Record of Event pg 1 of 3
37th Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Where: Los Torres Chucha’s house
When: Wed 24th March 3-5.40pm
Who: Chela, Holly, (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), & 26 adults & 10kids, (Incl 3 men)
Purpose:
Planning for the Phase III cisterns construction project & general community assembly.
This assembly was changed to a later start time of 3pm, as there was a govt program visiting in Cruz del Palmar which the Los Torres community was required to attend.
The govt. Program – Oportunidades, a work program, started at 8am & didn’t finish until 2pm with no break for food, & CdP is a 20 minute walk away, the Los Torres people made it to the meeting around 3.20 looking very tired & hungry, & we agreed to try to keep the assembly brief, so people could get home.
We didn’t want to take up their time, but discovered the Oportunidades program offers work for a minimal assistance subsidy of $700 pesos bi-monthly, & also offers a beca (scholarship) for children of $500 pesos in high school, bi-monthly.
General discussion.
We asked about the Sapasma well, apparently it has not been opened yet, despite being completed for around 1 year. They have visited the new administration to ask & were told the new administration needs to settle in first before any action will be taken to get the water to the houses.
Julio from the Ecology department visited during the water info day, & said the tests of the water from the well had come back showing the water is contaminated & not fit for drinking.
Chela invited the LT community to a workshop they are holding at Cedesa to produce solar distillers, the only way to effectively remove fluoride from water.
The workshop is on April 9&10 for only 15 people, during which they will hands-on construct 2 working distillers, that can distill up to 9 litres per day.
The assembly began at 3.40
Chela introduced, & said we would keep it short today as everyone was already looking exhausted.
She said she would co-ordinate & Concha was voted to take note/records.
Discussion points were called for
• How to advance the 3rd phase
• What needs doing?
• What’s missing? someone responded, “we’re willing to work, as long as they give us some limonada!”
• Co-operation payment – still to be paid.
• Distiller workshop – who wants to participate
• The road mini-commission, - who’s working on it?
• Review of traspatio workshops
Item 1. How to advance the 3rd Phase.
At the last assembly people were tasked with taking measurements of the piping they require & getting the info to the group leaders, who in turn will give it to Guillermo (who will be co-ordinating the technical aspect of the 3rd phase in Los Torres).
Group 1 – Alejandro has the info & will give it to Guillermo
Group 2 – Jose Cruz also has the info & will give it to Guillermo
Group 3 – Gilberto? – Laura mentioned Jose Matilde had the info at the Water info day & wanted to give it to someone then, so he will need to be directed to give it to Guillermo
Record of Event pg 2 of 3
Primo, Fabiana & Guillermo all offered to assist with Phase III.
Group 1 – one member – Veronica still owes her $450 co-operation payment re not attending training in the School demonstration cistern construction. She can not afford this payment so has passed on her cistern to her sister – Maria, who happens to be getting married to Gonzalo on Saturday. Everyone voted for this action.
Gonzalo is Rafael & Jose Miguel’s younger brother.
Item 2 – Materials – when will they be available?
Laura described the process…
1. Guillermo to receive the measurements of the variable materials required by each family (by group).
2. Guillermo to make a day possibly 5th April to visit each house to check the measurements.
3. Guillermo to spend a day collating the grand order, ie 21 x standard materials, & a compilation of the variable materials into one large order.
4. Guillermo is to place the order at the supplier. He should place it in several parts, 1 bulk order of the variable materials to be delivered in bulk to one location.
5. & then order the standard materials to be delivered 3 cisterns per group at a time, with another 3 more per group, once each cistern is completed (Guillermo will give delivery location instructions when he places order for the next partial delivery).
6. The variable materials will have to be collected from the designated delivery location in Los Torres, by each family as they come to construct their cistern. They should come to collect their items, eg 3 elbows, 2 lengths of pvc piping, etc.
7. This way the standard materials order can be placed by phone to the Supplier when the community is ready for the next lot.
(I confirmed this with Juan & Guillermo in Vivienda de Arriba during the pilot build meeting – this will work for them).
Alejandro offered to help Guillermo if it’s too much work for him.
We mentioned that the measuring & ordering & tech assistance is paid work for Guillermo, as technical advisor on this project.
Item 3 – the co-operation – who’s paid & who hasn’t?
The community came up with the solution that anyone from phase III who was unable to attend the demonstration pilot at the primary school, needs to pay a “co-operation” as their contribution.
At the last assembly there were 4 people still to pay.
• Cristina – has since paid.
• Veronica – Mariana (her sister) paid instead & now is on the list to receive the cistern.
• Patricia Nolesco has since paid.
• Maria de Jesus (not the delegada) has paid.
All are now paid up!
The families at the school who were not part of the project, but who’s children benefit from the cisterns built by the community were to pay $50 pesos contribution, some have, there are others still to be chased…
Item 4 – Workshop on distillers at Cedesa
Chela explained more about this workshop
Purpose
• Train people about the issues of contamination
• Practically demonstrate & actually construct 2 solar distillers (to purify the water)
• Only 15 people can attend, anyone who attends will then be expected to be the community expert & show the rest of the community.
• It is actual hands on construction (the best way to learn)
• It costs $4000pesos for one distiller
• These distillers remove all contaminants, bacterial & mineral,
• In case there is no cistern, or no rain, or an empty cistern!
Record of Event pg 3 of 3
Chela asked who would like to come, to learn & then to teach.
Someone volunteered Rafael – because he wasn’t there – for a joke!!
Someone else volunteered Gonzalo, the young guy getting married on Saturday “the one getting married this weekend, since he’ll be having kids soon!”
The community will confirm with Chela or Holly
Item 5 Traspatios (back yards) workshops
Benigno has been to Los Torres for 2 backyard workshops so far.
The first one was to teach design (ie placement of animals, fruit trees, plants, rubbish & other components)
Then 2nd how to prepare the ground for planting, including soil & making paths.
In a couple of months they will be able to plant seeds & or plants for eating. They will then have access to good quality food & if they have excess they can trade it or sell it.
Chela asked how many people participated, a show of hands showed around 12-14 people.
Chela explained it costs Cedesa money for petrol & car maint. & also Benigno’s time, so you must prove you’re interested by participating, or he will go somewhere else.
Someone asked if it was just for people in the cistern project, & Chela replied it’s for the whole community, not just project people.
She went on to talk again about the dangers of eating junk food & how it is ruining the health of Mexicans, with high rates of diabetes etc resulting. She decried Coke, & one of the oldest women, said “she can’t live without it!”.
Chela pointed out that Junk food is sold to poor people, “the owners of the companies don’t eat this junk – they just make money off you guys – it’s only for poor people.
Item 6 – the Road
During the rains the road into Los Torres gets even worse (hard to imagine!) how can we get this fixed? It takes more than ½ hr to transverse!
“We need to begin the solicitude to the municipality”
Chela asked if anyone had ever made a solicitude to govt. before?
Chucha answered yes, they asked to be part of the Piso Firme (concrete floors) program.
Rafael Cruz has been previously to ask for assistance, but that was with the previous administration, so need to go again with the new one.
It was pointed out that Luci (the Mayor) & Helio from the ecology department have both asked to visit the community of Los Torres to see the project. We are currently attempting to schedule that visit with the various secretaries organizing…
It would be ideal to have the solicitude ready to present when the VIP’s visit.
Concha, Chucha & Alejandro all volunteered to get a solicitude together
write up reasons why road needs to be repaired including safety (takes too long in medical emergency), time it takes for people to get to work or to town etc.
what you would like done
write up who signed
Taxes are received by you & should be paid in works & services to the communities not just for the center of town!
The meeting concluded approx 5.40pm
Next Assembly Wed 28th April at 12 pm at Chucha’s house
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
2 more Pilot projects started today!
Another brief update, (full reports to follow)...
Both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba began their pilot projects at their respective primary schools today.
During the pilot projects all of the participants learn each of the steps involved in constructing these ferro cement cisterns.
Those that can, help, those that can't, contribute in other ways, they bring food & drinks & help mind children...
A collaborative effort.
Both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba began their pilot projects at their respective primary schools today.
During the pilot projects all of the participants learn each of the steps involved in constructing these ferro cement cisterns.
Those that can, help, those that can't, contribute in other ways, they bring food & drinks & help mind children...
A collaborative effort.
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Where: Vivienda de Arriba (40 mins from SMA)
When: Monday 22nd March 11am – 2.10pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Juan & Guillermo Alvarado (Trainers from Los Torres) & 7 adults (5 men & 7 women), by the time I left at 2pm.
Purpose: Pilot – construction of cistern & water collection system at the Vivienda de Arriba primary school.
Background: This pilot was “bought forward”, Juan & Guillermo liaised with the community directly to begin earlier than previously planned. As a result the order for the materials was placed hurriedly by me last Saturday. I had given a typed list of the standard materials required + a list of the variable materials (ie the piping & bricks etc, that changes depending on the location of the cistern in relation to the roof, & roof size etc).
Observations of the day
The supplier, Materiales Rivera – in San Miguel, had assured us the delivery could be made before 9.30 on Monday – it was now 11am & no sign of the materials.
There were 5 men (plus Guillermo & Juan – the trainers), all digging a hole for the pad for the cistern, with shovels & picks. The men were all grandfathers, & none had been at the assemblies, so was good to see them involved. These were all old cowboys, complete with cowboy hats & boots...
Again, they all asked if it was only me – (& my less than fluent Spanish!), & Juan broke out a few words from his English vocab in solidarity.
I met the Maestro (teacher) who was very happy for this project to be happening in his school. They have a small school of just 19 kids, in contrast to Cruz del Palmar, who have around 200 kids!!
I called Holly & asked her to call Materiales Rivera to see what was going on, she called back to say the truck drivers’ mother had died & he had not made it into work today, so they were just sending another truck now. (that was at 11am, & the drive is only 40 mins or so, so we remained hopeful).
Around 11.30 some women arrived laden with buckets, filled with plates, cups, & food.
We assumed it was for almuerzo for the kids but after 20mins the women finally told us they were waiting for us, & that it was to feed the workers...
The cowboys downed shovels & we ate delicious lunch of rice, beans, tortillas & some hot vegetable soup that was described as a hangover cure!! All very delicious & nutritious & washed down with water flavoured with guava (or coke, but the coke bottles remained closed while there was agua fresco available)...
Still we waited, & joked about the truck being lost, until I decided it was time to make another check up call, 2 hrs after the other one!
Again I called Holly, who in turn called Materiales Rivera, to be told the truck had left 15mins ago... hmmmm....
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
The cowboys finished the preparation for the pad, & began to sift the sand for the cement, & finally, with a lot of hurrah! The truck arrived at around 1.15...
By 2.10 when I left, the materials had been unloaded (those old cowboys can carry 8 bricks in one go!), & the mesh was rolled out & being crocheted... More women arrived when the materials go there, & there were 12 people working (+ Juan & Guillermo) when I left...This is a much smaller community than Cruz del Palmar, so a good turnout!
Click on this link to see Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/ViviendaDeArribaWaterProject?feat=directlink
I couldn’t help thinking those old cowboys would have some interesting stories to tell about their lives & adventures in the States, but bid them farewell & congrats on the first stage of their mission, & headed back into town.
Next event – day 4 of the pilot 25th March 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Where: Vivienda de Arriba (40 mins from SMA)
When: Monday 22nd March 11am – 2.10pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Juan & Guillermo Alvarado (Trainers from Los Torres) & 7 adults (5 men & 7 women), by the time I left at 2pm.
Purpose: Pilot – construction of cistern & water collection system at the Vivienda de Arriba primary school.
Background: This pilot was “bought forward”, Juan & Guillermo liaised with the community directly to begin earlier than previously planned. As a result the order for the materials was placed hurriedly by me last Saturday. I had given a typed list of the standard materials required + a list of the variable materials (ie the piping & bricks etc, that changes depending on the location of the cistern in relation to the roof, & roof size etc).
Observations of the day
The supplier, Materiales Rivera – in San Miguel, had assured us the delivery could be made before 9.30 on Monday – it was now 11am & no sign of the materials.
There were 5 men (plus Guillermo & Juan – the trainers), all digging a hole for the pad for the cistern, with shovels & picks. The men were all grandfathers, & none had been at the assemblies, so was good to see them involved. These were all old cowboys, complete with cowboy hats & boots...
Again, they all asked if it was only me – (& my less than fluent Spanish!), & Juan broke out a few words from his English vocab in solidarity.
I met the Maestro (teacher) who was very happy for this project to be happening in his school. They have a small school of just 19 kids, in contrast to Cruz del Palmar, who have around 200 kids!!
I called Holly & asked her to call Materiales Rivera to see what was going on, she called back to say the truck drivers’ mother had died & he had not made it into work today, so they were just sending another truck now. (that was at 11am, & the drive is only 40 mins or so, so we remained hopeful).
Around 11.30 some women arrived laden with buckets, filled with plates, cups, & food.
We assumed it was for almuerzo for the kids but after 20mins the women finally told us they were waiting for us, & that it was to feed the workers...
The cowboys downed shovels & we ate delicious lunch of rice, beans, tortillas & some hot vegetable soup that was described as a hangover cure!! All very delicious & nutritious & washed down with water flavoured with guava (or coke, but the coke bottles remained closed while there was agua fresco available)...
Still we waited, & joked about the truck being lost, until I decided it was time to make another check up call, 2 hrs after the other one!
Again I called Holly, who in turn called Materiales Rivera, to be told the truck had left 15mins ago... hmmmm....
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
The cowboys finished the preparation for the pad, & began to sift the sand for the cement, & finally, with a lot of hurrah! The truck arrived at around 1.15...
By 2.10 when I left, the materials had been unloaded (those old cowboys can carry 8 bricks in one go!), & the mesh was rolled out & being crocheted... More women arrived when the materials go there, & there were 12 people working (+ Juan & Guillermo) when I left...This is a much smaller community than Cruz del Palmar, so a good turnout!
Click on this link to see Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/ViviendaDeArribaWaterProject?feat=directlink
I couldn’t help thinking those old cowboys would have some interesting stories to tell about their lives & adventures in the States, but bid them farewell & congrats on the first stage of their mission, & headed back into town.
Next event – day 4 of the pilot 25th March 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Mon 22nd March 9am-10.40
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Rafael Cruz (trainer from Los Torres) & by 9.30 29adults, approx 50/50 men/women. (7 kids, plus interested onlookers – kids from the primary school).
Purpose: 4 Day Pilot – building a cistern & collection system at the Cruz del Palmar Primary school.
Record of Event
I arrived on time at 9am to find Rafael (the trainer) & around 8 people gathering for the Pilot. By 9.30 there were 29 people, all occupied in the first steps of the construction.
They all asked where Holly, Chela or Elena were, they are nervous when it’s only me, because my Spanish is limited, but we managed to convey all we needed to.
The wire was laid out with the mesh on top & the wire on top of that, there were more people than tools, so one of the guys went to get a grinder & they cut off a strip of the mesh & made more ganchos (hooks), so that everyone could work on this task.
The “crocheting” begins at one side of the roll, by row, & ends at the other, with 4 diamonds of wire mesh “crocheted” in each square of mesh.
Everyone was in good spirit & all eager to learn.
There was a strange “bucket of water” ritual going on at the primary school, it took me a while to work out why there were kids criss-crossing the courtyard carrying buckets of water, in what seemed to be a random way. Turns out, these kids were all going to the toilet, & they needed to first take the bucket & fill it at various taps & mini tanks, then carry it to the toilet, to use to flush, then carry the water back to the mini tank, & the bucket back to the classroom.
I remembered how we as kids used to ask to be excused so we could get some time out of the classroom, & was giggling to myself that so many of these kids were doing the same, then it struck me that many of these kids probably don’t have toilets at home, & so save their “routine” for school.
I don’t know if there were more bucket carriers than usual because they were interested to see what was going on in their playground, many did decide to detour close to the action!
Rafael was very organised & had everyone occupied. I took a few photos, & bid them a successful mission, & headed off to their neighbouring community – Vivienda de Arriba, who were beginning their Pilot at their primary school today too.
One reason for the good turnout - it had been decided by the people at the previous assembly that whoever participates in the training will be on the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
I noticed Analaura had the attendance list in the records book.
Next visit will be on the last day of the Pilot, 25th March at 9am
Photos on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/CruzDelPalmarWaterProject?feat=directlink
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Mon 22nd March 9am-10.40
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Rafael Cruz (trainer from Los Torres) & by 9.30 29adults, approx 50/50 men/women. (7 kids, plus interested onlookers – kids from the primary school).
Purpose: 4 Day Pilot – building a cistern & collection system at the Cruz del Palmar Primary school.
Record of Event
I arrived on time at 9am to find Rafael (the trainer) & around 8 people gathering for the Pilot. By 9.30 there were 29 people, all occupied in the first steps of the construction.
They all asked where Holly, Chela or Elena were, they are nervous when it’s only me, because my Spanish is limited, but we managed to convey all we needed to.
The wire was laid out with the mesh on top & the wire on top of that, there were more people than tools, so one of the guys went to get a grinder & they cut off a strip of the mesh & made more ganchos (hooks), so that everyone could work on this task.
The “crocheting” begins at one side of the roll, by row, & ends at the other, with 4 diamonds of wire mesh “crocheted” in each square of mesh.
Everyone was in good spirit & all eager to learn.
There was a strange “bucket of water” ritual going on at the primary school, it took me a while to work out why there were kids criss-crossing the courtyard carrying buckets of water, in what seemed to be a random way. Turns out, these kids were all going to the toilet, & they needed to first take the bucket & fill it at various taps & mini tanks, then carry it to the toilet, to use to flush, then carry the water back to the mini tank, & the bucket back to the classroom.
I remembered how we as kids used to ask to be excused so we could get some time out of the classroom, & was giggling to myself that so many of these kids were doing the same, then it struck me that many of these kids probably don’t have toilets at home, & so save their “routine” for school.
I don’t know if there were more bucket carriers than usual because they were interested to see what was going on in their playground, many did decide to detour close to the action!
Rafael was very organised & had everyone occupied. I took a few photos, & bid them a successful mission, & headed off to their neighbouring community – Vivienda de Arriba, who were beginning their Pilot at their primary school today too.
One reason for the good turnout - it had been decided by the people at the previous assembly that whoever participates in the training will be on the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
I noticed Analaura had the attendance list in the records book.
Next visit will be on the last day of the Pilot, 25th March at 9am
Photos on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/CruzDelPalmarWaterProject?feat=directlink
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Quick update - Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba Pilots
This is a quick update to record that the materials for pilot projects (ie the demonstration & train the trainer component of the project) have been ordered.
Pilots projects are about to commence in both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba on Monday 22nd March.
In both cases the 1st cisterns are being constructed at the Primary schools.
The materials were ordered for Cruz on Wednesday, & delivered Friday.
For Vivienda de Arriba, they were delivered Saturday morning & are to be delivered Monday 22nd.
Rafael Cruz is overseeing/training in Cruz del Palmar, & Juan & Guillermo Alvarado are overseeing/training at Vivienda de Arriba.
They have been co-ordinating directly with the primary contacts in each community, & have pulled the pilots forward.
Let's see who turns up for training on Monday!!
Pilots projects are about to commence in both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba on Monday 22nd March.
In both cases the 1st cisterns are being constructed at the Primary schools.
The materials were ordered for Cruz on Wednesday, & delivered Friday.
For Vivienda de Arriba, they were delivered Saturday morning & are to be delivered Monday 22nd.
Rafael Cruz is overseeing/training in Cruz del Palmar, & Juan & Guillermo Alvarado are overseeing/training at Vivienda de Arriba.
They have been co-ordinating directly with the primary contacts in each community, & have pulled the pilots forward.
Let's see who turns up for training on Monday!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: Montecillo de Nieto Kindergarten
When: 17 March 2010 12-1.30
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), Hector & Leon &(woman teacher) primary school teachers, +21 community members.
Purpose: Review the Pilot project, & plan the next phase – ie individual cisterns per families.
Chela was sick today, Elena & I decided it was to crucial to postpone, so we had the assembly without her.
We arrived at 12 & most of the women were still at the Primary school, there were inoculations going on today, kids & dogs!!
We gathered back at the kinder & began the assembly approx 12.20.
We asked if they had the book to take the roll, & Margarita had left it at home, so went home to get it, while we waited we chatted.
• They finished the cistern on the 21st January.
• The next week it rained & ¾ filled the cistern!
• Kids are drinking water from the cistern already
• The kids know how precious the water is, & they don´t touch the tap. The teacher fills a garafon.
• The teachers from the primary school came to the kinder meeting too – although they have an ecology dept. model rainwater collection system, it doesn´t work & they want one of our cisterns.
• We have 26 cisterns avail, 1 constructed, a list of 24 families, so one spare for the school potentially.
Margarita was voted co-ordinator of the meeting. & Enedina as record taker, it turned out that Margarita did both…
We called for agenda items:
• Attendance
• Review of what has been done to date
• When will the materials for the next phase arrive?
• Which houses will receive the materials first (planning next phase)
• How many cisterns can be being built simultaneously?
• Unity & communication in the community
• Program the next meeting date.
Item 1. Roll was called.
Item 2. Review of pilot project
Everyone was very happy with how the cistern turned out & the timing, ie just before it rained.
The kids are drinking the water, & everyone is very keen to have their own cisterns now (especially before the rains in June).
A comment about volunteers was “some came because they had to volunteer, others came because they wanted to learn”
There was one person who didn´t attend & 1 person who is not on the list who did attend the training days.
The person not attending has been removed & the new person invited to join the list (as per the meeting consensus).
Item 3. Materials/Planning for the next steps
I explained the next steps,
1. They needed to measure the tubes & elbows etc needed at their specific location. – they have done this, & have a list per family, per group.
2. They need to co-ordinate a time for the community & Rafael Cruz (who will be technical co-ordinator on this job – from the Los Torres team of Experts)… to come to check the measurements house by house. He suggested 5th April is soonest. They have his phone number & will co-ordinate direct.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
3. When he goes to do the measurement he will also need to determine with the community where & when they wish to have the materials delivered.
4. Rafa will need to collate the order, 24 x the standard materials list, + each list of variable materials per family into one bulk order for the variables.
5. Suggest – 1 big order of the variable materials is delivered to 1 spot, & each family comes with their list & collects what they need.
6. The Standard materials (ie cement, mesh, wire etc) is delivered 2 cisterns per group at a time, until the cisterns are built & then order then next lot.
7. Rafa will need to place the order with the supplier. (NB we still need to sign the supplier contract, & negotiate best option)
There was some discussion re how to best build all the cisterns for each group. Gaston said he feels it´s better to do one cistern at a time, not 2 concurrently. Since there are only 6 families in each group this is probably a good idea.
Item 4. Unity & Communication
Elena talked about how important it is to communicate with eachother, for example the woman teacher from the primary across the road had not visited to see the cistern at the kinder…
Item 5 26th Cistern to be for the primary school
I asked the teachers why since they already have a 30,000 ltr tank supplied by Ecology, they want an additional cistern (they have 65 kids in the school). They explained it does not work, & to make it function properly more money has to be spent & the Eco. Dept wants to excavate & have a below ground tank. This project cost approx US$11k, I explained the big project providing 26 cisterns cost not much more than that.
The teachers agreed they did not want to spend more money on this other project, & really do want one of our cisterns.
The people in the meeting agreed since their kids all go to the school that the 26th cistern should go to the school. All groups will participate in the constr6ction, & only once all of the cisterns are built.
They will have keys to allow Rafa access to decide the best place to put the cistern at the school.
Item 6 important dates
Traspatio workshop at Los Torres 7th April (1st Wednesday each month)
Proposed check measurements date with Rafa 5th April
Proposed collation of order by Rafa 6th April,
Proposed place order by Rafa – to supplier – 7th April
Proposed 1st delivery of materials to community 8th April
Next Assembly in Montecillo de Nieto 21 April 12pm at Kinder
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: Montecillo de Nieto Kindergarten
When: 17 March 2010 12-1.30
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), Hector & Leon &(woman teacher) primary school teachers, +21 community members.
Purpose: Review the Pilot project, & plan the next phase – ie individual cisterns per families.
Chela was sick today, Elena & I decided it was to crucial to postpone, so we had the assembly without her.
We arrived at 12 & most of the women were still at the Primary school, there were inoculations going on today, kids & dogs!!
We gathered back at the kinder & began the assembly approx 12.20.
We asked if they had the book to take the roll, & Margarita had left it at home, so went home to get it, while we waited we chatted.
• They finished the cistern on the 21st January.
• The next week it rained & ¾ filled the cistern!
• Kids are drinking water from the cistern already
• The kids know how precious the water is, & they don´t touch the tap. The teacher fills a garafon.
• The teachers from the primary school came to the kinder meeting too – although they have an ecology dept. model rainwater collection system, it doesn´t work & they want one of our cisterns.
• We have 26 cisterns avail, 1 constructed, a list of 24 families, so one spare for the school potentially.
Margarita was voted co-ordinator of the meeting. & Enedina as record taker, it turned out that Margarita did both…
We called for agenda items:
• Attendance
• Review of what has been done to date
• When will the materials for the next phase arrive?
• Which houses will receive the materials first (planning next phase)
• How many cisterns can be being built simultaneously?
• Unity & communication in the community
• Program the next meeting date.
Item 1. Roll was called.
Item 2. Review of pilot project
Everyone was very happy with how the cistern turned out & the timing, ie just before it rained.
The kids are drinking the water, & everyone is very keen to have their own cisterns now (especially before the rains in June).
A comment about volunteers was “some came because they had to volunteer, others came because they wanted to learn”
There was one person who didn´t attend & 1 person who is not on the list who did attend the training days.
The person not attending has been removed & the new person invited to join the list (as per the meeting consensus).
Item 3. Materials/Planning for the next steps
I explained the next steps,
1. They needed to measure the tubes & elbows etc needed at their specific location. – they have done this, & have a list per family, per group.
2. They need to co-ordinate a time for the community & Rafael Cruz (who will be technical co-ordinator on this job – from the Los Torres team of Experts)… to come to check the measurements house by house. He suggested 5th April is soonest. They have his phone number & will co-ordinate direct.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
3. When he goes to do the measurement he will also need to determine with the community where & when they wish to have the materials delivered.
4. Rafa will need to collate the order, 24 x the standard materials list, + each list of variable materials per family into one bulk order for the variables.
5. Suggest – 1 big order of the variable materials is delivered to 1 spot, & each family comes with their list & collects what they need.
6. The Standard materials (ie cement, mesh, wire etc) is delivered 2 cisterns per group at a time, until the cisterns are built & then order then next lot.
7. Rafa will need to place the order with the supplier. (NB we still need to sign the supplier contract, & negotiate best option)
There was some discussion re how to best build all the cisterns for each group. Gaston said he feels it´s better to do one cistern at a time, not 2 concurrently. Since there are only 6 families in each group this is probably a good idea.
Item 4. Unity & Communication
Elena talked about how important it is to communicate with eachother, for example the woman teacher from the primary across the road had not visited to see the cistern at the kinder…
Item 5 26th Cistern to be for the primary school
I asked the teachers why since they already have a 30,000 ltr tank supplied by Ecology, they want an additional cistern (they have 65 kids in the school). They explained it does not work, & to make it function properly more money has to be spent & the Eco. Dept wants to excavate & have a below ground tank. This project cost approx US$11k, I explained the big project providing 26 cisterns cost not much more than that.
The teachers agreed they did not want to spend more money on this other project, & really do want one of our cisterns.
The people in the meeting agreed since their kids all go to the school that the 26th cistern should go to the school. All groups will participate in the constr6ction, & only once all of the cisterns are built.
They will have keys to allow Rafa access to decide the best place to put the cistern at the school.
Item 6 important dates
Traspatio workshop at Los Torres 7th April (1st Wednesday each month)
Proposed check measurements date with Rafa 5th April
Proposed collation of order by Rafa 6th April,
Proposed place order by Rafa – to supplier – 7th April
Proposed 1st delivery of materials to community 8th April
Next Assembly in Montecillo de Nieto 21 April 12pm at Kinder
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Report 2 on Vivienda de Arriba assembly, March 10, 2010
Report 2 on Vivienda de Arriba assembly, March 10, 2010
Report kindly written by Holly Yasui in Laura's absence.
We arrived at Vivienda de Arriba a Little before 3 p.m., and there was a small group of people from Tierra Blanca waiting outside the chapel, including Juana Granados and her son Fernando who attended the Water Day activities in Los Torres on March 5. They told us it was a 20-minute walk from Tierra Blanca to Vivienda de Arriba.
Ana Maria Torres, who has been our main contact in Vivienda de Arriba, arrived right on the dot at 3 p.m., saw that the gate was locked and went off to get a key. We entered the churchyard, and because it was very windy, decided to meet in a small room on the side of the chapel so that Chela could use the rotofolio without the pages flying around.
Holly passed her notebook around for a list of persons attending, and at 3:30 there were 14 people from Vivienda and 10 from Tierra Blanca. More arrived in the course of the meeting, see below the two groups formed for the training. Two weeks ago, Ana had asked us at the last Los Torres assembly if we could limit the number of people from Tierra Blanca at “their” (Vivienda’s) assemblies, and she made sure that the notebook that I passed around was signed first by people from Vivienda de Arriba, then the people from Tierra Blanca. (Note: after the meeting, in the privacy of her mother-in-law’s house, Ana told us that she felt that the people from Tierra Blanca were “troublesome” or “belligerent” - the word in Spanish is “conflictiva” - because at their water committee meetings, held in Tierra Blanca where the well is located, the Tierrablancans always steamroll over everyone else. As Chela and Holly were driving back to La Cieneguita, Chela explained that there is often conflict between large and small communities, especially as regards water for “newcomers” since the water committee is always a political football.)
Chela started the assembly off by asking the newcomers why they had come to this meeting, and then asking those who had attended the last assembly to explain the project. As in Cruz del Palmar in the morning, she discussed the difference between the government programs (only “Piso Firme” and “Oportunidades” have been promulgated in Vivienda de A) that owe the people attention, and nonprofit organizations like CEDESA and Rotary, which work with communities in solidarity. She emphasized that communities need to organize themselves in order to get the government to help them to solve their problems.
Chela also engaged the people at the meeting in a discussion of the contamination of water – whether or not it is contaminated, and why; also what they should use the water from rain-harvesting for (drinking and cooking only, not washing). She explained that there are three players in the rain-harvesting project: the community provides labor in mutual-aid groups (what they provide is: work, cooperation and participation in meetings and training), CEDESA helps the community to organize, and Rotary provides materials for the construction, and pays the trainers, who are men from Los Torres who learned how to make the cisterns during their initial project. She asked Holly to explain the training and construction process, which she did, starting with the weaving together of the two meshes, the raising of the frame, the application of cement, placing the spigot and water-level indicator tube, the door and connecting the pipes from the roof. Holly also mentioned the need for space next to their roofs for the cistern, and the number of days required to build them (4), as Laura had expressed concern that the people understand this clearly from the outset, since this was a problem at Lomas de San Josè.
Chela then focused on the people from Vivienda because, as she put it, a delegation from Vivienda has been attending the meetings at Los Torres since last October, so they have been waiting a long time for their project to begin whereas the people from Tierra Blanca have just begun the process.
The people from Vivienda decided to do their pilot project at the primary school (only 19 students there, but the kinder has only 6! It is a very small community), and split up into two groups as follows (names followed by asterisks are the team leaders):
GROUP 1
Ana Maria Torres*
Agripina Ramírez*
Lorena Vazquéz
Valentin (represented by his mother, Marcelina who lives in Cruz del Palmar)
Aurelia
Gloria*
Lorena Ramírez
Ana Isabel Ramírez
María de la Luz Ramírez
Alfredo Granados
GROUP 2
Ángela
Julia/Patricio Torres*
Maricela Granados*
Teresa Alvarado
Cristina Morales*
Irene López
Cirila Ramírez
María de Jesús
Natividad
Tomasa
The training will take place the week of April 5, concurrent with the training at Cruz del Palmar, if the Los Torres Consulting Team (equipo de asesoria) can do it then. Holly called Miguel Cruz in Los Torres to ask him to coordinate that with the other three on the team, and will call back on Friday, March 12 to confirm.
Next Assembly April 14th 3pm.
Report kindly written by Holly Yasui in Laura's absence.
We arrived at Vivienda de Arriba a Little before 3 p.m., and there was a small group of people from Tierra Blanca waiting outside the chapel, including Juana Granados and her son Fernando who attended the Water Day activities in Los Torres on March 5. They told us it was a 20-minute walk from Tierra Blanca to Vivienda de Arriba.
Ana Maria Torres, who has been our main contact in Vivienda de Arriba, arrived right on the dot at 3 p.m., saw that the gate was locked and went off to get a key. We entered the churchyard, and because it was very windy, decided to meet in a small room on the side of the chapel so that Chela could use the rotofolio without the pages flying around.
Holly passed her notebook around for a list of persons attending, and at 3:30 there were 14 people from Vivienda and 10 from Tierra Blanca. More arrived in the course of the meeting, see below the two groups formed for the training. Two weeks ago, Ana had asked us at the last Los Torres assembly if we could limit the number of people from Tierra Blanca at “their” (Vivienda’s) assemblies, and she made sure that the notebook that I passed around was signed first by people from Vivienda de Arriba, then the people from Tierra Blanca. (Note: after the meeting, in the privacy of her mother-in-law’s house, Ana told us that she felt that the people from Tierra Blanca were “troublesome” or “belligerent” - the word in Spanish is “conflictiva” - because at their water committee meetings, held in Tierra Blanca where the well is located, the Tierrablancans always steamroll over everyone else. As Chela and Holly were driving back to La Cieneguita, Chela explained that there is often conflict between large and small communities, especially as regards water for “newcomers” since the water committee is always a political football.)
Chela started the assembly off by asking the newcomers why they had come to this meeting, and then asking those who had attended the last assembly to explain the project. As in Cruz del Palmar in the morning, she discussed the difference between the government programs (only “Piso Firme” and “Oportunidades” have been promulgated in Vivienda de A) that owe the people attention, and nonprofit organizations like CEDESA and Rotary, which work with communities in solidarity. She emphasized that communities need to organize themselves in order to get the government to help them to solve their problems.
Chela also engaged the people at the meeting in a discussion of the contamination of water – whether or not it is contaminated, and why; also what they should use the water from rain-harvesting for (drinking and cooking only, not washing). She explained that there are three players in the rain-harvesting project: the community provides labor in mutual-aid groups (what they provide is: work, cooperation and participation in meetings and training), CEDESA helps the community to organize, and Rotary provides materials for the construction, and pays the trainers, who are men from Los Torres who learned how to make the cisterns during their initial project. She asked Holly to explain the training and construction process, which she did, starting with the weaving together of the two meshes, the raising of the frame, the application of cement, placing the spigot and water-level indicator tube, the door and connecting the pipes from the roof. Holly also mentioned the need for space next to their roofs for the cistern, and the number of days required to build them (4), as Laura had expressed concern that the people understand this clearly from the outset, since this was a problem at Lomas de San Josè.
Chela then focused on the people from Vivienda because, as she put it, a delegation from Vivienda has been attending the meetings at Los Torres since last October, so they have been waiting a long time for their project to begin whereas the people from Tierra Blanca have just begun the process.
The people from Vivienda decided to do their pilot project at the primary school (only 19 students there, but the kinder has only 6! It is a very small community), and split up into two groups as follows (names followed by asterisks are the team leaders):
GROUP 1
Ana Maria Torres*
Agripina Ramírez*
Lorena Vazquéz
Valentin (represented by his mother, Marcelina who lives in Cruz del Palmar)
Aurelia
Gloria*
Lorena Ramírez
Ana Isabel Ramírez
María de la Luz Ramírez
Alfredo Granados
GROUP 2
Ángela
Julia/Patricio Torres*
Maricela Granados*
Teresa Alvarado
Cristina Morales*
Irene López
Cirila Ramírez
María de Jesús
Natividad
Tomasa
The training will take place the week of April 5, concurrent with the training at Cruz del Palmar, if the Los Torres Consulting Team (equipo de asesoria) can do it then. Holly called Miguel Cruz in Los Torres to ask him to coordinate that with the other three on the team, and will call back on Friday, March 12 to confirm.
Next Assembly April 14th 3pm.
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