own cisterns when the large Rotary Project is initiated.
The community had previously divided into 4 groups of 11 with a commitment that at least 2 people from each group should attend each of the 4 day sessions, to learn the entire process of building a cistern & the roof & piping system that supports the collection & storage of rainwater.
Summary of the day
The day had started at 10am as planned & they had made huge progress by the time we got there.
Since yesterday,
the cistern pad had been poured
the cistern wire cylinder was in place
the plywood form was “chocked” to the inside of the cylinder.
they had begun cementing the 1st outside layer
While we were there we observed (& photographed)
women helping mixing the concrete & carting it to the men to “slap” up
men slapping the concrete onto the wire form
women serving drinks & food to the workers (& kids)
we interviewed on camera several of the men & women, my Spanish is not good but we asked them to talk a little about the project & scarcity of water etc.
We left around 3pm
NB we were not able to attend the 3rd & 4th demo days.
At the next meeting I attended I took additional photos of the project now that it had been completed.
The roof had been rimmed with bricks, with a concrete moulding on the inside angle to remove the sharp 90degree angle where the brick meets the roof (for ease of cleaning)
The roof had been coated with a natural impermeable substance.
The pipes had been attached both sides of the roof, feeding back to the cistern.
The cistern had been completed, with lid, overflow pipe, fully lined, low gauge with tap for cleaning purposes, tap around ½ mtr from bottom (to reduce sediment), & external clear tube to monitor the depth of the water contained. (see additional photos).
Photo album available at the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/LosTorresPilotProjectDay1?feat=directlink
When: 24th February 2009 1.30pm – 3pm
Who: Benigno (Cedesa), David Gillis (Videographer for CEDESA), Laura (Rotary). George & Anne Stewart (Laura’s dad & Stepmum) & approx 25 men & women & 10 kids.
Purpose: Today is the 2nd day of the demonstration of the building of a 12,000 litre cistern by CEDESA (Funded by SMCF Grant). This will enable the community to build their own cisterns when the large Rotary Project is initiated.
The community had previously divided into 4 groups of 11 with a commitment that at least 2 people from each group should attend each of the 4 day sessions, to learn the entire process of building a cistern & the roof & piping system that supports the collection & storage of rainwater.
Summary of the day
The day had started at 10am as planned & they had made huge progress by the time we got there.
Since yesterday,
the cistern pad had been poured
the cistern wire cylinder was in place
the plywood form was “chocked” to the inside of the cylinder.
they had begun cementing the 1st outside layer
While we were there we observed (& photographed)
women helping mixing the concrete & carting it to the men to “slap” up
men slapping the concrete onto the wire form
women serving drinks & food to the workers (& kids)
we interviewed on camera several of the men & women, my Spanish is not good but we asked them to talk a little about the project & scarcity of water etc.
We left around 3pm
NB we were not able to attend the 3rd & 4th demo days.
At the next meeting I attended I took additional photos of the project now that it had been completed.
The roof had been rimmed with bricks, with a concrete moulding on the inside angle to remove the sharp 90degree angle where the brick meets the roof (for ease of cleaning)
The roof had been coated with a natural impermeable substance.
The pipes had been attached both sides of the roof, feeding back to the cistern.
The cistern had been completed, with lid, overflow pipe, fully lined, low gauge with tap for cleaning purposes, tap around ½ mtr from bottom (to reduce sediment), & external clear tube to monitor the depth of the water contained. (see additional photos).
Photo album available at the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/LosTorresPilotProjectDay1?feat=directlink
Monday, February 23, 2009
21st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
21st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Where: Los Torres Kindergarten.
When: 23rd February 2009 10.30am – 12.30pm
Who: Holly Yasui & Benigno (Cedesa), David Gillis (Videographer for CEDESA), Laura (Rotary) & 6 men (no-one from group 3)
Purpose: Today is the first day of the demonstration of the building of a 12,000 litre cistern by CEDESA (Funded by SMCF Grant). This will enable the community to build their own cisterns when the large Rotary Project is initiated.
The community had previously divided into 4 groups of 11 with a commitment that at least 2 people from each group should attend each of the 4 day sessions, to learn the entire process of building a cistern & the roof & piping system that supports the collection & storage of rainwater.
Summary of the day
There was an unexpected community meeting in Cruz del Palmar which all of the women were called to attend, hence there were only men at the beginning of the day.
The women came to help after the meeting, & finished the task they had been set – ie to “weave” the wire chicken mesh together with the more sturdy wire mesh enclosed - ½ day earlier than planned.
Leova’s husband came to represent her group.
Step 1 was to lay out the chicken wire, 2 strips side by side.
Step 2 weave the chicken wire together along one side, using wire hook “gancho”s
Step 3 lay maya (sturdy wire mesh) on top of the chicken wire.
Step 4 fold another layer of chicken wire on top of the wire mesh, & then fold the remaining section of the chicken wire over, completely enclosing the wire mesh.
Step 5 weave or crochet the chicken wire from each side together using the gancho’s. (nb this is the time consuming bit, each little diamond of wire has to be en-meshed together & is ideally suited to women’s fine motor skills!!!)
We left before the “weaving” was finished.
See photo album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/LosTorresPilotProjectDay1?feat=directlink
21st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Where: Los Torres Kindergarten.
When: 23rd February 2009 10.30am – 12.30pm
Who: Holly Yasui & Benigno (Cedesa), David Gillis (Videographer for CEDESA), Laura (Rotary) & 6 men (no-one from group 3)
Purpose: Today is the first day of the demonstration of the building of a 12,000 litre cistern by CEDESA (Funded by SMCF Grant). This will enable the community to build their own cisterns when the large Rotary Project is initiated.
The community had previously divided into 4 groups of 11 with a commitment that at least 2 people from each group should attend each of the 4 day sessions, to learn the entire process of building a cistern & the roof & piping system that supports the collection & storage of rainwater.
Summary of the day
There was an unexpected community meeting in Cruz del Palmar which all of the women were called to attend, hence there were only men at the beginning of the day.
The women came to help after the meeting, & finished the task they had been set – ie to “weave” the wire chicken mesh together with the more sturdy wire mesh enclosed - ½ day earlier than planned.
Leova’s husband came to represent her group.
Step 1 was to lay out the chicken wire, 2 strips side by side.
Step 2 weave the chicken wire together along one side, using wire hook “gancho”s
Step 3 lay maya (sturdy wire mesh) on top of the chicken wire.
Step 4 fold another layer of chicken wire on top of the wire mesh, & then fold the remaining section of the chicken wire over, completely enclosing the wire mesh.
Step 5 weave or crochet the chicken wire from each side together using the gancho’s. (nb this is the time consuming bit, each little diamond of wire has to be en-meshed together & is ideally suited to women’s fine motor skills!!!)
We left before the “weaving” was finished.
See photo album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/LosTorresPilotProjectDay1?feat=directlink
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