Update re Global Grant 25437 Calgary Water Cistern Project (with Direct grant combined)

4 Communities led the first phase – La Tinaja, 3 Esquinas, Cruz del Palmar & Guerrero. Following is the update of these communities:-

La Tinaja 22 (21 family + 1 pilot) cisterns, pilot began on 23^rd Jan. Cisterns are almost all completed & they will announce their inauguration on the 29^th March.

3 Esquinas 24 (23 family + 1 pilot) cisterns, pilot began on 30^th Jan. Cisterns are completed, they are yet to announce their inauguration date.

Cruz del Palmar 41 (39 family + 2 pilots) cisterns, pilot began on 30^th Jan. Cisterns are completed, Inauguration to be on 29^th March.

Guerrero 20 (19 family + 1 pilot) cisterns. pilot began on 6^th Feb. Interruptions on 7^th March re land dispute, but almost completed as at 17.3.12.

The next phase includes communities of Corralejo, Vivienda de Arriba & Tierra Blanca.

Corralejo 15 (13 family + 1 pilot+ 1 community proj) cisterns, they began their pilot on 12^th March. This was a difficult pilot as most of the men are absent from this community in the USA, Filiberto & Saul (our tech assistants) admitted to having to work extremely hard with the women in this community, since there were no men to help out.

Vivienda de Arriba(10) & Tierra Blanca(9) are beginning work on their cisterns on the weekend of 17^th March. They will proceed without a pilot training session, as this is phase II in each of these communities & the previous cistern recipients have volunteered to work with these participants.

Once funds are received from Port Lavaca & converted to Pesos, we will have a firm number of the next cistern/materials to be available & will begin on this final phase.

14th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary @ Vivienda de Arriba& Tierra Blanca re water Project

Record of Event

Where: Vivienda de Arriba – courtyard of church(40 mins from SMA)

When: 14^th March 2012 1.40pm – 3.20pm

Who: Chela, Holly & Saul, (Cedesa) Laura, (Rotary), + 27 adults (incl. 7 men) & 10 kids & 2 dogs…

Purpose of assembly: To plan the next phase of the GG/Direct grant Water Cistern project which will be 19 more cisterns in Vivienda de Arriba (10) & Tierra Blanca (9).

Note: Re Guerrero : today’s assembly was postponed from March 7, as on that day there was an issue in the community of Guerrero which Chela & Saul needed to attend to. Guerrero is another community we have been working in. There are 12 families whose land is currently in dispute.

On March 7^th a lawyer, earthmoving equipment & 50 police turned up to evict & bulldoze the house of at least one of the families.

Many people came in support of the families, including representatives from communities of the Citizen’s council – Cocira (formed by as a result of the water cistern projects).

It was stated by a member of the community that this was a rare event, ie to see other communities supporting one another, & was due to the organizational process of the water projects over the last 3.5 yrs.

As a result of the solidarity provided to the community, the lawyer decided to call off the earthmovers & the families are still in their homes.

Rotary has stayed out of the legal battle, but it should be noted we have continued to support the families to provide them with safe drinking water as the level of fluoride in this area is very dangerously high at 4+mg/l…

As an aside, at least one family mentioned that not only were they born on this land, but also their father & grandfather. There has also been a countersuit (filed co-incidentally the same day as the eviction notice was received), stating that the judge & the complainant have been colluding at the house of the complainant.

Regardless, the 19 (+1 pilot) cisterns in the community of Guerrero are almost completed & we continue our mission to assist people to resolve their drinking water situation.

When Vivienda de Arriba & Tierra Blanca community members heard the assembly of March 7 was postponed (& why) they decided to go to Guerrero to support their neighbours.

Consequently the first part of the assembly was a debrief of the current situation, Saul also read out an article that appeared in the newspaper Sol del Bajio on 14^th March describing the situation in Guerrero on the 7^th March.

The assembly moved onto usual routine.

Chela asked for a show of hands as to who was attending from Tierra Blanca & who from Vivienda de Arriba.

VdA had 15 people attending & Tierra Blanca had 16 (& more arrived later, not sure if Vda or TB)

Call for a co-ordinator & record taker for each community was made…

Lorena was appointed co-ordinator, & there were 2 record takers.

Page 2 of 2

Chela asked why everyone was here…

The response was “about the cisterns, to make agreements as to who will receive them”

“to define the training sessions, time & who”

There are 10 on the list for Vivienda de Arriba (with more waiting) & 11 on the list for Tierra Blanca.

They have already organized themselves into work groups (each community will work in one group). This the 2^nd phase for each of these communities, so they are already very aware of what is involved, & even better are happy to support their fellow community members & work with them to train them. Saul will of course still be visiting to ensure there are no issues, but this is an excellent result & more evidence of community building.

Anna – from Vivienda, mentioned there are 8 more people who would also like cisterns, Chela asked if they were current residents or were away in the USA working – reiterating that the project was not just a cistern project but involved participation in the process , Anna said they were local & have been participating.

We asked how each of the communities had “prioritized” the participants, ie there are more people wanting cisterns than we have cisterns available. Vivienda de Arriba decided based on attendance at meetings, & Tierra Blanca had had a “raffle” (drawing straws). Tierra Blanca advised that there are at least 38 people still wanting to be involved in the cistern project, of which we had mentioned 11 cisterns were available…

The situation currently is that we have only materials for 35 extra cisterns (although we have funding for more materials)… the materials are special order & have a lead time as much as 3 wks depending on the factory, hence our supplier had ordered in advance sufficient materials for 35 more cisterns & so we have had to split into additional phases.

When we receive the additional funds promised from Port Lavaca Rotary Club we will be able to place the next order of materials & therefore have another meeting with Tierra Blanca (& maybe VdA) to allocate the next number of cisterns. (ay carray – life is complicated!)

It was decided by VdA that no pilot training session was necessary, that past cistern builders would assist the newbies. Tierra Blanca initially decided to do a pilot at the Kinder (39 kids) then decided to give it to one of the families on the list instead, & do without a pilot training session.

We mentioned the tools required, & they all knew what was needed (in fact Anna was listing them out loud from memory) & they all have them or can borrow them.

They decided they would like to get started this weekend & so asked if I could order & pay for the materials in time for delivery on Friday. (which I have done).

Contact details were given for the driver – ie the driver calls the first person & that person guides him for deliveries to each of the houses on the list in each of the communities.

Saul mentioned we have sufficient Plywood left from previous projects, order for Sand & Gravel was made on the following day, & order for the doors will be made once we have final cistern numbers (since the process of ordering the doors is a little more complicated).

The meeting came to a close approx. 3.20. We then headed over to Anna’s place for tacos of nopal & chicheron with boiled eggs – yum!!

Excellent publicity from District 6940

Our very good friends at Tallahassee RC have achieved excellent coverage of the water cistern project in their district newsletter this month.

You can read all about it here (on page 5 & 6)

HUGE THANK YOU for the continued support from this wonderful Club & District & our very good friends Bill Webb, Larry Kubiak & John Medina...xxx

Report of progress Water project Global Grant 25437

Where: Communities of La Tinaja, Cruz del Palmar & Guerrero

When: 15 Feb 2012 during Team meeting at Cedesa.

Who Laura, Holly, Saul, Chela

Purpose: During our usual Water Cistern Project team planning meeting Saul gave an update of the progress in the communities who are part of the Calgary Global Grant.

All Pilots have now been completed & all communities are working on their individual family cisterns.

Saul reported the following:

La Tinaja (22 cisterns) – they are working well, not slow or fast, but steady. Was difficult initially as this community did not have any access to tools, borrowed or otherwise, thanks to the agreement by Walla Walla & Tallahassee RC’s to use approx. US$300 excess from a previous direct grant on purchase of tools, they no longer have to use machete’s & rocks to cut the wire & malla.

There is one group with a lot of men working in it, & they are progressing faster than the other 2 groups. There has been no problems from a human relations perspective, no gossip issues etc, all are working in harmony & with respect.

They have also begun thinking about organisation of their backyards, cistern, garden, animals, dry toilet etc, they hadn’t previously considered this.

Someone (who had given up her spot as she had not yet built her house) asked about a 2^nd phase in La Tinaja & Chela explained it is difficult to predict.

We discussed the possibility of doing a “cob” adobe workshop to teach the young people how to construct housing using the rammed earth method (essentially using the dirt they excavate to level their property to construct the house). There is a big issue with lack of skills & employment opportunities in this community, & a very large number of young people.

Cruz del Palmar – 41 Cisterns

This community is also progressing well, this is a 2^nd phase community, one young woman Dometila is particularly well involved & helpful. The various groups are all working well & at different stages, some at malla weaving stage others at cement stage. The president of the Consejo is a member of the project & is very active & organised.

Guerrero – 20 cisterns

The pilot training session took longer than expected with delays caused by the rain as well as an “Oportunidades” govt training day, which if they didn’t attend they miss out on.

The pilot cistern is not connected since the classroom is brand new & the boss of the construction of the classroom did not want any piping attached until they have held their inauguration (education department).

There is one group which everyone is good-naturedly joking about as they are the oldest, many older women in it, but ironically they are advancing the fastest.

There was an issue where one of the women did not want to be in the original group she was assigned to but couldn’t change so she felt kind of “left out”. Saul organised a meeting with the group & the woman & they worked on their agreements & compromises/promises & she is now included. He essentially told her you need to work this out together & sort it out or give up your place/materials, this was enough motivation for her to work on the issue & she is now fully integrated.

Subsequent to this meeting, there was an issue re possible delivery problems in Guerrero as a man claiming to own the land of some of the members of the project (they dispute this & have been on the land as many as 6 generations in some cases), attempted to have Sapasma stop the project (he thought it was Sapasma funded). Deliveries went ahead unobstructed & they continue to work on their cisterns.

Report of Inauguration of Sapasma II Project in Cienega

Where: Community of Cienega Juana Ruiz

When: 10 Feb 2012 11.30am-2.45pm

Who Enrique, Laura (Rotary) (+guest of Enrique’s Maria – briefly), Chela, Holly (Cedesa), Camilo, Waldo, Francisco, Alba & 4 Sapasma promoters, & approx. 70 community representatives, from Cienega & also many of the Consejo communities.

Purpose: To celebrate the completion of the 2nd Sapasma Project in this community.

First phase was 26 family + 1 pilot, this phase was for 18 family cisterns. Therefore bringing the total number of cisterns in this community to 45.

There had been unseasonal rain this last week & so the access road was particularly muddy but this did not dampen anyone’s spirits, a Tarpaulin had been stretched out to provide shade/shelter to the many people gathered to celebrate this event.

There were many speeches, Camilo from Sapasma spoke first, he thanked the partners of this project, Rotary, Cedesa & the community. Chela spoke, also thanking the team & explaining a little of the history of this project. Enrique also spoke as did Francisco & the delegado of the community.

We all proceeded on procession fashion, to the first of the cisterns to have a ribbon cutting, & then to 2 more cisterns. One of the cisterns was already ½ full thanks to the unseasonal rain that arrived just as the cisterns were completed!

The trip also included a visit to the Sapasma Pozo, which was put in place more than 3 years ago, including all of the piping, but still has not been operating to provide them domestic use water (their well has high levels of fluoride, ie will not be suitable for drinking), when they eventually do get the problem with water supply resolved. This has been unresolved for many years now, the pipes installed new 3 yrs ago are in some cases now damaged & already needing replacement (despite never having piped water!). The Consejo continues to support Cienega to attempt to resolve this issue with Sapasma – we all hope it is “sorted” soon.

We all proceeded back to the original meeting place & were treated to a banquet feast of red rice, carnitas, nopal salad, salsa & of course delicious tortillas!

I sat next to Francisco of Sapasma & was very pleasantly surprised to find he is a Rugby Fan & knew all about not only the game but the Allblacks!! Who would have thought?

A good day had by all…

Report of 5th visit to Guerrero

Mixing the nopal with Cal to create a natural Sealant

to paint onto the cistern & roof.

Working on the inside & out...

Where: Guerrero Primary school – (past Capaderillo, before La Aurora & Don Juan)

When: 9 Feb 2012 10am-10.45am

Who Laura (Rotary), (Guest Suzanne), Saul (Cedesa) 22 adults at least ½ men, + 3 kids

Purpose: To visit on the 4^th day of the Pilot/training session in this community.

There had been unseasonal rain this last week & so the access road was particularly muddy, & this has impacted the work pace of the project as well, ie unable to mix & form concrete in the rain. Ultimately this caused the pilot to be extended an additional day of training.

When we arrived the cistern was in place, cement was being applied inside & out to the standing cistern. The top/cone was yet to be attached & cemented.

The cistern was positioned behind a brand new building being constructed by the architect/builders working for the Education department, Saul informed me the women in charge of the project had said the tubing was not to be connected to the roof of this new building until they had had the inauguration of this building at the end of the month. We agreed this was pretty ridiculous as we would miss out on the opportunity to collect at least some rain from this unseasonal rainfall we are having. Saul was going to attempt to meet with her & change her mind.

We watched the women mixing the nopal with the lime to make the natural sealer product with which the roof & the outside of the cistern would be painted.

Everyone was in fine form & working hard.

We congratulated the team & bid them goodbye.

The wire & metal materials for the first phase of the cistern construction for each of the 19 families has been delivered & they have begun work on their cisterns after the training session each day.

The cement is due to be delivered a little later as we don’t want to risk issues with the rain.

Presita de Santa Rosa Inauguration of Sapasma II project

The community of Presita de Santa Rosa celebrated the completion of 21 cisterns in the first phase of the water cistern project in their community.

The 20 family cisterns were funded by the Sapasma II project & the pilot was generously funded by a private donation from Chris.

I was unable to attend, but Enrique from San Miguel Midday Rotary had this to say

"On Presita de santa Rosa saturday visit, it was also a great event.

We met at the school patio, representatives from SAPASMA, CEDESA, Rotary MD, local beneficiaries and +- 8 communities... also I. Soto (a Green Fund member) and Miguel Gil (Rotarian and Social Development Sub-Director) participated.

Agenda was well structured, including community experiences ("you make a dream come through", remarked an old woman) and short speeches from representatives. Holly read a synthesis of the whole project evolution with hard data per communities and beneficiaries.

I brought an ecoStove for promotional purposes and which we raffled to the attendees at the end of the meeting... Ing. Fco. Jimenez SAPASMA Director agreed to help with $250 pesos

Then we had a good meal, with background music and a lot of fun people."