Record of Event pg 1 of 2
4th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: El Cortijo & Montecillo de Nieto Primary School
When: 16 December 2009 11.20-12.10, & 12.30 – 2pm
Who: pre planning meeting –Elena & Laura (Rotary), Chela Cedesa.
Assembly, Elena, Laura & Chela, Hector & Leon (2 professors), 25 women, 4 men, 1 youth about 17yrs & many children.
Purpose: Pre planning session at El Cortijo & then Community Assembly at MdN Primary School – continuing planning of the project, including designation of training days & sessions.
Summary of proceedings
It was a cold day so we held the meeting inside the classroom, in traditional classroom format. Chela led the discussions, from the front of the room. As an observation, there seems to be less participation with this format, v the sitting in a circle, which encourages more participation & eye contact.
When we arrived Hector (one of the teachers) greeted us & asked how long our session was going to take since they had another meeting planned after ours. We optimistically said we thought it should only take half an hour or so! Famous last words!
First was creation of the agenda
1. a quick review reiterating the objective of construction of the cisterns, with a Q& A session.
2. Planning of construction of the first cistern, where, when, who
3. Invitation to a traspatio (back yard) design workshop being held in neighbouring Los Torres on the 13th Jan.
4. Brief explanation of SODIS, solar disinfection purification method
For speed, Chela was the co-ordinator & the teachers were taking notes, as well as calling the roll.
Item 1. Review of objectives of cistern/water collection project.
Q&A re water quality, scarcity, pollutants etc.
Item 2. Training days/Demonstration build
The primary teachers proposed the primary school (as an aside interesting that the teachers at the primary school were keen to have the 1st cistern built at the school, despite the fact they have the ecology department model there) & others suggested the Kindergarten.
It was put to a vote & majority decided the kinder should be the first site.
a. lots of the community benefit (as will future generations)
b. they don’t currently have safe drinking water
c. the kinder teacher is very keen.
Chela confirmed the number of families on the list is still 24, (although we have a budget for 26, so this means enough to build the cistern at the kinder, & 1 spare for any late comer).
One family – Lorena asked to be removed from the list as she is moving from MdN, & another family asked to take their place Leonore Ramirez, so the list stays at 24.
More items decided/informed:
• They have already decided on 4 work groups at the previous assembly.
• The training/demonstration build takes place over a 4 day period.
• The attendees voted to start at 9 & finish at 5 each day (after much debate!)
• As many people as possible from each group need to attend as many days as possible - to ensure a full skill set.
• A minimum of 2 people per group should attend each day.
• Chela described each of the days’ processes involved, & that the first 2 days tasks are ideal for women as they involve essentially “hooking together” 2 layers of wire using a metal hook.
• There was some discussion about each cistern taking 4 days, but it was explained that while it takes 4 days to make a cistern, more than 1 cistern can be constructed in 4 days, they could do as many as 7 or 8 cisterns per 4 days per group of 8.
• There are 22 kids currently at the kinder.
Page 2 of 2
• Secondino Jimenez is an abanile (experienced builder) & has volunteered to help train during the demonstration build, they think they don’t need much help from the Los Torres crew (seemed to be some good hearted neighbourly rivalry).
• Many people have tools they can bring “ganchos” (hooks) & wire cutters.
The days for demonstration build are 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st January.
Each of the people in each group then committed to attending which ever days they could, a list was made. (Teachers & Chela have the list) This took quite some time!!
One woman raised a point
“if there are people that have kids at the kinder that haven’t volunteered to participate in the families cistern project then what?”
Solution was decided – Eva & Erendina will talk to the Maestra & ask her to co-ordinate the participation of those parents that have kids at the kinder but are not involved in the big project.
We asked where the materials should be delivered, ie a secure spot, & it was decided that into the kinder grounds was best.
Eva & Erendina will be responsible. Erendina’s cellphone number is 415 10 60 318.
Item 3. invitation to traspatio workshop.
Chela described briefly what a backyard garden was, & discussed what could be grown in it, answers were yelled out, carrots, onions, chilli, cilantro, beans, trees, fruit trees, cactus, magueys, tunas (a type of cactus fruit), herbs, chickens, etc,
The workshop is about producing your own food, first for the family & then excess to trade or sell. Money is hard to come by, so the more food you can grow yourself the better, also it is more healthy, no pesticides & not junk food.
Anyone interested in learning more about this was invited to be waiting at 11.45 on the 13th Jan when we would be driving by on our way to Los Torres. We will give them a ride.
Item 4, Sodis Solar Disinfection purification method
Laura & Elena briefly described firstly bacteria, & how they can occur & how kill them using the solar purification method. See www.sodis.ch for more info.
Actually, I think most had discounted this, since they figure the water they get from their roofs will be many times better than the water they have been drinking for years from who knows where (truck deliveries).
We concluded the assembly at 2pm. (so much for ½ an hour!)
NB Next assembly date was not decided upon, we will need to decide that at the demonstration build days on the 18th-21st..
(note from me – I noticed there were more men at this meeting, could be they had nothing better to do & it was a cold day, or hopefully, they wanted to know more & are keen to get it going, they certainly seemed to think they would not need much help from the demonstration team. Hmmmm....)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
33rd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Record of Event pg 1 of 4
33rd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Where: Los Torres (Chucha´s house)
When: 2.12.09 11am – 3.40pm
Who: Chela, (Cedesa), Laura & Elena (San Miguel Midday), + Los Torres people 32 women, 4 men + about 10 small kids, + Annamaria Torres from Vivienda de Arriba, & Teresa Gonzalez from Cruz del Palmar. (+ about 5 people from those communities).
Purpose:
Planning session for phase III, water purification talk, additional issues for the community to begin work on, eg small business opportunity re Sue & Fred from Ann Arbor.
We arrived at 11.30 – there was some confusion as to when the assembly had been booked for, I thought 11am & so did some of the women & Chela thought 11.30 & so did some of the women. Chucha insisted we have a taco in her kitchen before we began, so the assembly didn´t start until around midday.
!. Reflection – led by Elena, Elena personally gifted 3 Joyce Meyer books to the community, 1 for kids, 1 for youths & 1 for adults. They are books on good core topics, morals, treating people with respect, self dignity etc.
Elena read a quote from one of the books for inspiration, Chela talked about responsibility, obligations & harmony.
Chela talked about the earth, & asked where Maize comes from, where milk comes from, where beans come from – to which the answer was – The Earth!
The earth is our mother, our life, our food, our health.
The water arrives & causes erosion.
When the land is fertile, there is no erosion.
When the land is fertile, the wind does not cause dust storms, ie no erosion.
What other problems are there with the earth?
“contamination”
What kinds of contamination – rubbish, plastic, diapers, tyres, bottles, organic, & fecal.
What can we do to help –
• Collect the plastic, reuse wherever possible, collect the organic & fecal matter in compost bins.
• Plant trees on the edge of rivers to prevent erosion.
• Protect resources, don´t let sand extraction happen in your area.
• Know your rights & your obligations.
• Cultivate, conserve, plant & grow – look after your earth.
• Don´t rely on the “give me, give me” attitude, learn how to do things yourselves.
She gave an example of one of the children eating “cheetos”, & discussed the problems with this “food”. Lack of nutrition, toxic chemicals etc. Discussed also the benefits of eating healthily, eg apples v cheetos…
There was discussion of “free toileting” ie pooing in the open, without digging a hole or covering it, & how this affects the whole community, & should be a question of conscience.
2. Agenda/ appointing a co-ordinator & records taker for the meeting
The meeting started proper at 1.10pm & a proposed finish time for 3pm was set.
Veronica was appointed Co-ordinator (she is the young woman that has co-ordinated before & is very efficient). Annamaria (from Vivienda de Arriba) was appointed record taker. (good practice for when it´s her community´s turn!).
Agenda items were proposed
A. Lomas de San Jose technical team (coming from Los Torres)
B. Bacteria/sodis workshop
C. Phase III update
D. Planning next steps for the next 2 communities, Vivienda de Arriba & Cruz del Palmar
E. Traspatio (backyard garden) & road issues (extra issues for community to solve)
F. Proyecto Productivo (productive project – ie small business possibility)
pg 2 of 4
Agenda items discussed
A. Lomas de San Jose technical team (coming from Los Torres)
In LT there is a team of 4 guys who are the experts on constructing the cisterns & water collection systems now. These guys – with some additional training on the social & ecology aspects of the technical implementation – are going to be paid as the trainers & technical project advisers for the Lomas & Montecillo projects.
The team is Miguel Cruz, Juan Alvarado, Guillermo Alvarado, & Rafael Cruz.
It was suggested they come to the first official planning assembly meeting at Lomas de San Jose on Saturday 23rd January at 4pm, to meet with the community.
This will also be the first meeting for Chela & Benigno in that community as Enrique & I have been organizing the community without Cedesa for the first 3 meetings.
It will be suggested the team attend the first day´s training with Benigno, to learn the social & ecology aspects, (they have the technical side down pat).
The full plan for the project will be made in conjunction with Lomas community on the 23rd Jan.
B. Bacteria/sodis workshop
We are aware we need to ensure the potential issue of bacteria in the water in the cisterns is dealt with.
We have done lots of research on the internet & have decided the most fail-safe & easiest method to purify the water is the Sodis method, ie leaving the water in the sun in plastic bottles for 6 hours kills all bacteria. (please see website www.sodis.ch for more info, & to answer any questions you might have regarding plastic leaching into the water, the issue is dealt with thoroughly on this site).
We have touched on this topic in previous assemblies, today we covered it thoroughly.
Elena translated for me.
First I asked who has been drinking the water from the cisterns - & they all replied they all had.
I asked if anyone had been sick from drinking the water, stomach, diarrhea etc No – no-one has been sick. They love the taste of the water & drink more of it.
I explained the potential for bacteria to get into the water from the dust on the roof, especially if there is a surprise rain outside the rainy season. In case there are issues with bacteria they should be aware of a simple technique to kill all bacteria, virus & cysts. (this does not remove fluoride or chemicals from the water, only biological contaminants).
I showed 2 example bottles, & said the label must be removed (& removable) & the bottle must lay on it´s side in full sunlight for 6 hours, & then be emptied into a drinking water storage container (eg a garafon/20 litre bottle). They should have 1x 2ltr bottle per person, & do this each day.
Someone asked if they could use a coke bottle, & I said yes, as long as the label is able to be removed, & the plastic is transparent, so the UV rays can enter. They asked if they could do it using a garafon, I said no, must be a maximum of 10cm´s depth of water for full penetration by the UV rays.
Alejandro, Pofiria & Fabiana volunteered to go to the Kinder to demonstrate this method. The cistern at the kinder has a combination of water from the Pipa´s (trucks) & rainwater. The kinder teacher was very keen to learn this method. I gave the 2 demonstration bottles to Alejandro.
C Phase III update
I explained (with Elena´s help) the Rotary funding process has many levels, & we´ve just received final approval, & are now waiting for the actual cash to get to where it needs to go, to begin.
The next assembly at Los Torres is on the 20th January, & at this point I hope to have access to the funds to purchase the materials & begin the construction of the final cisterns.
pg 3 of 4
D. Planning next steps for the next 2 communities, Vivienda de Arriba & Cruz del Palmar
I updated the communities on our efforts to find funding for projects in their community.
We have spoken with the Ecology Depart director & also with the new Major – Luci, & are attempting to secure matching dollars through these avenues. I also mentioned we have another club - Walla Walla - who would like to work with us on a water project (or 2?) & we need to move quickly to write a grant for this.
We set community meeting times for each of these communities – on the 10th Feb. 2010.
Cruz del Palmar at 11am & Vivienda de Arriba at 3pm.
The women agreed to attend the next assembly at Los Torres on the 20th Jan. & report on their progress re arranging/organizing their assemblies on the 10th Feb.
Both of the representatives of these communities are very efficient, well spoken & excellent participators, if they can pull this together it will be a testament to them & the project in Los Torres, & is following the perfect model of a community project – ie one that grows legs itself, is replicated & motivates others. It is early days, but we are very excited about this development.
The visiting women thanked the LT assembly & left at this point.
E & F. Traspatio (backyard garden) & road issues (extra issues for community to solve)
Proyecto Productivo (productive project – ie small business possibility)
Chela led the discussion with a question to the community, what are they interested in learning about & what do they want to achieve?
They are very interested in being able to produce more of their own food, & were thrilled by the idea of being able to grow enough to be able to trade or sell.
A “traspatio” is literally a back yard garden, in which can be grown fruit trees, flowers, plants for food, & also to produce compost as a way of reducing waste & fertilising the land.
Chela also mentioned:
• A new type of oven they have just built at Cedesa, which is essentially a pizza or bread oven, made of bricks & adobe. For cooking bread, biscuits, baking roasts etc. It is very efficient in it´s use of wood, & burns hot with just a little wood.
• Some of the community are currently producing maize, frijol, calabasa, garbanzo beans, lentils & wheat, but only a few have parcels of land, most only have small back yards.
• Talked about bees, & honey & they said they would like to learn about how to use honey (lots have not tried it!!), & about beekeeping.
• Some of the benefits of pollen, good for your brain, & moto-neuron function, immunity etc.
• She asked what they know about bees – they knew that bees are essential for pollination & that without them the earth would likely die.
• She explained the potential to sell honey as part of the bee keepers union, or just in their own community. They were very interested & animated & want to know more.
There was no trouble getting a list of the following people who would like to be involved in a workshop to know more:
Concha, Leova, Hilaria, Lupe, Alejandro, Chuy, Fabiana, Carmela, Dulce, Cecilia, Marta, Vero, Consuelo, Cecilia (another Cecilia), Sofia, Juana, Juana (another Juana) & Caratina…
The first workshop/Project planning session will be held on Wednesday 13th January 12pm (& we expect to also to write up a draft project plan to submit to Sue Beutler of Ann Arbor RC as a result of this workshop).
Chela stated in a year they would have bees & backyard gardens, “1st produce for yourselves, thereby increasing your intelligence (re the pollen!), then produce enough to sell in the market of SMA.” (everyone laughed!!)
pg 4 of 4
Chela explained the first step for a traspatio is to clean their backyards, remove all the rubbish to one spot, & begin to collect organic waste in one spot. Bring ant poo to mix with the organic waste, & this is the beginning of compost production, necessary to enrich the soil they plan to grow plants in. They can bring other animal poo too, to help, eg donkey, sheep, chicken…
G. A visitor Saul Juarez Cabrerra ph 415 114 3156 asked about getting our help with other communities – Cienegita, Vivienda de Abajo (a long way from VdA)& Capadrillo(?) – we told him to come back to the next assembly with an update of who would like to be involved, names/numbers.
The meeting closed about 3.40 with everyone joining hands & giving thanks.
Dates of next meetings:
Wednesday January 13th 12 midday Los Torres
(Traspatio/Bee project planning workshop)
Thursday January 14th visit to Palencia with Georgina (president elect of the other SMA Rotary Club), Elena & Chela to Cedesa then Palencia (leave Sautto SMA at 10am, 11am leave Cedesa/Dolores Hidalgo for Palencia, 12midday at Palencia (site of potential water project for other Rotary Club).
Wednesday January 20th 12midday Los Torres
(community assembly)
Saturday 23rd January 4pm Lomas de San Jose & team from Los Torres, 1st Planning assembly
These records were made by Laura Stewart (San Miguel Midday RC – Community Service Committee)
33rd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Where: Los Torres (Chucha´s house)
When: 2.12.09 11am – 3.40pm
Who: Chela, (Cedesa), Laura & Elena (San Miguel Midday), + Los Torres people 32 women, 4 men + about 10 small kids, + Annamaria Torres from Vivienda de Arriba, & Teresa Gonzalez from Cruz del Palmar. (+ about 5 people from those communities).
Purpose:
Planning session for phase III, water purification talk, additional issues for the community to begin work on, eg small business opportunity re Sue & Fred from Ann Arbor.
We arrived at 11.30 – there was some confusion as to when the assembly had been booked for, I thought 11am & so did some of the women & Chela thought 11.30 & so did some of the women. Chucha insisted we have a taco in her kitchen before we began, so the assembly didn´t start until around midday.
!. Reflection – led by Elena, Elena personally gifted 3 Joyce Meyer books to the community, 1 for kids, 1 for youths & 1 for adults. They are books on good core topics, morals, treating people with respect, self dignity etc.
Elena read a quote from one of the books for inspiration, Chela talked about responsibility, obligations & harmony.
Chela talked about the earth, & asked where Maize comes from, where milk comes from, where beans come from – to which the answer was – The Earth!
The earth is our mother, our life, our food, our health.
The water arrives & causes erosion.
When the land is fertile, there is no erosion.
When the land is fertile, the wind does not cause dust storms, ie no erosion.
What other problems are there with the earth?
“contamination”
What kinds of contamination – rubbish, plastic, diapers, tyres, bottles, organic, & fecal.
What can we do to help –
• Collect the plastic, reuse wherever possible, collect the organic & fecal matter in compost bins.
• Plant trees on the edge of rivers to prevent erosion.
• Protect resources, don´t let sand extraction happen in your area.
• Know your rights & your obligations.
• Cultivate, conserve, plant & grow – look after your earth.
• Don´t rely on the “give me, give me” attitude, learn how to do things yourselves.
She gave an example of one of the children eating “cheetos”, & discussed the problems with this “food”. Lack of nutrition, toxic chemicals etc. Discussed also the benefits of eating healthily, eg apples v cheetos…
There was discussion of “free toileting” ie pooing in the open, without digging a hole or covering it, & how this affects the whole community, & should be a question of conscience.
2. Agenda/ appointing a co-ordinator & records taker for the meeting
The meeting started proper at 1.10pm & a proposed finish time for 3pm was set.
Veronica was appointed Co-ordinator (she is the young woman that has co-ordinated before & is very efficient). Annamaria (from Vivienda de Arriba) was appointed record taker. (good practice for when it´s her community´s turn!).
Agenda items were proposed
A. Lomas de San Jose technical team (coming from Los Torres)
B. Bacteria/sodis workshop
C. Phase III update
D. Planning next steps for the next 2 communities, Vivienda de Arriba & Cruz del Palmar
E. Traspatio (backyard garden) & road issues (extra issues for community to solve)
F. Proyecto Productivo (productive project – ie small business possibility)
pg 2 of 4
Agenda items discussed
A. Lomas de San Jose technical team (coming from Los Torres)
In LT there is a team of 4 guys who are the experts on constructing the cisterns & water collection systems now. These guys – with some additional training on the social & ecology aspects of the technical implementation – are going to be paid as the trainers & technical project advisers for the Lomas & Montecillo projects.
The team is Miguel Cruz, Juan Alvarado, Guillermo Alvarado, & Rafael Cruz.
It was suggested they come to the first official planning assembly meeting at Lomas de San Jose on Saturday 23rd January at 4pm, to meet with the community.
This will also be the first meeting for Chela & Benigno in that community as Enrique & I have been organizing the community without Cedesa for the first 3 meetings.
It will be suggested the team attend the first day´s training with Benigno, to learn the social & ecology aspects, (they have the technical side down pat).
The full plan for the project will be made in conjunction with Lomas community on the 23rd Jan.
B. Bacteria/sodis workshop
We are aware we need to ensure the potential issue of bacteria in the water in the cisterns is dealt with.
We have done lots of research on the internet & have decided the most fail-safe & easiest method to purify the water is the Sodis method, ie leaving the water in the sun in plastic bottles for 6 hours kills all bacteria. (please see website www.sodis.ch for more info, & to answer any questions you might have regarding plastic leaching into the water, the issue is dealt with thoroughly on this site).
We have touched on this topic in previous assemblies, today we covered it thoroughly.
Elena translated for me.
First I asked who has been drinking the water from the cisterns - & they all replied they all had.
I asked if anyone had been sick from drinking the water, stomach, diarrhea etc No – no-one has been sick. They love the taste of the water & drink more of it.
I explained the potential for bacteria to get into the water from the dust on the roof, especially if there is a surprise rain outside the rainy season. In case there are issues with bacteria they should be aware of a simple technique to kill all bacteria, virus & cysts. (this does not remove fluoride or chemicals from the water, only biological contaminants).
I showed 2 example bottles, & said the label must be removed (& removable) & the bottle must lay on it´s side in full sunlight for 6 hours, & then be emptied into a drinking water storage container (eg a garafon/20 litre bottle). They should have 1x 2ltr bottle per person, & do this each day.
Someone asked if they could use a coke bottle, & I said yes, as long as the label is able to be removed, & the plastic is transparent, so the UV rays can enter. They asked if they could do it using a garafon, I said no, must be a maximum of 10cm´s depth of water for full penetration by the UV rays.
Alejandro, Pofiria & Fabiana volunteered to go to the Kinder to demonstrate this method. The cistern at the kinder has a combination of water from the Pipa´s (trucks) & rainwater. The kinder teacher was very keen to learn this method. I gave the 2 demonstration bottles to Alejandro.
C Phase III update
I explained (with Elena´s help) the Rotary funding process has many levels, & we´ve just received final approval, & are now waiting for the actual cash to get to where it needs to go, to begin.
The next assembly at Los Torres is on the 20th January, & at this point I hope to have access to the funds to purchase the materials & begin the construction of the final cisterns.
pg 3 of 4
D. Planning next steps for the next 2 communities, Vivienda de Arriba & Cruz del Palmar
I updated the communities on our efforts to find funding for projects in their community.
We have spoken with the Ecology Depart director & also with the new Major – Luci, & are attempting to secure matching dollars through these avenues. I also mentioned we have another club - Walla Walla - who would like to work with us on a water project (or 2?) & we need to move quickly to write a grant for this.
We set community meeting times for each of these communities – on the 10th Feb. 2010.
Cruz del Palmar at 11am & Vivienda de Arriba at 3pm.
The women agreed to attend the next assembly at Los Torres on the 20th Jan. & report on their progress re arranging/organizing their assemblies on the 10th Feb.
Both of the representatives of these communities are very efficient, well spoken & excellent participators, if they can pull this together it will be a testament to them & the project in Los Torres, & is following the perfect model of a community project – ie one that grows legs itself, is replicated & motivates others. It is early days, but we are very excited about this development.
The visiting women thanked the LT assembly & left at this point.
E & F. Traspatio (backyard garden) & road issues (extra issues for community to solve)
Proyecto Productivo (productive project – ie small business possibility)
Chela led the discussion with a question to the community, what are they interested in learning about & what do they want to achieve?
They are very interested in being able to produce more of their own food, & were thrilled by the idea of being able to grow enough to be able to trade or sell.
A “traspatio” is literally a back yard garden, in which can be grown fruit trees, flowers, plants for food, & also to produce compost as a way of reducing waste & fertilising the land.
Chela also mentioned:
• A new type of oven they have just built at Cedesa, which is essentially a pizza or bread oven, made of bricks & adobe. For cooking bread, biscuits, baking roasts etc. It is very efficient in it´s use of wood, & burns hot with just a little wood.
• Some of the community are currently producing maize, frijol, calabasa, garbanzo beans, lentils & wheat, but only a few have parcels of land, most only have small back yards.
• Talked about bees, & honey & they said they would like to learn about how to use honey (lots have not tried it!!), & about beekeeping.
• Some of the benefits of pollen, good for your brain, & moto-neuron function, immunity etc.
• She asked what they know about bees – they knew that bees are essential for pollination & that without them the earth would likely die.
• She explained the potential to sell honey as part of the bee keepers union, or just in their own community. They were very interested & animated & want to know more.
There was no trouble getting a list of the following people who would like to be involved in a workshop to know more:
Concha, Leova, Hilaria, Lupe, Alejandro, Chuy, Fabiana, Carmela, Dulce, Cecilia, Marta, Vero, Consuelo, Cecilia (another Cecilia), Sofia, Juana, Juana (another Juana) & Caratina…
The first workshop/Project planning session will be held on Wednesday 13th January 12pm (& we expect to also to write up a draft project plan to submit to Sue Beutler of Ann Arbor RC as a result of this workshop).
Chela stated in a year they would have bees & backyard gardens, “1st produce for yourselves, thereby increasing your intelligence (re the pollen!), then produce enough to sell in the market of SMA.” (everyone laughed!!)
pg 4 of 4
Chela explained the first step for a traspatio is to clean their backyards, remove all the rubbish to one spot, & begin to collect organic waste in one spot. Bring ant poo to mix with the organic waste, & this is the beginning of compost production, necessary to enrich the soil they plan to grow plants in. They can bring other animal poo too, to help, eg donkey, sheep, chicken…
G. A visitor Saul Juarez Cabrerra ph 415 114 3156 asked about getting our help with other communities – Cienegita, Vivienda de Abajo (a long way from VdA)& Capadrillo(?) – we told him to come back to the next assembly with an update of who would like to be involved, names/numbers.
The meeting closed about 3.40 with everyone joining hands & giving thanks.
Dates of next meetings:
Wednesday January 13th 12 midday Los Torres
(Traspatio/Bee project planning workshop)
Thursday January 14th visit to Palencia with Georgina (president elect of the other SMA Rotary Club), Elena & Chela to Cedesa then Palencia (leave Sautto SMA at 10am, 11am leave Cedesa/Dolores Hidalgo for Palencia, 12midday at Palencia (site of potential water project for other Rotary Club).
Wednesday January 20th 12midday Los Torres
(community assembly)
Saturday 23rd January 4pm Lomas de San Jose & team from Los Torres, 1st Planning assembly
These records were made by Laura Stewart (San Miguel Midday RC – Community Service Committee)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
3Rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
3Rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: El Cortijo & Montecillo de Nieto Primary School
When: 18 November 2009 11.20-12.10, & 12.30 – 3.05
Who: pre planning meeting –Elena & Laura (Rotary), Chela Cedesa.
Assembly, Elena, Laura & Chela, Hector & Leon (2 professors), 26 women, 1 man & many children.
Purpose: Pre planning session at El Cortijo & then Community Assembly at MdN Primary School – continuing planning of the project, including deciding which families will be receiving cisterns in the first phase, (limited to 26 cisterns) & establishing working groups.
We decided to hold the meeting outside under a big tree, so we could sit in a circle, & be less constrained by the desks & layout in the classroom. It was more conducive to participation & involvement.
When we first arrived only a few women were there, & about 6 women were washing dishes after the lunch. (Feed the Hungry provides this school lunch program).
Elena & I looked more closely at the water collection system the municipal govt. had put in place. The membrane tank & it´s lid are ill fitting, for the support structure, & when we peered into the tank the level is only about 3 inches of water at the bottom. This is at the end of the rainy season, so the tank should be almost full!
We walked around the tank, & found a slimy puddle leading from under the tank, which seems to indicate there is a slow leak. We mentioned this to Leon (one of the teachers) who said they know about it & have informed the Ecology department, who are waiting for it to empty before repairing. This is additional confirmation for us that the ferro cement tank is the better solution.
Chela, Elena & I asked to be shown the kindergarten, which is across the road. We were led there by Eva & Enerina. Chela asked lots of questions about the community. The kinder is a lovely building with a grove of about 8 mature mesquites shading most of the grounds. They have a 1500ltr tinaco (plastic tank) at the kinder, not connected to the roof, but for delivery by the water truck.
Most people in the community have sold their land to foreigners. Only about 3 locals still own parcels of land. The lots they now live on are small unproductive lots. The people sold their land out of ignorance, & have spent the money in most cases.
There is a small springfed creek at the back of the kindergarten, but it is dry except in the rainy season, most of the year the “spring” is dry.
The meeting started at 1.20pm.
1. Hello & thank you for coming. (Chela)
2. “Reflection” (Elena)
a review of what has happened since the last assembly 1 month ago.
The women who committed to collecting a census of the community, listing who would be like to participate in the project, collected all the names & ages of each of the members of all the families (42 in total).
Elena thanked them for their hard & excellent work. She thanked everyone for coming today, walking here to attend the meeting, & described this as the seed, or beginnings, & congratulated them on their motivation to attend.
Is there anything pending from the previous meeting? No.
3. Chela engaged the community´s responses with a number of statements & questions
• It´s important for everyone to take responsibility in their own hands & make their family & community wellbeing a priority.
• “in this community you have a problem with water – what´s the problem?”
• They all responded the water is contaminated, & that fluoride was the contaminant. Chela gave a bit more background re the contamination issue around their region.
Page 2 of 3
• “You have yellow teeth from drinking this water, we are here to work to solve this issue for who?” & they all responded “for our kids!”
• How many people are at today´s meeting who also attended the 1st meeting – 20 people raised their hands. She congratulated them for organising themselves to attend this 2nd meeting.
• Is it a free project? – no! we need to work.
• People have rights, but with rights come obligations.
• Chela asked where else it talks about rights & obligations, Elena offered – in the bible, & Chela said, also in the Constitution of Mexico, & talked a little about the rights of the people as described in the constitution. An example was described using a book the teachers use in the 3rd grade class.
• The right to drinking water is a basic human right.
• One of the men at the meeting has been buying bottled water for 30 years.
• They all want clean water for their kids & grand kids.
• “you can all speak, not just listen”
• What are you prepared to do for safe drinking water – work & participate, by building the cisterns & attending the meetings.
They all recorded their names in the “roll book” from the first meeting.
4.What future do you see for your kids? What can you imagine?
Interestingly, this was a difficult one for the women to answer. Either they were trying to work out what it was we were expecting them to say, or they weren´t able to visualise anything for their kids´future… I suspect from their eventual answers, it was the former.
a. safe drinking water
b. the awareness to conserve water (because it´s not a renewable resource!)
c. for the kids to learn the bible, know the words of the bible. (living in harmony with eachother & resources, learn values).
(I was imagining how a group of American women would answer this question, with things like to be happy, to have good jobs, be passionate about what they do, be successful in their fields, travel the world, be good people, but nothing like this came up, again maybe they were wanting to provide the “right” answer).
5. Phase 1 Participants selection
The list of people interested in participating has 42 families.
The scope of this project (at least phase 1) is 26 cisterns, we communicated this & then set about determining who the first 26 families would be.
There were 28 people attending the meeting. We worked through the attendees, & called out the name & asked each person how many in their family. This is how the list transpired.
1. Maria del Carmen Villa Franco 7 people (2 families will share, 1 of 3, 1 of 4 people)
2. Margarita Pastor 6
3. Irene Jimenez 8
4. Maria Griselda 5
5. Soledara Ramirez 5
6. Alicia Peña 8 (2 families will share)
7. Marie Elena Cortez 6
8. Nancy Galvan 6
9. Lorena Garcia 5
10. Maria Irene Ramirez 6
11. Emelia Ramirez 7
12. Gloria Peña 6
13. Maria Cruz Jimenez 13 (2 families)
14. Victoria Vazquez 5
15. Lorena Ramirez 3
16. Hermalinda Barranca 7
17. Micaela Muñoz 7
18. Casilda Ramirez 8
19. Aurelia Peña 7
20. Secondido Ramirez 11 (3 families)
21. Eva Garcia 5
Page 3 of 3
22. Enerina Ramirez 3
23. Irma Carmona 9 (2 families)
24. Maria Blanca Ramirez (Taboada) 4
One elderly woman (with just her & her husband) said her husband can not help build it since he has a job, but she still wanted one, we pointed out that she could do the work herself, but since there are only 2 of them, maybe she could share with her close neighbours (family), she said she had not organised this, in the meantime we have her as the next phase, in an attempt to maximise the number of people we can serve.
We were lucky that so many families have chosen to co-operate as this will definitely maximise the solution!
6. Dividing into working groups
We explained the process of work groups, ie to build one cistern would take 1 family for days, but that 7 families could build 7 cisterns in 4 days, & that the group was collectively responsible for ensuring all cisterns are built.
There are currently 24 people on the list (with a space for 2 more if they attend the meetings in future & seek permission of the community).
It was decided to work in 4 groups of 6 (not 3 groups of 8). The names in bold are the leaders of each group.
Group 1. Group 2. Group 3. Group 4.
Margarita Carmen Griselda Gloria
Casilda Victoria Alicia Soledad
Eva Secondino Elena Audelia
Micaela Emelia Lorena R Enedina
Irene Nancy Maria Cruz Lorena G
Maria Blanca Maria Irene Irma Hermelinda
The next Assembly (#3) date was set for December 16th at 12.30
With luck we will have the funding approved by TRF, & be ready to begin the project by this date.
Photo album http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=steve.mckee&target=ALBUM&id=5395898476865345153&authkey=Gv1sRgCN3a_7DOi7iACg&feat=email
3Rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: El Cortijo & Montecillo de Nieto Primary School
When: 18 November 2009 11.20-12.10, & 12.30 – 3.05
Who: pre planning meeting –Elena & Laura (Rotary), Chela Cedesa.
Assembly, Elena, Laura & Chela, Hector & Leon (2 professors), 26 women, 1 man & many children.
Purpose: Pre planning session at El Cortijo & then Community Assembly at MdN Primary School – continuing planning of the project, including deciding which families will be receiving cisterns in the first phase, (limited to 26 cisterns) & establishing working groups.
We decided to hold the meeting outside under a big tree, so we could sit in a circle, & be less constrained by the desks & layout in the classroom. It was more conducive to participation & involvement.
When we first arrived only a few women were there, & about 6 women were washing dishes after the lunch. (Feed the Hungry provides this school lunch program).
Elena & I looked more closely at the water collection system the municipal govt. had put in place. The membrane tank & it´s lid are ill fitting, for the support structure, & when we peered into the tank the level is only about 3 inches of water at the bottom. This is at the end of the rainy season, so the tank should be almost full!
We walked around the tank, & found a slimy puddle leading from under the tank, which seems to indicate there is a slow leak. We mentioned this to Leon (one of the teachers) who said they know about it & have informed the Ecology department, who are waiting for it to empty before repairing. This is additional confirmation for us that the ferro cement tank is the better solution.
Chela, Elena & I asked to be shown the kindergarten, which is across the road. We were led there by Eva & Enerina. Chela asked lots of questions about the community. The kinder is a lovely building with a grove of about 8 mature mesquites shading most of the grounds. They have a 1500ltr tinaco (plastic tank) at the kinder, not connected to the roof, but for delivery by the water truck.
Most people in the community have sold their land to foreigners. Only about 3 locals still own parcels of land. The lots they now live on are small unproductive lots. The people sold their land out of ignorance, & have spent the money in most cases.
There is a small springfed creek at the back of the kindergarten, but it is dry except in the rainy season, most of the year the “spring” is dry.
The meeting started at 1.20pm.
1. Hello & thank you for coming. (Chela)
2. “Reflection” (Elena)
a review of what has happened since the last assembly 1 month ago.
The women who committed to collecting a census of the community, listing who would be like to participate in the project, collected all the names & ages of each of the members of all the families (42 in total).
Elena thanked them for their hard & excellent work. She thanked everyone for coming today, walking here to attend the meeting, & described this as the seed, or beginnings, & congratulated them on their motivation to attend.
Is there anything pending from the previous meeting? No.
3. Chela engaged the community´s responses with a number of statements & questions
• It´s important for everyone to take responsibility in their own hands & make their family & community wellbeing a priority.
• “in this community you have a problem with water – what´s the problem?”
• They all responded the water is contaminated, & that fluoride was the contaminant. Chela gave a bit more background re the contamination issue around their region.
Page 2 of 3
• “You have yellow teeth from drinking this water, we are here to work to solve this issue for who?” & they all responded “for our kids!”
• How many people are at today´s meeting who also attended the 1st meeting – 20 people raised their hands. She congratulated them for organising themselves to attend this 2nd meeting.
• Is it a free project? – no! we need to work.
• People have rights, but with rights come obligations.
• Chela asked where else it talks about rights & obligations, Elena offered – in the bible, & Chela said, also in the Constitution of Mexico, & talked a little about the rights of the people as described in the constitution. An example was described using a book the teachers use in the 3rd grade class.
• The right to drinking water is a basic human right.
• One of the men at the meeting has been buying bottled water for 30 years.
• They all want clean water for their kids & grand kids.
• “you can all speak, not just listen”
• What are you prepared to do for safe drinking water – work & participate, by building the cisterns & attending the meetings.
They all recorded their names in the “roll book” from the first meeting.
4.What future do you see for your kids? What can you imagine?
Interestingly, this was a difficult one for the women to answer. Either they were trying to work out what it was we were expecting them to say, or they weren´t able to visualise anything for their kids´future… I suspect from their eventual answers, it was the former.
a. safe drinking water
b. the awareness to conserve water (because it´s not a renewable resource!)
c. for the kids to learn the bible, know the words of the bible. (living in harmony with eachother & resources, learn values).
(I was imagining how a group of American women would answer this question, with things like to be happy, to have good jobs, be passionate about what they do, be successful in their fields, travel the world, be good people, but nothing like this came up, again maybe they were wanting to provide the “right” answer).
5. Phase 1 Participants selection
The list of people interested in participating has 42 families.
The scope of this project (at least phase 1) is 26 cisterns, we communicated this & then set about determining who the first 26 families would be.
There were 28 people attending the meeting. We worked through the attendees, & called out the name & asked each person how many in their family. This is how the list transpired.
1. Maria del Carmen Villa Franco 7 people (2 families will share, 1 of 3, 1 of 4 people)
2. Margarita Pastor 6
3. Irene Jimenez 8
4. Maria Griselda 5
5. Soledara Ramirez 5
6. Alicia Peña 8 (2 families will share)
7. Marie Elena Cortez 6
8. Nancy Galvan 6
9. Lorena Garcia 5
10. Maria Irene Ramirez 6
11. Emelia Ramirez 7
12. Gloria Peña 6
13. Maria Cruz Jimenez 13 (2 families)
14. Victoria Vazquez 5
15. Lorena Ramirez 3
16. Hermalinda Barranca 7
17. Micaela Muñoz 7
18. Casilda Ramirez 8
19. Aurelia Peña 7
20. Secondido Ramirez 11 (3 families)
21. Eva Garcia 5
Page 3 of 3
22. Enerina Ramirez 3
23. Irma Carmona 9 (2 families)
24. Maria Blanca Ramirez (Taboada) 4
One elderly woman (with just her & her husband) said her husband can not help build it since he has a job, but she still wanted one, we pointed out that she could do the work herself, but since there are only 2 of them, maybe she could share with her close neighbours (family), she said she had not organised this, in the meantime we have her as the next phase, in an attempt to maximise the number of people we can serve.
We were lucky that so many families have chosen to co-operate as this will definitely maximise the solution!
6. Dividing into working groups
We explained the process of work groups, ie to build one cistern would take 1 family for days, but that 7 families could build 7 cisterns in 4 days, & that the group was collectively responsible for ensuring all cisterns are built.
There are currently 24 people on the list (with a space for 2 more if they attend the meetings in future & seek permission of the community).
It was decided to work in 4 groups of 6 (not 3 groups of 8). The names in bold are the leaders of each group.
Group 1. Group 2. Group 3. Group 4.
Margarita Carmen Griselda Gloria
Casilda Victoria Alicia Soledad
Eva Secondino Elena Audelia
Micaela Emelia Lorena R Enedina
Irene Nancy Maria Cruz Lorena G
Maria Blanca Maria Irene Irma Hermelinda
The next Assembly (#3) date was set for December 16th at 12.30
With luck we will have the funding approved by TRF, & be ready to begin the project by this date.
Photo album http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=steve.mckee&target=ALBUM&id=5395898476865345153&authkey=Gv1sRgCN3a_7DOi7iACg&feat=email
Friday, November 6, 2009
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 11.06.09 10.30 – 2.40pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Britta (Bi lingual visitor), & approx 26 community members
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
I asked Chela (Cedesa), if she was able to continue her good work in another community that we are proposing as our next water Project – Lomas de San Jose.
She agreed, & we will need to firm up details closer to the time, when we have funding committed etc.
Chela mentioned 2 communities Cedesa have been working with for a long time that have horrendously high levels of fluoride. In the municipality of Palencia there are 8 communities with high levels of Fluoride & Arsenic. 4 of those are particularly high, San Deigo de la Union & San Luis de la Paz. SLdlP has approx 200 families, their levels are 6.8mg/l fluoride (1.5 is maximum safe level), & 60-70 ppm for Arsenic (25-30 parts per million is max safe level).
I said I would raise it at the Community Service Committee meeting – NB I did & it was decided that we should concentrate on communities in our own region first, this is outside the municipality of SMA.
We continued on to Los Torres.
There was a school meeting at the same time so slightly fewer people than normal, but still a good turnout on a very hot day.
The four groups constructing the 27 cisterns were roll called,
Attending were 5/7 group 1, 4/6 group 2, 6/7 group 3, & 3/7 group 4.
There were 4 phase III attendees.
The co-ordinator & records keeper were elected. Co-ordinator Veronica, Records Maricela.
The following agenda items were first decided & then discussed in order.
1. Review of the work to date.
Group 1. 3 almost finished (pipes to be connected)
Group 2 2 almost finished
Group 3 People in the group are not helping
Group 4 No materials have been delivered yet.
As of today the sand has arrived & there are materials for 6 more.
Group 1, only have materials for 1 more
Group 2 only have materials for 1 more
Group 3 only have materials for 3 more
Group 4 only have materials for 1 more
There was a lot of discussion about the difficulties they are finding working in groups. Working in groups is a new concept for many of these people. Some comments Concha “it is important to be in groups & not split off by family” Juan “when men are working with women around they should be aware of their language if women want to work with them” this was echoed by another young man. Juana “her husband started in a group, thought it was too much work now wants to just do it with his neighbours.”
Page 2 of 3
Porfiria “they have been too busy washing clothes, because of the swine flu the teacher has said they have to wash the kids clothes every day, so they have no time to help building the cisterns”
Veronica was the co-ordinator of this meeting & was very firm with everyone, she was a complete natural at the role, & had the meeting running very smoothly.
There was more discussion about what makes good groups, respect, motivation etc, & it was agreed that group 1 would help group 4 solve their problems. Also Benigno (Cedesa) will visit to help resolve any outstanding issues.
Group 2 said that they have 2 people working 100% of the time & others a lot less. Some people are helping by lending their tools.
Hilaria “ there needs to be an arrangement made re lending of tools, eg trade, gift, exchange”
Guillermo “ has had training, knows the full process is happy to help & his tools are used everywhere, still waiting for materials”
Concha “if people need help they should ask for it, otherwise who will know?”
Chela mentioned that asking shows interest, & then explained the definition of solidarity.
Group 3
Was some dispute about mis communication of arranged time to meet at someone´s house. Veronica asked the meeting if the rest of the people were prepared to help the woman or not, they all said they would. Another woman said if someone offers to help doesn’t mean they will do it for you!
Priority was decided – people with more knowledge should get their materials & build their cisterns 1st, then those people will help the next ones.
A new priority list for order of delivery of materials was created.
A young man said “at a lot of the meetings people say they will do things, & then don’t do it, people should stick to their word”.
2. Phase IV the school cisterns (funded by San Miguel Community fund 2nd Grant)
Who went to meet with the teacher (to plan re school phase IV)
Chuy, Hilaria, Catalina (Juan´s wife), Ofelia, Nicolasa & Elana
At first the Teacher said No, because she thought it was the same as the Montecillo de Nieto school Project completed by the govt & Ilan, & she thought it was dangerous, too easy to damage.
When they explained the cisterns would be the same as the one at the Kinder she happily agreed.
They asked when the materials would be available, I said whenever they are ready.
There was a discussion as to whether it should happen during or after phase II, some suggested during, as no-one would help afterwards.
Guillermo suggested small groups as big groups are inefficient.
The mini committee (as above) need to inform all of the parents of the school that they need to help with construction of the cisterns in 15 days at a meeting at the school.
There are approx 80 kids at school
Page 3 of 3
There should be a representative at school when the Maestra cant be there.
Make up the groups with the people here & then ask others at school to join the groups.
The 3 groups were decided.
It was agreed that they should either work or if they cant work then pay $100 pesos, this will pay the leaders of the groups who will be there all day every day to co-ordinate & need to be reimbursed for time off work.
There will be 2 abiniles for the 3 cisterns, they will be paid $250 pesos per day from the money collected from the people that are unable to work.
Meeting finished at 2.40pm
The next meeting is scheduled for 25.06.09 (I will be away in NZ)
It needs to be noted that the meeting today was so well organized, the community involvement was huge & there is a real sense of progress organization & motivation & an attitude of “we can do this!”… Amazing!
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 11.06.09 10.30 – 2.40pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Britta (Bi lingual visitor), & approx 26 community members
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
I asked Chela (Cedesa), if she was able to continue her good work in another community that we are proposing as our next water Project – Lomas de San Jose.
She agreed, & we will need to firm up details closer to the time, when we have funding committed etc.
Chela mentioned 2 communities Cedesa have been working with for a long time that have horrendously high levels of fluoride. In the municipality of Palencia there are 8 communities with high levels of Fluoride & Arsenic. 4 of those are particularly high, San Deigo de la Union & San Luis de la Paz. SLdlP has approx 200 families, their levels are 6.8mg/l fluoride (1.5 is maximum safe level), & 60-70 ppm for Arsenic (25-30 parts per million is max safe level).
I said I would raise it at the Community Service Committee meeting – NB I did & it was decided that we should concentrate on communities in our own region first, this is outside the municipality of SMA.
We continued on to Los Torres.
There was a school meeting at the same time so slightly fewer people than normal, but still a good turnout on a very hot day.
The four groups constructing the 27 cisterns were roll called,
Attending were 5/7 group 1, 4/6 group 2, 6/7 group 3, & 3/7 group 4.
There were 4 phase III attendees.
The co-ordinator & records keeper were elected. Co-ordinator Veronica, Records Maricela.
The following agenda items were first decided & then discussed in order.
1. Review of the work to date.
Group 1. 3 almost finished (pipes to be connected)
Group 2 2 almost finished
Group 3 People in the group are not helping
Group 4 No materials have been delivered yet.
As of today the sand has arrived & there are materials for 6 more.
Group 1, only have materials for 1 more
Group 2 only have materials for 1 more
Group 3 only have materials for 3 more
Group 4 only have materials for 1 more
There was a lot of discussion about the difficulties they are finding working in groups. Working in groups is a new concept for many of these people. Some comments Concha “it is important to be in groups & not split off by family” Juan “when men are working with women around they should be aware of their language if women want to work with them” this was echoed by another young man. Juana “her husband started in a group, thought it was too much work now wants to just do it with his neighbours.”
Page 2 of 3
Porfiria “they have been too busy washing clothes, because of the swine flu the teacher has said they have to wash the kids clothes every day, so they have no time to help building the cisterns”
Veronica was the co-ordinator of this meeting & was very firm with everyone, she was a complete natural at the role, & had the meeting running very smoothly.
There was more discussion about what makes good groups, respect, motivation etc, & it was agreed that group 1 would help group 4 solve their problems. Also Benigno (Cedesa) will visit to help resolve any outstanding issues.
Group 2 said that they have 2 people working 100% of the time & others a lot less. Some people are helping by lending their tools.
Hilaria “ there needs to be an arrangement made re lending of tools, eg trade, gift, exchange”
Guillermo “ has had training, knows the full process is happy to help & his tools are used everywhere, still waiting for materials”
Concha “if people need help they should ask for it, otherwise who will know?”
Chela mentioned that asking shows interest, & then explained the definition of solidarity.
Group 3
Was some dispute about mis communication of arranged time to meet at someone´s house. Veronica asked the meeting if the rest of the people were prepared to help the woman or not, they all said they would. Another woman said if someone offers to help doesn’t mean they will do it for you!
Priority was decided – people with more knowledge should get their materials & build their cisterns 1st, then those people will help the next ones.
A new priority list for order of delivery of materials was created.
A young man said “at a lot of the meetings people say they will do things, & then don’t do it, people should stick to their word”.
2. Phase IV the school cisterns (funded by San Miguel Community fund 2nd Grant)
Who went to meet with the teacher (to plan re school phase IV)
Chuy, Hilaria, Catalina (Juan´s wife), Ofelia, Nicolasa & Elana
At first the Teacher said No, because she thought it was the same as the Montecillo de Nieto school Project completed by the govt & Ilan, & she thought it was dangerous, too easy to damage.
When they explained the cisterns would be the same as the one at the Kinder she happily agreed.
They asked when the materials would be available, I said whenever they are ready.
There was a discussion as to whether it should happen during or after phase II, some suggested during, as no-one would help afterwards.
Guillermo suggested small groups as big groups are inefficient.
The mini committee (as above) need to inform all of the parents of the school that they need to help with construction of the cisterns in 15 days at a meeting at the school.
There are approx 80 kids at school
Page 3 of 3
There should be a representative at school when the Maestra cant be there.
Make up the groups with the people here & then ask others at school to join the groups.
The 3 groups were decided.
It was agreed that they should either work or if they cant work then pay $100 pesos, this will pay the leaders of the groups who will be there all day every day to co-ordinate & need to be reimbursed for time off work.
There will be 2 abiniles for the 3 cisterns, they will be paid $250 pesos per day from the money collected from the people that are unable to work.
Meeting finished at 2.40pm
The next meeting is scheduled for 25.06.09 (I will be away in NZ)
It needs to be noted that the meeting today was so well organized, the community involvement was huge & there is a real sense of progress organization & motivation & an attitude of “we can do this!”… Amazing!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
32nd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
32nd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Where: El Cortijo & Los Torres (school, upper community & Chucha´s house)
When: 28.10.09 10am – 4.15,
Who: Chela, (Cedesa), Bill & Montse Webb (Tallahassee Rotary) Laura (San Miguel Midday, + 51 adults including 7 men, + many children.
Purpose: Pre meeting planning in the car on the way. This visit was dual purpose, 1. to show Bill & Montse the results of the project to date, & introduce them to the people, & methods, 2. to plan next steps with the assembly. The plan included Visit to school to take photos, & meet with teachers & kids, then walking tour of close cisterns for Bill & Montse & visit to the kinder, again to meet with kids & teacher.
11am, we met with some of the community leaders, the teachers & children at the school. We took photos needed to complete the San Miguel Community Fund 2nd Project reporting (SMCF funded the cisterns at the school, which allowed Rotary funding to include more families).
We were met with much enthusiasm. Chela talked to the gathering of teachers & children about the great volunteer effort to build the cisterns, generally about water & conservation, & the water in the cisterns (2 of the 3 are full, the 3rd is waiting for roofing replacement). After a photo session we thanked them all for their involvement & moved on.
We visited another family cistern on the way. This cistern was less than 1/3rd full. The small roof was sited as the cause, I suspect it is lack of conservation, as the roof size should have been more than adequate to fill it by this point. The community also mentioned the municipality truck deliveries were very rare during the rainy season, so I suspect they have been using the water for general use (not just drinking & cleaning as it is designed). We will talk more on conservation at the assembly.
We visited the Kinder, & met with a happy welcome, at the first cistern built. It was completed in February, months before the rainy season, so they opted to have it filled with water from the town deliveries. This is not ideal as the town water was not emptied out before capturing rain water. Also the teacher has been using this water to wash the floors & for general cleaning. We explained there is not sufficient water for this, & other water should be used for this.
We explained this water is not ideal for drinking without treatment, (it should be mentioned the people in Los Torres have been drinking municipality truck delivered water for years, so actually this is not too drastic, considering it will have been diluted with pure rain water, so be a better quality than they have been used to). We will be doing another session on Solar disinfection, for the communities & children/teachers in the kinder & school.
We all squished in the van & drove down to the lower part of the community.
We were met by a big crowd, running a little behind schedule they were already waiting for us, but despite this, Chucha & Jose Miguel (the delegado & his wife) insisted on feeding us, we were treated to a delicious campo meal, of chicheron (pork skin) & nopal (cactus) & beans & rice with warm home made tortillas. We scoffed it down, knowing that the crowd was waiting outside & then joined the gathered assembly.
Assembly began at 1.30.
Chela mentioned they have tested Chucha´s well & it measured 5.8mg/l (this is very high, highest recommended safe level is 1.5mg/l), this testing took place while I was in NZ so I was previously unaware of this.
1. Chela introduced the team & gave a general talk on water & the aquifer. & how we must all work together to improve the situation.
2. A co-ordinator was nominated – Cecilia, & Alejandro was nominated to take records.
3. The roll was called, including the 2 visiting parties representing, Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba.
4. Items for the agenda were called for :
The road.
Traspatios (backyard gardens)
Equipo de Acesoria (technical work team)
Conservation of water
Planning the 3rd phase of the project
New communities ie new projects in neighbouring communities
pg 2 of 3
cont.d agenda items.
New solicitudes (ie new projects for the Los Torres community)
These agenda items were prioritised & following is the order in which they were discussed.
Third phase planning
The meeting asked when funding will be available, I responded by end of November with luck, & explained the process to receive funding has many steps.
Veronica raised the point, some people still have not paid their contribution re the construction of the cisterns at the school, (this was an agreement made by the parents of the school kids, who ever could not attend to assist in the construction of the 3 cisterns, agreed to pay a fee) after much back & forth, it was decided to give the list to the teacher to chase. She is difficult to avoid…
A new person came forward to ask to be added to the list of recipients for phase III. Maria de Jesus Ramirez works in Montecillo de Nieto during the week & comes home at the weekend, she is a resident of Los Torres, & is prepared to pay her contribution towards the construction of the school cisterns.
Chela said there are strong volunteers & weaker ones, in this case the strong ones have managed to prove the concept for the others, & it should be decided whether others will be allowed to enjoy the fruits of their labours… & they need to take real need into consideration.
There were several others that asked to be included, Caritina Ramirez, Christina Maya & Juana Soria, with these additional 4, that brings us to 24 for phase III – including 3 tinacos for the elderly solo people.
The delegada also asked if we could provide materials for a cistern to be built for the padre of the church they go to in Cruz del Palmar. They are happy to build it for him, if we could provide the materials. I said I would have to check our budget, as we only have funding budgeted for 20 cisterns & are hoping to use the credit balance from phase II to pay for the difference.
The 3 groups for the 24 people were formed. (3 groups of 7, with no mention of the tinaco receivers, this will need to be addressed when the funds arrive.
Conservation of water
Elena & Laura discussed the need to be very sparing with water use. We demonstrated the cistern when full contains 12,000 ltrs, & at 3 ltrs per day per person, for 275 dry days of the year, this will be sufficient for a family of 14. The formula changes depending on how many litres the cistern currently has, & how many people there are in the family, but basically there is not enough to use for washing dishes or floors & it MUST only be used for drinking & cooking. They need to ration themselves.
Also, I mentioned I am worried the taps are too easy for the children to turn on, play with & lose all the water! They need to be very aware of this. Ideally we could have some sort of child proof lock on the taps, yet to determine how.
The community mentioned how grateful they are to have these cisterns, there have been very few deliveries of water by the municipality during the rainy season & they would have had no water, & had to beg or borrow it from the people with (contaminated) wells.
Neighbouring Community Projects
Cruz del Palmar
2 women from the neighbouring Cruz del Palmar,
Yolande Ramirez Juarez 415 155 9482 & Teresa Gonzalez Maya 415 113 9274
attended our previous assembly, asking how they could have a water project in their community, as they have a scarcity, & contaminated water. Los Torres people told them to go door to door & gather names, & inform them they would have to be prepared to form committees & work groups & do the construction themselves, then to return to the next LT assembly with a list of names.
They returned with a list of 32 families.
pg 3 of 3
Vivienda de Arriba
Another neighbouring community also arrived at the Los Torres Assembly, this was a group of 5 women representing the community of Vivienda de Arriba.
Anamaria Torres Ramirez (415 112 5094) told us they have a well in nearby Tierra Blanca Y Espejo, & supposedly have piped water, but during the dry season they receive no water. The well runs dry, in the dry season, & they are on the higher side & there is not enough water for them.
She was very well organised & already had collated a list of families wishing to be involved, 38 families in total.
We thanked them for being such excellent advocates for their communities, we explained the funding process & that we need time to investigate possibilities for financial assistance. We asked them to visit the next assembly to hear what we have discovered by then.
In summary
This is an extremely heartening result. For an outside community to visit their neighbours with a request for help shows great motivation, & an obvious desire to solve their own issues. This is exactly what we hoped would happen with this project, ie that others would seek to replicate this simple & effective model.
Chela (from Cedesa) is very interested to begin organisation with these communities, now all we need to do is find some more funding.
We have since visited with the Ecology department (& plan to visit with the department of social development) to encourage them to adopt our model & assist to provide safe drinking water in this municipality. This is an ambitious project, as they already have their chosen model (ie the San Miguel Viejo model, that we have evolved our project from). It will now be up to us to demonstrate the advantages of this model (that “teaches them how to fish”)´v´ their model (that provides a “fish Meal”).
Regardless of the direction the municipality decide to take, we will continue with our plan (with your continued support) to provide safe drinking water to as many communities as we are able, & we have a headstart on the needs analysis stage, (obviously still be thoroughly investigated).
At the end of the assembly Bill gave a heart warming speech about how with their hard work they have solved their problem, he thanked them for their courage & leadership, & said we are honoured to be their partners.
The meeting concluded at 4.15pm & we headed home with our tired but sated Tallahassee buddies.
Thank you so much to Montse for her excellent simultaneous translation!
Next meeting December 2nd at 11am – Chucha´s house
32nd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Where: El Cortijo & Los Torres (school, upper community & Chucha´s house)
When: 28.10.09 10am – 4.15,
Who: Chela, (Cedesa), Bill & Montse Webb (Tallahassee Rotary) Laura (San Miguel Midday, + 51 adults including 7 men, + many children.
Purpose: Pre meeting planning in the car on the way. This visit was dual purpose, 1. to show Bill & Montse the results of the project to date, & introduce them to the people, & methods, 2. to plan next steps with the assembly. The plan included Visit to school to take photos, & meet with teachers & kids, then walking tour of close cisterns for Bill & Montse & visit to the kinder, again to meet with kids & teacher.
11am, we met with some of the community leaders, the teachers & children at the school. We took photos needed to complete the San Miguel Community Fund 2nd Project reporting (SMCF funded the cisterns at the school, which allowed Rotary funding to include more families).
We were met with much enthusiasm. Chela talked to the gathering of teachers & children about the great volunteer effort to build the cisterns, generally about water & conservation, & the water in the cisterns (2 of the 3 are full, the 3rd is waiting for roofing replacement). After a photo session we thanked them all for their involvement & moved on.
We visited another family cistern on the way. This cistern was less than 1/3rd full. The small roof was sited as the cause, I suspect it is lack of conservation, as the roof size should have been more than adequate to fill it by this point. The community also mentioned the municipality truck deliveries were very rare during the rainy season, so I suspect they have been using the water for general use (not just drinking & cleaning as it is designed). We will talk more on conservation at the assembly.
We visited the Kinder, & met with a happy welcome, at the first cistern built. It was completed in February, months before the rainy season, so they opted to have it filled with water from the town deliveries. This is not ideal as the town water was not emptied out before capturing rain water. Also the teacher has been using this water to wash the floors & for general cleaning. We explained there is not sufficient water for this, & other water should be used for this.
We explained this water is not ideal for drinking without treatment, (it should be mentioned the people in Los Torres have been drinking municipality truck delivered water for years, so actually this is not too drastic, considering it will have been diluted with pure rain water, so be a better quality than they have been used to). We will be doing another session on Solar disinfection, for the communities & children/teachers in the kinder & school.
We all squished in the van & drove down to the lower part of the community.
We were met by a big crowd, running a little behind schedule they were already waiting for us, but despite this, Chucha & Jose Miguel (the delegado & his wife) insisted on feeding us, we were treated to a delicious campo meal, of chicheron (pork skin) & nopal (cactus) & beans & rice with warm home made tortillas. We scoffed it down, knowing that the crowd was waiting outside & then joined the gathered assembly.
Assembly began at 1.30.
Chela mentioned they have tested Chucha´s well & it measured 5.8mg/l (this is very high, highest recommended safe level is 1.5mg/l), this testing took place while I was in NZ so I was previously unaware of this.
1. Chela introduced the team & gave a general talk on water & the aquifer. & how we must all work together to improve the situation.
2. A co-ordinator was nominated – Cecilia, & Alejandro was nominated to take records.
3. The roll was called, including the 2 visiting parties representing, Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba.
4. Items for the agenda were called for :
The road.
Traspatios (backyard gardens)
Equipo de Acesoria (technical work team)
Conservation of water
Planning the 3rd phase of the project
New communities ie new projects in neighbouring communities
pg 2 of 3
cont.d agenda items.
New solicitudes (ie new projects for the Los Torres community)
These agenda items were prioritised & following is the order in which they were discussed.
Third phase planning
The meeting asked when funding will be available, I responded by end of November with luck, & explained the process to receive funding has many steps.
Veronica raised the point, some people still have not paid their contribution re the construction of the cisterns at the school, (this was an agreement made by the parents of the school kids, who ever could not attend to assist in the construction of the 3 cisterns, agreed to pay a fee) after much back & forth, it was decided to give the list to the teacher to chase. She is difficult to avoid…
A new person came forward to ask to be added to the list of recipients for phase III. Maria de Jesus Ramirez works in Montecillo de Nieto during the week & comes home at the weekend, she is a resident of Los Torres, & is prepared to pay her contribution towards the construction of the school cisterns.
Chela said there are strong volunteers & weaker ones, in this case the strong ones have managed to prove the concept for the others, & it should be decided whether others will be allowed to enjoy the fruits of their labours… & they need to take real need into consideration.
There were several others that asked to be included, Caritina Ramirez, Christina Maya & Juana Soria, with these additional 4, that brings us to 24 for phase III – including 3 tinacos for the elderly solo people.
The delegada also asked if we could provide materials for a cistern to be built for the padre of the church they go to in Cruz del Palmar. They are happy to build it for him, if we could provide the materials. I said I would have to check our budget, as we only have funding budgeted for 20 cisterns & are hoping to use the credit balance from phase II to pay for the difference.
The 3 groups for the 24 people were formed. (3 groups of 7, with no mention of the tinaco receivers, this will need to be addressed when the funds arrive.
Conservation of water
Elena & Laura discussed the need to be very sparing with water use. We demonstrated the cistern when full contains 12,000 ltrs, & at 3 ltrs per day per person, for 275 dry days of the year, this will be sufficient for a family of 14. The formula changes depending on how many litres the cistern currently has, & how many people there are in the family, but basically there is not enough to use for washing dishes or floors & it MUST only be used for drinking & cooking. They need to ration themselves.
Also, I mentioned I am worried the taps are too easy for the children to turn on, play with & lose all the water! They need to be very aware of this. Ideally we could have some sort of child proof lock on the taps, yet to determine how.
The community mentioned how grateful they are to have these cisterns, there have been very few deliveries of water by the municipality during the rainy season & they would have had no water, & had to beg or borrow it from the people with (contaminated) wells.
Neighbouring Community Projects
Cruz del Palmar
2 women from the neighbouring Cruz del Palmar,
Yolande Ramirez Juarez 415 155 9482 & Teresa Gonzalez Maya 415 113 9274
attended our previous assembly, asking how they could have a water project in their community, as they have a scarcity, & contaminated water. Los Torres people told them to go door to door & gather names, & inform them they would have to be prepared to form committees & work groups & do the construction themselves, then to return to the next LT assembly with a list of names.
They returned with a list of 32 families.
pg 3 of 3
Vivienda de Arriba
Another neighbouring community also arrived at the Los Torres Assembly, this was a group of 5 women representing the community of Vivienda de Arriba.
Anamaria Torres Ramirez (415 112 5094) told us they have a well in nearby Tierra Blanca Y Espejo, & supposedly have piped water, but during the dry season they receive no water. The well runs dry, in the dry season, & they are on the higher side & there is not enough water for them.
She was very well organised & already had collated a list of families wishing to be involved, 38 families in total.
We thanked them for being such excellent advocates for their communities, we explained the funding process & that we need time to investigate possibilities for financial assistance. We asked them to visit the next assembly to hear what we have discovered by then.
In summary
This is an extremely heartening result. For an outside community to visit their neighbours with a request for help shows great motivation, & an obvious desire to solve their own issues. This is exactly what we hoped would happen with this project, ie that others would seek to replicate this simple & effective model.
Chela (from Cedesa) is very interested to begin organisation with these communities, now all we need to do is find some more funding.
We have since visited with the Ecology department (& plan to visit with the department of social development) to encourage them to adopt our model & assist to provide safe drinking water in this municipality. This is an ambitious project, as they already have their chosen model (ie the San Miguel Viejo model, that we have evolved our project from). It will now be up to us to demonstrate the advantages of this model (that “teaches them how to fish”)´v´ their model (that provides a “fish Meal”).
Regardless of the direction the municipality decide to take, we will continue with our plan (with your continued support) to provide safe drinking water to as many communities as we are able, & we have a headstart on the needs analysis stage, (obviously still be thoroughly investigated).
At the end of the assembly Bill gave a heart warming speech about how with their hard work they have solved their problem, he thanked them for their courage & leadership, & said we are honoured to be their partners.
The meeting concluded at 4.15pm & we headed home with our tired but sated Tallahassee buddies.
Thank you so much to Montse for her excellent simultaneous translation!
Next meeting December 2nd at 11am – Chucha´s house
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: El Cortijo & Montecillo de Nieto Primary School
When: 21 October 2009 11.20-12.10, & 12.30 – 2.45
Who: pre planning meeting – Bob, Elena & Laura (Rotary), Chela & Holly Cedesa.
Assembly, Bob, Elena, Laura & Chela, Hector & Leon (2 professors), + 32 Adults (including 1 man, Luis from Taboada), & 6 kids, with about a million kids playing outside in the school grounds.
Purpose: Pre planning session at El Cortijo & then Community Assembly at MdN Primary School – first public notification of possible project & call for interest in involvement in this project.
We arrived to the school & were welcomed by a bunch of happy & curious school kids, we entered the class room & the Teachers had already written up an agenda for the day, including the first item, which was a visit by a Govt. Official inviting parents to become involved in a program on parenting & health. The mums sat there pretty passively, looked at the handout books & were advised to attend the kinder if they were interested.
Next it was our turn, more people came in, a total of about 32, + the 2 professors who were very helpful, & co-operative, preparing printouts for people to sign their attendance & chalk for blackboards etc.
One of the teachers speaks English well, & was able to help with translation on a few points.
1stly Chela introduced us all, & spoke a little about Rotary, & Cedesa & what we were there for.
• The theme of the meeting was noted as water, & they were asked for their input on what they knew about water in the area. Some of the responses follow
• We have contaminated fluoride
• Contaminated by rubbish & drains
• & high fluoride
Chela asked what they knew about fluoride contamination, they were aware that it damages teeth, & she added that it also damages bones & major organs.
Chela asked them if they thought this was a problem or not, there was a resounding yes...
Chela talked about the watershed in general & the fact that the aquifer is reducing at a rapid rate & asked me to explain more, I talked about the slow recharge rate, that the water moves 1 mtr per year, so for example the rain we receive today will not enter the aquifer for 60 years if the water table is 60 metres deep in this area, in many areas the wells are deeper than 180 metres!
There was talk of pipes being layed to pipe the water from the Sapasma drilled well in Los Torres to MdN, but there has been no further action by govt on this. There has also been a rumour they might drill another well in MdN, but apparently this would go against current policy, re proximity of wells in regions.
Next we talked about a solution.
Only 2 people were aware of the Los Torres cisterns, but all were aware of the govt. Project to catch water at the school The tank is made of polypropelene (?) & is essentially supported in a structure with a loose fitting lid. There are mosquitos in the water. They have pumps & filters.
Pg 2 of 2
The most crucial point is that although there is a capacity of 30,000 litres it is estimated to be only 1/3rd full at the end of the rainy season. This is because only a small part of the available roof was piped to the cistern, it seems no followup has been done to check the efficiency of
the project, or they would have added the additional piping required to fill the tank. Pipes are cheap!
It was discussed that the community are not able to replicate this model (incidentally the same model as the project Rotary did at San Miguel Viejo, prior to our new development approach & revised model).
The maestro also mentioned that this project was very expensive, 1million pesos for just 9 schools.
Chela invited us to describe what Rotary was offering, & also asked why we were doing this.
Elena kindly translated for me, & in many cases guessed what I was going to say next & said it for me!!
We explained what Rotary was, & that there are members globally that care about the rest of the world & want to assist in making the world a better place.
We described the process of the project completed in Los Torres, including census, working in groups & positive outcomes. We handed around the instruction booklet which describes the process.
We also pointed out that there were many more families involved at the beginning, then some dropped out, & then some came back on board & that this was normal in the process.
We asked if they would like to be involved & all agreed.
We explained the next step was to form a mini committee.
5 people volunteered
Margarita (MdN)
Carmen (MdN)
Luis Cisneros (Taboada)
Irene Jimenez (MdN)
Emilia Ramirez (MdN)
These people will go house to house & explain the project, & ask who wants to be involved. They will record
Families, no. of people, roof material, size of roof
& they will invite them to attend the next meeting.
The committee will report back to the next meeting. (they agreed to do the census by Monday)
Next Meeting Wednesday 18th November 12.30 at the MdN School
Photo album http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=steve.mckee&target=ALBUM&id=5395898476865345153&authkey=Gv1sRgCN3a_7DOi7iACg&feat=email
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: El Cortijo & Montecillo de Nieto Primary School
When: 21 October 2009 11.20-12.10, & 12.30 – 2.45
Who: pre planning meeting – Bob, Elena & Laura (Rotary), Chela & Holly Cedesa.
Assembly, Bob, Elena, Laura & Chela, Hector & Leon (2 professors), + 32 Adults (including 1 man, Luis from Taboada), & 6 kids, with about a million kids playing outside in the school grounds.
Purpose: Pre planning session at El Cortijo & then Community Assembly at MdN Primary School – first public notification of possible project & call for interest in involvement in this project.
We arrived to the school & were welcomed by a bunch of happy & curious school kids, we entered the class room & the Teachers had already written up an agenda for the day, including the first item, which was a visit by a Govt. Official inviting parents to become involved in a program on parenting & health. The mums sat there pretty passively, looked at the handout books & were advised to attend the kinder if they were interested.
Next it was our turn, more people came in, a total of about 32, + the 2 professors who were very helpful, & co-operative, preparing printouts for people to sign their attendance & chalk for blackboards etc.
One of the teachers speaks English well, & was able to help with translation on a few points.
1stly Chela introduced us all, & spoke a little about Rotary, & Cedesa & what we were there for.
• The theme of the meeting was noted as water, & they were asked for their input on what they knew about water in the area. Some of the responses follow
• We have contaminated fluoride
• Contaminated by rubbish & drains
• & high fluoride
Chela asked what they knew about fluoride contamination, they were aware that it damages teeth, & she added that it also damages bones & major organs.
Chela asked them if they thought this was a problem or not, there was a resounding yes...
Chela talked about the watershed in general & the fact that the aquifer is reducing at a rapid rate & asked me to explain more, I talked about the slow recharge rate, that the water moves 1 mtr per year, so for example the rain we receive today will not enter the aquifer for 60 years if the water table is 60 metres deep in this area, in many areas the wells are deeper than 180 metres!
There was talk of pipes being layed to pipe the water from the Sapasma drilled well in Los Torres to MdN, but there has been no further action by govt on this. There has also been a rumour they might drill another well in MdN, but apparently this would go against current policy, re proximity of wells in regions.
Next we talked about a solution.
Only 2 people were aware of the Los Torres cisterns, but all were aware of the govt. Project to catch water at the school The tank is made of polypropelene (?) & is essentially supported in a structure with a loose fitting lid. There are mosquitos in the water. They have pumps & filters.
Pg 2 of 2
The most crucial point is that although there is a capacity of 30,000 litres it is estimated to be only 1/3rd full at the end of the rainy season. This is because only a small part of the available roof was piped to the cistern, it seems no followup has been done to check the efficiency of
the project, or they would have added the additional piping required to fill the tank. Pipes are cheap!
It was discussed that the community are not able to replicate this model (incidentally the same model as the project Rotary did at San Miguel Viejo, prior to our new development approach & revised model).
The maestro also mentioned that this project was very expensive, 1million pesos for just 9 schools.
Chela invited us to describe what Rotary was offering, & also asked why we were doing this.
Elena kindly translated for me, & in many cases guessed what I was going to say next & said it for me!!
We explained what Rotary was, & that there are members globally that care about the rest of the world & want to assist in making the world a better place.
We described the process of the project completed in Los Torres, including census, working in groups & positive outcomes. We handed around the instruction booklet which describes the process.
We also pointed out that there were many more families involved at the beginning, then some dropped out, & then some came back on board & that this was normal in the process.
We asked if they would like to be involved & all agreed.
We explained the next step was to form a mini committee.
5 people volunteered
Margarita (MdN)
Carmen (MdN)
Luis Cisneros (Taboada)
Irene Jimenez (MdN)
Emilia Ramirez (MdN)
These people will go house to house & explain the project, & ask who wants to be involved. They will record
Families, no. of people, roof material, size of roof
& they will invite them to attend the next meeting.
The committee will report back to the next meeting. (they agreed to do the census by Monday)
Next Meeting Wednesday 18th November 12.30 at the MdN School
Photo album http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=steve.mckee&target=ALBUM&id=5395898476865345153&authkey=Gv1sRgCN3a_7DOi7iACg&feat=email
31st of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
31st of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Where: El Cortijo
When: 21.10.09 2.45-3.45,
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Laura
Purpose: Pre mini-meeting planning & Mini Meeting with Los Torres leaders. The mini meeting was to
1. Plan the attendance by Los Torres women at the Water Foro, but the foro is now cancelled, meeting will be on other topics.
2. Discuss the formation of an Equipo de Acessoria – working team who are able to demonstrate the cistern technology & build in other locations.
Where: Los Torres – Chucha´s house.
When: 4.15-7.00pm
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Laura, Juan, Concha, Miguel, Chucha, Guillermo, Rafael, Carmella, Ofelia & 2 more women.
Purpose: as above.
!. The usual introductions & welcome.
2. Next was a general discussion, Q&A session.
SAPASMA (the municipal water providers), have not provided piping to the lower community, only the upper community. The well was also to be piped to Montecillo de Nieto (around 8 kms away) & apparently is not now.
MdN & Sapasma planning another well in MdN, but unlikely according to the proximity to this well, & regulations re proximity.
La Cienega & San Antonio la Joya, other side of the lake, have apparently recently received wells.
3. Chela took this time to discuss the general situation about the watershed. The aquifer is in crisis, the usage far outstrips the recharge rate, & it is reducing at approx 2 mtrs per year. There is no underground river, the water there is the only water there is, it is not replenishing any other way except rain, at a rate of 1mtr per year, to enter the aquifer. Ie if the well is 60 mtrs deep, then the rain from today will take 60 years to reach the aquifer at the today´s level…(1mtr per yearx 60 mtrs). In many places the water level is down to 180mtrs or more, so rain water will likely never get there…
4. Discussion about who will co-ordinate for today? Juan suggested no need for a co-ordinator as it is a much smaller meeting, easier to manage. Just need someone to keep records. He said that if you talk amongst yourselves you can stand up at the front of the class like in school – jokingly!
5. Agenda –
• Foro cancelled
• Visitor coming from Rotary in USA
• Other issues Los Torres community would like to work on
• Equipo de Acesoria
6. The Water Foro being planned by a coalition of people interested or affected by water issues has currently postponed, at least until we see what the new Local Govt. will do with regards water issues.
7. Visitor (Bill Webb) will be welcomed by a small committee who will then accompany him to view some of the nearby cisterns, including photos at the school & kindergarten. Carol, Carmella, & Chucha will organise this, speak to the teachers in advance, & meet us at 11am. (with the assembly to be moved to 12midday).
8. Other Community Issues to solve
Chela explained they now have a system for raising & solving their own issues (ie the community assembly & committees), & no longer have to rely on the government or outside help.
Page 2 of 2
They were asked to brainstorm ideas of issues the community would like to solve. Chela asked “how is life in Los Torres”
• Water (they mentioned how happy they were to have the cisterns because the trucks have not been coming from the Municipio & they would have had to borrow water, but with the cisterns they have their own!)
• No work, no money
• Not managing the money they do have well (would like budget advice)
• Health, not managing money well leads to lack of food or bad food
• Lack of awareness of nutrition
• Food production
• The road, better via MdN than CdP because if it was via CdP would need a bridge (to cross the mostly dry river)
Chela asked if they have ever done any projects or requests for assistance to the govt. in the past.
They said in the past they have paid for diesel for the govt to use machinery to level out the road, but it´s difficult because access is across ejido land & many different owners of the land that the road passes through.
They have been getting no-where with Ecology dept. feels like going round & round.
“We need to get upper & lower community more united, & working together.” Juan Alvarado
• Rafael mentioned, the 1st Thursday of every month there are meetings in different rural communities, working (paid small amount, paid by govt. program to do with boundaries –
• Federal $$ -
• Ejido people, of the 90 people involved only approx 20-24 participate regularly,
• only those that participate are paid. “Cacardos” program.
• They are making terraces, & bordos, planting Maguey & are paid approx 50 pesos per day.
• They get given jobs, eg plant 300 magueys or minimum road to construct.
• It´s good that it´s for your own land, so 50pesos per day is just a bonus
• It is good to retain the water, the water is all going to QTO where it is already sold, so whatever we can do here to retain it is worthwhile
• The program is only for those with Ejido land, many people in Los Torres only have their houselots & not additional productive land.
• Guillermo suggested maybe people could work on un-utilised land if they have none.
• The road is a major issue for the community as is the piping for the rest of the community, & there is a cost to rent the machinery.
• Chela suggested forming a communal fund, people could pay just 1 peso per day, ie 7 pesos per wk per family would be 630 pesos per wk, & use this money to improve the conditions of the community.
• People representing Los Torres should be paid their transport costs to get to meetings in SMA (from this communal fund for eg)
• Contributions would add value for everyone
• Chela suggested workshops in
• Traspatios(backyard gardens), natural health solutions (so not to have to visit the Dr) eg eat healthy foods, inhale eucalyptus steam, poultices, massage.
Chela said they need to put these issues to the next assembly (28th Oct) & get consensus & start prioritising issues & planning next steps.
9. Equipo de Acesoria the team consists of Juan, Miguel, Rafael & Guillermo, they were asked to meet, discuss their charges & find out the cost of materials to build a single cistern as a demonstration in Peñon de los Baños. Yolande Millan (Mujeres en Cambio) has been working in this community & has funds to build a demonstration cistern, to teach students.
Juan & his team have been asked to come up with pricing, & availability etc to go on weekends only to construct the cistern. They will report back to us at the 28th October assembly in Los Torres.
(this is great news, these Los Torres men are now skilled in Cistern construction, including materials purchasing, & can show others! It was also discussed by Chela, Holly & me that Juan would make an excellent promoter for Cedesa as they are very short staffed, & he has all the attributes, keen, enquiring, good follow up, very pro-active & organised.
Meeting ended at 7pm & we drove home… nearly got wiped out by a bus on the way home, but that´s a whole other story!
31st of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Los Torres
Where: El Cortijo
When: 21.10.09 2.45-3.45,
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Laura
Purpose: Pre mini-meeting planning & Mini Meeting with Los Torres leaders. The mini meeting was to
1. Plan the attendance by Los Torres women at the Water Foro, but the foro is now cancelled, meeting will be on other topics.
2. Discuss the formation of an Equipo de Acessoria – working team who are able to demonstrate the cistern technology & build in other locations.
Where: Los Torres – Chucha´s house.
When: 4.15-7.00pm
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Laura, Juan, Concha, Miguel, Chucha, Guillermo, Rafael, Carmella, Ofelia & 2 more women.
Purpose: as above.
!. The usual introductions & welcome.
2. Next was a general discussion, Q&A session.
SAPASMA (the municipal water providers), have not provided piping to the lower community, only the upper community. The well was also to be piped to Montecillo de Nieto (around 8 kms away) & apparently is not now.
MdN & Sapasma planning another well in MdN, but unlikely according to the proximity to this well, & regulations re proximity.
La Cienega & San Antonio la Joya, other side of the lake, have apparently recently received wells.
3. Chela took this time to discuss the general situation about the watershed. The aquifer is in crisis, the usage far outstrips the recharge rate, & it is reducing at approx 2 mtrs per year. There is no underground river, the water there is the only water there is, it is not replenishing any other way except rain, at a rate of 1mtr per year, to enter the aquifer. Ie if the well is 60 mtrs deep, then the rain from today will take 60 years to reach the aquifer at the today´s level…(1mtr per yearx 60 mtrs). In many places the water level is down to 180mtrs or more, so rain water will likely never get there…
4. Discussion about who will co-ordinate for today? Juan suggested no need for a co-ordinator as it is a much smaller meeting, easier to manage. Just need someone to keep records. He said that if you talk amongst yourselves you can stand up at the front of the class like in school – jokingly!
5. Agenda –
• Foro cancelled
• Visitor coming from Rotary in USA
• Other issues Los Torres community would like to work on
• Equipo de Acesoria
6. The Water Foro being planned by a coalition of people interested or affected by water issues has currently postponed, at least until we see what the new Local Govt. will do with regards water issues.
7. Visitor (Bill Webb) will be welcomed by a small committee who will then accompany him to view some of the nearby cisterns, including photos at the school & kindergarten. Carol, Carmella, & Chucha will organise this, speak to the teachers in advance, & meet us at 11am. (with the assembly to be moved to 12midday).
8. Other Community Issues to solve
Chela explained they now have a system for raising & solving their own issues (ie the community assembly & committees), & no longer have to rely on the government or outside help.
Page 2 of 2
They were asked to brainstorm ideas of issues the community would like to solve. Chela asked “how is life in Los Torres”
• Water (they mentioned how happy they were to have the cisterns because the trucks have not been coming from the Municipio & they would have had to borrow water, but with the cisterns they have their own!)
• No work, no money
• Not managing the money they do have well (would like budget advice)
• Health, not managing money well leads to lack of food or bad food
• Lack of awareness of nutrition
• Food production
• The road, better via MdN than CdP because if it was via CdP would need a bridge (to cross the mostly dry river)
Chela asked if they have ever done any projects or requests for assistance to the govt. in the past.
They said in the past they have paid for diesel for the govt to use machinery to level out the road, but it´s difficult because access is across ejido land & many different owners of the land that the road passes through.
They have been getting no-where with Ecology dept. feels like going round & round.
“We need to get upper & lower community more united, & working together.” Juan Alvarado
• Rafael mentioned, the 1st Thursday of every month there are meetings in different rural communities, working (paid small amount, paid by govt. program to do with boundaries –
• Federal $$ -
• Ejido people, of the 90 people involved only approx 20-24 participate regularly,
• only those that participate are paid. “Cacardos” program.
• They are making terraces, & bordos, planting Maguey & are paid approx 50 pesos per day.
• They get given jobs, eg plant 300 magueys or minimum road to construct.
• It´s good that it´s for your own land, so 50pesos per day is just a bonus
• It is good to retain the water, the water is all going to QTO where it is already sold, so whatever we can do here to retain it is worthwhile
• The program is only for those with Ejido land, many people in Los Torres only have their houselots & not additional productive land.
• Guillermo suggested maybe people could work on un-utilised land if they have none.
• The road is a major issue for the community as is the piping for the rest of the community, & there is a cost to rent the machinery.
• Chela suggested forming a communal fund, people could pay just 1 peso per day, ie 7 pesos per wk per family would be 630 pesos per wk, & use this money to improve the conditions of the community.
• People representing Los Torres should be paid their transport costs to get to meetings in SMA (from this communal fund for eg)
• Contributions would add value for everyone
• Chela suggested workshops in
• Traspatios(backyard gardens), natural health solutions (so not to have to visit the Dr) eg eat healthy foods, inhale eucalyptus steam, poultices, massage.
Chela said they need to put these issues to the next assembly (28th Oct) & get consensus & start prioritising issues & planning next steps.
9. Equipo de Acesoria the team consists of Juan, Miguel, Rafael & Guillermo, they were asked to meet, discuss their charges & find out the cost of materials to build a single cistern as a demonstration in Peñon de los Baños. Yolande Millan (Mujeres en Cambio) has been working in this community & has funds to build a demonstration cistern, to teach students.
Juan & his team have been asked to come up with pricing, & availability etc to go on weekends only to construct the cistern. They will report back to us at the 28th October assembly in Los Torres.
(this is great news, these Los Torres men are now skilled in Cistern construction, including materials purchasing, & can show others! It was also discussed by Chela, Holly & me that Juan would make an excellent promoter for Cedesa as they are very short staffed, & he has all the attributes, keen, enquiring, good follow up, very pro-active & organised.
Meeting ended at 7pm & we drove home… nearly got wiped out by a bus on the way home, but that´s a whole other story!
Monday, September 28, 2009
quick update MdN - Report 1 MdN Project Montecillo de Nieto
Hi guys,
Bill, let me present you to the team - Bob (I know you've met), Elena & Holly (whom you will meet in person on your forthcoming visit).
We have had 2 previous planning meetings, with this community, one at Casa de Aves (a local hotel that employs a large number of the community of MdN) & also the delegado (whom we have met previously at Presidential meetings involving his & the Los Torres communities).
These meetings would be considered pre-planning meetings, a handshake session, with a little bit of information imparted by both sides. Essentially to prove that the community is keen to be involved in this project, as they have seen at their neighbouring community Los Torres.
Thanks to Elena we had a very successful visit to MdN this morning. (Bob sorry that you were sick, hope you are feeling better).
We met with the 2 profesores of the MdN school - Hector Rivas & Leon Morales as planned.
They were very accommodating & organised, & had copies of the emails Holly & Irma & Elena had sent regarding the various things going on in MdN right now.
Re the Adobe Boveda Workshop - they are meeting with the community this Thursday & will choose 2 people to attend the workshop.
They have Holly's email address & agreed to send contact information & the 2 names to her after the meeting on Thursday.
Re the Foro
They will raise this topic at the Thursday meeting also & will forward details to Holly in the same way.
They said they will do their best to convince a couple of members of the community to present at the foro, but if not able to find someone for the presentation side, then they will at least impress upon them the importance of attending the Foro.
Re the MdN Community meeting on the 21st October
Change of time - now 12.30midday at MdN (they had a clash at 12 midday),
The community will be there & ready.
Re the Water collection project in general - they have some awareness about this already from a presentation by the Ecology dept, & a poster demonstrating the Water tank idea, & the project the Eco. dept has implemented at the school.
They feel sure that the community are very pleased to be involved in this.
A few facts:
the school has 64 kids
the kindergarten across the road approx 23 kids
there are approx 20 kids attending from nearby Taboada
the number of families in MdN was estimated at 45
the number of families in nearby Taboada is estimated at 10
It was agreed that Taboada should be included in the MdN project, as they are very close neighbours, & have the same water issues, they will also be invited to attend the 21st October prelim community assembly.
We explained we have sufficient funding (thank you Tallahassee!!) to begin a phase I of 26 cisterns.
As an aside - we had a look at the water collection system that the Ecology dept. has installed at the school.
Interestingly, despite having a capacity of 30,000 litres, the tank looks to be less than 1/2 full, which is less that should be at the end of the rainy season.
Only a small part of the roof has been included in this project, we could mention this to the dept of ecology, or we could maybe assist them to include a larger portion on the roof, to maximise this expensive storage system.
The meeting was from 9.30am to 10.30 am (Elena & I then spent some time exploring the neighbouring communities, re possible future projects.
Next Meeting 21 October at 12.30 at the MdN School,
with another meeting (a mini meeting with committee on foro, & proposed technical team) on 21st Oct at 4pm in Los Torres.
Hi guys,
Bill, let me present you to the team - Bob (I know you've met), Elena & Holly (whom you will meet in person on your forthcoming visit).
We have had 2 previous planning meetings, with this community, one at Casa de Aves (a local hotel that employs a large number of the community of MdN) & also the delegado (whom we have met previously at Presidential meetings involving his & the Los Torres communities).
These meetings would be considered pre-planning meetings, a handshake session, with a little bit of information imparted by both sides. Essentially to prove that the community is keen to be involved in this project, as they have seen at their neighbouring community Los Torres.
Thanks to Elena we had a very successful visit to MdN this morning. (Bob sorry that you were sick, hope you are feeling better).
We met with the 2 profesores of the MdN school - Hector Rivas & Leon Morales as planned.
They were very accommodating & organised, & had copies of the emails Holly & Irma & Elena had sent regarding the various things going on in MdN right now.
Re the Adobe Boveda Workshop - they are meeting with the community this Thursday & will choose 2 people to attend the workshop.
They have Holly's email address & agreed to send contact information & the 2 names to her after the meeting on Thursday.
Re the Foro
They will raise this topic at the Thursday meeting also & will forward details to Holly in the same way.
They said they will do their best to convince a couple of members of the community to present at the foro, but if not able to find someone for the presentation side, then they will at least impress upon them the importance of attending the Foro.
Re the MdN Community meeting on the 21st October
Change of time - now 12.30midday at MdN (they had a clash at 12 midday),
The community will be there & ready.
Re the Water collection project in general - they have some awareness about this already from a presentation by the Ecology dept, & a poster demonstrating the Water tank idea, & the project the Eco. dept has implemented at the school.
They feel sure that the community are very pleased to be involved in this.
A few facts:
the school has 64 kids
the kindergarten across the road approx 23 kids
there are approx 20 kids attending from nearby Taboada
the number of families in MdN was estimated at 45
the number of families in nearby Taboada is estimated at 10
It was agreed that Taboada should be included in the MdN project, as they are very close neighbours, & have the same water issues, they will also be invited to attend the 21st October prelim community assembly.
We explained we have sufficient funding (thank you Tallahassee!!) to begin a phase I of 26 cisterns.
As an aside - we had a look at the water collection system that the Ecology dept. has installed at the school.
Interestingly, despite having a capacity of 30,000 litres, the tank looks to be less than 1/2 full, which is less that should be at the end of the rainy season.
Only a small part of the roof has been included in this project, we could mention this to the dept of ecology, or we could maybe assist them to include a larger portion on the roof, to maximise this expensive storage system.
The meeting was from 9.30am to 10.30 am (Elena & I then spent some time exploring the neighbouring communities, re possible future projects.
Next Meeting 21 October at 12.30 at the MdN School,
with another meeting (a mini meeting with committee on foro, & proposed technical team) on 21st Oct at 4pm in Los Torres.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
30th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
30th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 23.09.09 10.30 – 1:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 36 adult community members (including 5 men) (& tonnes of children!)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
Chela, Holly & I met first for a pre-meeting planning session & then headed for Los Torres.
.1. the Roll was called (using the list of attenders they have created, & checking th column when they respond “presente”.
.2. Difference between an Assembly & a meeting: Chela re-iterated the difference, an assembly must have a quorum of more than ½ the number of families in the community attending. A meeting is a group of community members gathered to discuss issues & recommend actions.
.3. The purpose of meetings & description of the attendees was discussed. The community commented that it is more than a meeting to discuss water cisterns, it is also for talking about traspatios, grey water etc. Chela called for a name of the group, many suggestions were made,
Eg assembly of progress, communal assembly, assembly of community health, assembly of development & progress, assembly of productive solutions.
Chela concluded that it is a space of analysis, discussion of solutions, & for making decisions.
.4. Chela called for proposals for the co-ordinator & record taker for today’s meeting. It was unanimously decided that Jesus (a young man of about 22) should be co-ordinator, & Concha would take records again.
(This was particularly interesting as Jesus had been involved in an issue during a previous assembly where he was accused of not working hard enough with the group & had walked out of the meeting – it was a meeting while I was in NZ – he had obviously gotten over this & was very keen & did a great job of co-ordinating a really busy meeting!)
.5. Jesus called for Agenda Items
Agenda was set:
1. Invitations to 2 events – Holly
2. Talk about consulting team creation “Equipo de acessoria”
3. Cruz del Palmar women attending – would like help to build cisterns in their community.
4. Review Maria & School cisterns – complete?
5. Conservation of water
6. Purification method
Agenda item 1.
Holly had 2 events to invite the people of Los Torres to attend
a) Adobe domed roof building workshop – this is a workshop being subsidised by a local foundation, for the purpose of teaching rural communities how to construct domed roofs out of compressed adobe.
There are 4 spaces for Los Torres community members paid for. This includes food, & a transport allowance & 3 days attendance at the workshop on 5,6 & 7 October.
pg 2 of 3
One of the women made the point that whoever attends should then demonstrate the building techniques to those that are unable to attend, since they are getting the workshop for free, as a way to share the technology.
Jesus Alvarado, Daniel Garcia (both young men of about 22), Manuel Alvarado & Santiago Cruz all asked to attend, (with Manuel Alvarado snr going as an observer as his hand is still damaged). Holly will co-ordinate via Daniel’s cell phone 415 114 5205.
This was discussed in conjuction with the 2nd Agenda item of creating a consulting team at Los Torres
B) the 2nd invitation was to for the community (whoever would like to go) to attend a Forum on Water, it’s a forum where the people affected by water issues get to share their experiences, in the hope that they can then network with other people similarly affected, & to meet representatives from organisations that are working in the field of water.
Holly asked if they would care to speak at the forum, on 2 topics, both the problems they faced & the solution they have implemented. A committee was formed
Marta Y Manuel, Chuy, Ofelia, Reyna, Carmela, Maria, Piedad, Carolina & Delfina.
A mini meeting is planned for 21.10.09 at 4pm, to work on the presentation.
Agenda item 2. Forming a Consulting team in Los Torres.
Laura & Chela proposed that a consulting team be formed, that can then work as technical consultants & trainers of future projects & for other communities.
There are many people in Los Torres that are able use their newly learned skills & experience to help others. For future projects we need to employ technical consultants, why not use the people of Los Torres?
It was suggested the team should be 3 or 4 people, & proposals were made
Juan Alvarado, Jose Miguel Cruz (delegado), Rafael Cruz, Guillermo Alvarado.
Most of the men were not present so their wives need to propose this to them & report back at the next meeting.
Agenda item 3. Cruz Del Palmar solicitation
This was a particularly exciting part of the meeting – the dream of this project was that this method of catching & saving water be replicated in as many communities as possible.
Today, 2 women from Cruz Del Palmar – a neighbouring community, especially came to the meeting to ask for help in implementing Cisterns in their community!
(Teresa Gonzalez & Lucia Ramirez Ramirez of Bella Vista in Cruz Del Palmar)
They stood & introduced themselves (no mean feat in front of such a large audience) & described their problem & asked for help. They were asked what they had found out about the LT Water project, & they said they found that everyone liked it & that it’s working. Chela asked them how they thought LT had done it – they responded “in groups!”
They have sporadic water delivery in their part of CdP, some of CdP has water from a community well on tap, others have none. We have no information of level of Fluoride contamination in this community.
pg 3 of 3
The LT people had various suggestions for them – including,
• form a group of people to do the initial work,
• then go door to door & survey the people in the community to see who would be interested in being involved in a water cistern project
• gather statistics (size of families etc)
• come back to the next meeting with the information they have gathered.
• Don’t expect the whole community to be involved, the LT people at today’s meeting are the ones interested in the LT community for example.
• CdP people could come & participate in the Phase III project to learn the process.
• The work has to be done in groups, it doesn’t work individually & you need to involve the whole family (including the kids) in the process
The LT people have become expert in the process of solving their own issues, so much so, that they are able to advise people in their situation!!!
Dependant on what information the women from CdP come back with, ie description of need, & statistics, Rotary may help in this community as well. We could apply for funding from SMCF again, so that we can do a demonstration training day.
The main point is - that word of the success of the LT project is getting around & the project is growing legs!
The women were invited to present their info at the next meeting.
There was a big round of applause for the women of CdP!!
They thanked us all & left.
Chela took the opportunity to discuss more general information about the watershed & the environment (this is her true passion),
Agenda item 4 Review of Maria’s & the School’s cisterns
Maria’s cistern is completely finished (as are all of them now), most of them are more than ¾ full, the delegado has added ANOTHER piece of roof & piping, so his is overflowing!!
The school cistern needs more piping, after discussion of how to solve this, Chela offered that Benigno would return to LT, assess the situation & purchase the necessary pipes (he has access to the funds needed & it would be more complicated to get someone from LT to do it re funds)
The School kitchen roof (for 1 of the 3 cisterns) needs to be covered – even if is only for the next few weeks of the rainy season, as the roof is asbestos & there is no more money in the budget to replace it.
Items 5 & 6 to carry over to next meeting. We ran out of time.
Next Community assembly 28.10.09 10.30 am
Forum planning mini meeting 21.10.09 4pm
Domed adobe roof building workshop (cedesa) 5,6,,7 Oct all day.
Forum for people affected with water issues, 24 October 9-6pm Near the Presidentia
30th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 23.09.09 10.30 – 1:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 36 adult community members (including 5 men) (& tonnes of children!)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
Chela, Holly & I met first for a pre-meeting planning session & then headed for Los Torres.
.1. the Roll was called (using the list of attenders they have created, & checking th column when they respond “presente”.
.2. Difference between an Assembly & a meeting: Chela re-iterated the difference, an assembly must have a quorum of more than ½ the number of families in the community attending. A meeting is a group of community members gathered to discuss issues & recommend actions.
.3. The purpose of meetings & description of the attendees was discussed. The community commented that it is more than a meeting to discuss water cisterns, it is also for talking about traspatios, grey water etc. Chela called for a name of the group, many suggestions were made,
Eg assembly of progress, communal assembly, assembly of community health, assembly of development & progress, assembly of productive solutions.
Chela concluded that it is a space of analysis, discussion of solutions, & for making decisions.
.4. Chela called for proposals for the co-ordinator & record taker for today’s meeting. It was unanimously decided that Jesus (a young man of about 22) should be co-ordinator, & Concha would take records again.
(This was particularly interesting as Jesus had been involved in an issue during a previous assembly where he was accused of not working hard enough with the group & had walked out of the meeting – it was a meeting while I was in NZ – he had obviously gotten over this & was very keen & did a great job of co-ordinating a really busy meeting!)
.5. Jesus called for Agenda Items
Agenda was set:
1. Invitations to 2 events – Holly
2. Talk about consulting team creation “Equipo de acessoria”
3. Cruz del Palmar women attending – would like help to build cisterns in their community.
4. Review Maria & School cisterns – complete?
5. Conservation of water
6. Purification method
Agenda item 1.
Holly had 2 events to invite the people of Los Torres to attend
a) Adobe domed roof building workshop – this is a workshop being subsidised by a local foundation, for the purpose of teaching rural communities how to construct domed roofs out of compressed adobe.
There are 4 spaces for Los Torres community members paid for. This includes food, & a transport allowance & 3 days attendance at the workshop on 5,6 & 7 October.
pg 2 of 3
One of the women made the point that whoever attends should then demonstrate the building techniques to those that are unable to attend, since they are getting the workshop for free, as a way to share the technology.
Jesus Alvarado, Daniel Garcia (both young men of about 22), Manuel Alvarado & Santiago Cruz all asked to attend, (with Manuel Alvarado snr going as an observer as his hand is still damaged). Holly will co-ordinate via Daniel’s cell phone 415 114 5205.
This was discussed in conjuction with the 2nd Agenda item of creating a consulting team at Los Torres
B) the 2nd invitation was to for the community (whoever would like to go) to attend a Forum on Water, it’s a forum where the people affected by water issues get to share their experiences, in the hope that they can then network with other people similarly affected, & to meet representatives from organisations that are working in the field of water.
Holly asked if they would care to speak at the forum, on 2 topics, both the problems they faced & the solution they have implemented. A committee was formed
Marta Y Manuel, Chuy, Ofelia, Reyna, Carmela, Maria, Piedad, Carolina & Delfina.
A mini meeting is planned for 21.10.09 at 4pm, to work on the presentation.
Agenda item 2. Forming a Consulting team in Los Torres.
Laura & Chela proposed that a consulting team be formed, that can then work as technical consultants & trainers of future projects & for other communities.
There are many people in Los Torres that are able use their newly learned skills & experience to help others. For future projects we need to employ technical consultants, why not use the people of Los Torres?
It was suggested the team should be 3 or 4 people, & proposals were made
Juan Alvarado, Jose Miguel Cruz (delegado), Rafael Cruz, Guillermo Alvarado.
Most of the men were not present so their wives need to propose this to them & report back at the next meeting.
Agenda item 3. Cruz Del Palmar solicitation
This was a particularly exciting part of the meeting – the dream of this project was that this method of catching & saving water be replicated in as many communities as possible.
Today, 2 women from Cruz Del Palmar – a neighbouring community, especially came to the meeting to ask for help in implementing Cisterns in their community!
(Teresa Gonzalez & Lucia Ramirez Ramirez of Bella Vista in Cruz Del Palmar)
They stood & introduced themselves (no mean feat in front of such a large audience) & described their problem & asked for help. They were asked what they had found out about the LT Water project, & they said they found that everyone liked it & that it’s working. Chela asked them how they thought LT had done it – they responded “in groups!”
They have sporadic water delivery in their part of CdP, some of CdP has water from a community well on tap, others have none. We have no information of level of Fluoride contamination in this community.
pg 3 of 3
The LT people had various suggestions for them – including,
• form a group of people to do the initial work,
• then go door to door & survey the people in the community to see who would be interested in being involved in a water cistern project
• gather statistics (size of families etc)
• come back to the next meeting with the information they have gathered.
• Don’t expect the whole community to be involved, the LT people at today’s meeting are the ones interested in the LT community for example.
• CdP people could come & participate in the Phase III project to learn the process.
• The work has to be done in groups, it doesn’t work individually & you need to involve the whole family (including the kids) in the process
The LT people have become expert in the process of solving their own issues, so much so, that they are able to advise people in their situation!!!
Dependant on what information the women from CdP come back with, ie description of need, & statistics, Rotary may help in this community as well. We could apply for funding from SMCF again, so that we can do a demonstration training day.
The main point is - that word of the success of the LT project is getting around & the project is growing legs!
The women were invited to present their info at the next meeting.
There was a big round of applause for the women of CdP!!
They thanked us all & left.
Chela took the opportunity to discuss more general information about the watershed & the environment (this is her true passion),
Agenda item 4 Review of Maria’s & the School’s cisterns
Maria’s cistern is completely finished (as are all of them now), most of them are more than ¾ full, the delegado has added ANOTHER piece of roof & piping, so his is overflowing!!
The school cistern needs more piping, after discussion of how to solve this, Chela offered that Benigno would return to LT, assess the situation & purchase the necessary pipes (he has access to the funds needed & it would be more complicated to get someone from LT to do it re funds)
The School kitchen roof (for 1 of the 3 cisterns) needs to be covered – even if is only for the next few weeks of the rainy season, as the roof is asbestos & there is no more money in the budget to replace it.
Items 5 & 6 to carry over to next meeting. We ran out of time.
Next Community assembly 28.10.09 10.30 am
Forum planning mini meeting 21.10.09 4pm
Domed adobe roof building workshop (cedesa) 5,6,,7 Oct all day.
Forum for people affected with water issues, 24 October 9-6pm Near the Presidentia
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
29th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
29th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 25.08.09 10.30 – 4:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 30 community members (including 12 men)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
This is my first meeting at the Community since returning from 2 months vacation in NZ.
There have been several meetings & a lot of progress in my absence.
When we arrived at Los Torres, a previous meeting was in progress, Chela from Cedesa was giving a planning session on immediate environment at the request of the Community. This is an issue the community have raised themselves.
They had a list of ideal native plants, & animals, & their homework was to draw a plan of their own backyards as a start of the ideal design.
This first meeting ended at 12.20pm , the Water Project meeting began immediately
1st order of business was for the meeting to vote for
1. A co-ordinator – Alejandro
2. A record keeper – Mariana
Alejandro asked for agenda topics.
.2. the roll was taken (they have created a list of attenders & check the column when they are present.
.3. Revision of work
26 of the 27 cisterns are complete. The last cistern – Maria Soria’s – is almost complete but there was discussion about her lack of co-operation . After much discussion it was decided that her group will just get together & complete it by the end of the week (apparently it just needs a final coat of paint).
Several of the houses still need to have their asbestos roofs overlaid. A list of these houses was created. There were questions as to how to replace or overlay the roof. It was agreed, if the roof is stable, then simply place on top of existing, if not safe, then construct an additional roof area to collect the water.
It was mentioned that the school kitchen roof approx 7 x 4, needs replacing. (we need to check the budget, or seek an alternative to replacement, perhaps some sealant is a safe option).
There was a discussion/collation of the list of people that were unable to work on the school cisterns as a commitment had been made at previous meetings that families would either work or pay others that were working. They have a list of the people that still need to pay.
For the school they had created 3 groups of 15-18 people.
It was agreed contribution would be in labour or $$$.
The $$$ paid was to pay for the abiniles that worked all of the days & co-ordinated the workers on the day (& had to take time out of working to do this).
Page 2 of 3
It was agreed that the complete list would be audited in time for the next meeting, ie who paid, who worked, who is still to pay.
A mini committee (Jose & Nicolasa) will talk to the parents at school that have not made their contribution.
.4. Planning of the IIIrd Phase
This is a list of the families who would like to build cisterns in the 3rd phase.
1. Piedad Soria Gonzalez
2. Adelina Barranca
3. Dulce Maria Martinez
4. Rosa Barranca
5. Matilde Gonzalez
6. Lucia Gonzalez
7. Cruz Rodriguez
8. Aurelia Fajavdo
9. Marta Maya
10. Alejandro Alvarado
11. Jose Cruz
12. Manuel Ferrer
13. Nicolasa Agreda
14. Consuelo Huerta (Rotoplas)
15. Daniel Garcia
16. Jesus Alvarado
17. Alejandro Gonzalez (Rotoplas)
18. Filomena Ferrer
19. Elena Ramirez
20. Jose Alvarado (Rotoplas)
3 People in this list are elderly people that live alone & are not near family.
It was raised that there needs to be some provision of water for these elderly & infirm people.
There was a vote during which a majority agreed that these people should receive Rotoplas (pre moulded plastic) 1500 ltr cisterns . I added this to the scope of the project.
Jose Miguel (Delegado) suggested collecting the wood that had been used to build the previous cisterns to re-use for the 3rd phase.
3rd phase leaders (Jesus & Daniel) will be responsible for receiving the wood from the 4 group leaders in phase 2 & will take an inventory. There was a vote on storing them at the Kindergarten.
The meeting asked when the funds would be available to start Phase III, I said I couldn’t confirm definitely but aim for November.
It was agreed that the party would be saved for the end of Phase III ie approx at the end of the year, but that we would have a Water Information Day as a celebration of the School Cisterns Project that has been completed (Phase IV).
Planning for this Water Info day will take place at the next assembly, 23.9.09 at 12pm
With the Water Info Day scheduled for Sunday 25th Oct.
.5. Tree donation by David Bossman
During the Pilot Phase fiesta, David Bossman gave the community $500mxn to spend on trees.
Page 3 of 3
Guillermo reported that he had bought
27 trees from Ecology & the community voted how to distribute these trees.
It was finally agreed that all those that have completed their cisterns should receive a tree as a gift.
THANK YOU DAVID BOSSMAN.
NEXT ASSEMBLY 23 Sept 12pm (at Chuy’s house)
WATER INFORMATION DAY Sunday 25 October at the School
Photos of Phase II can be viewed on the following link
http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.mckee/LosTorresPhaseIIJune09?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6fmbCat5Lw-gE&feat=directlink
29th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 25.08.09 10.30 – 4:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 30 community members (including 12 men)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
This is my first meeting at the Community since returning from 2 months vacation in NZ.
There have been several meetings & a lot of progress in my absence.
When we arrived at Los Torres, a previous meeting was in progress, Chela from Cedesa was giving a planning session on immediate environment at the request of the Community. This is an issue the community have raised themselves.
They had a list of ideal native plants, & animals, & their homework was to draw a plan of their own backyards as a start of the ideal design.
This first meeting ended at 12.20pm , the Water Project meeting began immediately
1st order of business was for the meeting to vote for
1. A co-ordinator – Alejandro
2. A record keeper – Mariana
Alejandro asked for agenda topics.
.2. the roll was taken (they have created a list of attenders & check the column when they are present.
.3. Revision of work
26 of the 27 cisterns are complete. The last cistern – Maria Soria’s – is almost complete but there was discussion about her lack of co-operation . After much discussion it was decided that her group will just get together & complete it by the end of the week (apparently it just needs a final coat of paint).
Several of the houses still need to have their asbestos roofs overlaid. A list of these houses was created. There were questions as to how to replace or overlay the roof. It was agreed, if the roof is stable, then simply place on top of existing, if not safe, then construct an additional roof area to collect the water.
It was mentioned that the school kitchen roof approx 7 x 4, needs replacing. (we need to check the budget, or seek an alternative to replacement, perhaps some sealant is a safe option).
There was a discussion/collation of the list of people that were unable to work on the school cisterns as a commitment had been made at previous meetings that families would either work or pay others that were working. They have a list of the people that still need to pay.
For the school they had created 3 groups of 15-18 people.
It was agreed contribution would be in labour or $$$.
The $$$ paid was to pay for the abiniles that worked all of the days & co-ordinated the workers on the day (& had to take time out of working to do this).
Page 2 of 3
It was agreed that the complete list would be audited in time for the next meeting, ie who paid, who worked, who is still to pay.
A mini committee (Jose & Nicolasa) will talk to the parents at school that have not made their contribution.
.4. Planning of the IIIrd Phase
This is a list of the families who would like to build cisterns in the 3rd phase.
1. Piedad Soria Gonzalez
2. Adelina Barranca
3. Dulce Maria Martinez
4. Rosa Barranca
5. Matilde Gonzalez
6. Lucia Gonzalez
7. Cruz Rodriguez
8. Aurelia Fajavdo
9. Marta Maya
10. Alejandro Alvarado
11. Jose Cruz
12. Manuel Ferrer
13. Nicolasa Agreda
14. Consuelo Huerta (Rotoplas)
15. Daniel Garcia
16. Jesus Alvarado
17. Alejandro Gonzalez (Rotoplas)
18. Filomena Ferrer
19. Elena Ramirez
20. Jose Alvarado (Rotoplas)
3 People in this list are elderly people that live alone & are not near family.
It was raised that there needs to be some provision of water for these elderly & infirm people.
There was a vote during which a majority agreed that these people should receive Rotoplas (pre moulded plastic) 1500 ltr cisterns . I added this to the scope of the project.
Jose Miguel (Delegado) suggested collecting the wood that had been used to build the previous cisterns to re-use for the 3rd phase.
3rd phase leaders (Jesus & Daniel) will be responsible for receiving the wood from the 4 group leaders in phase 2 & will take an inventory. There was a vote on storing them at the Kindergarten.
The meeting asked when the funds would be available to start Phase III, I said I couldn’t confirm definitely but aim for November.
It was agreed that the party would be saved for the end of Phase III ie approx at the end of the year, but that we would have a Water Information Day as a celebration of the School Cisterns Project that has been completed (Phase IV).
Planning for this Water Info day will take place at the next assembly, 23.9.09 at 12pm
With the Water Info Day scheduled for Sunday 25th Oct.
.5. Tree donation by David Bossman
During the Pilot Phase fiesta, David Bossman gave the community $500mxn to spend on trees.
Page 3 of 3
Guillermo reported that he had bought
27 trees from Ecology & the community voted how to distribute these trees.
It was finally agreed that all those that have completed their cisterns should receive a tree as a gift.
THANK YOU DAVID BOSSMAN.
NEXT ASSEMBLY 23 Sept 12pm (at Chuy’s house)
WATER INFORMATION DAY Sunday 25 October at the School
Photos of Phase II can be viewed on the following link
http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.mckee/LosTorresPhaseIIJune09?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6fmbCat5Lw-gE&feat=directlink
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community,
When: 2009 (???)
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Lee Carter
Purpose: An informal visit by Lee & Enrique, so Lee can see the project site, & to keep in touch with the community while we are waiting for the Matching Grant process to take place with Rotary International & Partners.
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
See report 6…
5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community,
When: 2009 (???)
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Lee Carter
Purpose: An informal visit by Lee & Enrique, so Lee can see the project site, & to keep in touch with the community while we are waiting for the Matching Grant process to take place with Rotary International & Partners.
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
See report 6…
Thursday, June 25, 2009
4th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
4th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, visiting Los Torres Community
When: 25th June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & ???
Purpose: For the people of Lomas who are interested in seeing the project at Los Torres.
History
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Visit to Los Torres community was done as planned on Jun 25th. 3 people (2 ladies & 1 man) from Lomas de San Jose community came with me and we walk around and observe how LT meeting was starting.
They were glad to be able to see the progress and will coment to their neighbors what they saw.
I (Enrique) decided to build one water cistern on my land, so to be able to have it as a sample and train one person in the community to build it. This was done with Enrique`s own resources during July.
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
Also, is it possible that you could write up report 4 (the 25th June to Los Torres visit), & report 5, (the informal visit by you & Lee),
so we can keep a full history for our partners.
Lee & Enrique went to drive through Lomas de San Jose, to see the size of the community (Colonia). They observed that the size of lots were smaller than at the campo & the poverty of the people.
So the conclusion was to analyze with more detail each of the houses were we are planing to install the rain water cisterns.
4th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, visiting Los Torres Community
When: 25th June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & ???
Purpose: For the people of Lomas who are interested in seeing the project at Los Torres.
History
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Visit to Los Torres community was done as planned on Jun 25th. 3 people (2 ladies & 1 man) from Lomas de San Jose community came with me and we walk around and observe how LT meeting was starting.
They were glad to be able to see the progress and will coment to their neighbors what they saw.
I (Enrique) decided to build one water cistern on my land, so to be able to have it as a sample and train one person in the community to build it. This was done with Enrique`s own resources during July.
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
Also, is it possible that you could write up report 4 (the 25th June to Los Torres visit), & report 5, (the informal visit by you & Lee),
so we can keep a full history for our partners.
Lee & Enrique went to drive through Lomas de San Jose, to see the size of the community (Colonia). They observed that the size of lots were smaller than at the campo & the poverty of the people.
So the conclusion was to analyze with more detail each of the houses were we are planing to install the rain water cisterns.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: 13 June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary), Franciso Y Sigrid (friends of Enrique) & 23 adults
Purpose: General follow up meeting, to advise next steps.
1stly a welcome & re-introduction of ourselves & the purpose of Rotary.
During conversation, it was communicated Lomas de San Jose are an “irregular community” ie not officialised, which is why the govt. Has not extended services to this area.
We explained that funding application & receipt will take time,
In the meantime they should organise their groups of 5x 8 people, with leaders.
They mentioned they had already had meetings between themselves & are ready for more.
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact will be 25th June 2009 (Enrique).
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: 13 June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary), Franciso Y Sigrid (friends of Enrique) & 23 adults
Purpose: General follow up meeting, to advise next steps.
1stly a welcome & re-introduction of ourselves & the purpose of Rotary.
During conversation, it was communicated Lomas de San Jose are an “irregular community” ie not officialised, which is why the govt. Has not extended services to this area.
We explained that funding application & receipt will take time,
In the meantime they should organise their groups of 5x 8 people, with leaders.
They mentioned they had already had meetings between themselves & are ready for more.
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact will be 25th June 2009 (Enrique).
Thursday, June 11, 2009
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 11.06.09 10.30 – 2.40pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Britta (Bi lingual visitor), & approx 26 community members
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
I asked Chela (Cedesa), if she was able to continue her good work in another community that we are proposing as our next water Project – Lomas de San Jose.
She agreed, & we will need to firm up details closer to the time, when we have funding committed etc.
Chela mentioned 2 communities Cedesa have been working with for a long time that have horrendously high levels of fluoride. In the municipality of Palencia there are 8 communities with high levels of Fluoride & Arsenic. 4 of those are particularly high, San Deigo de la Union & San Luis de la Paz. SLdlP has approx 200 families, their levels are 6.8mg/l fluoride (1.5 is maximum safe level), & 60-70 ppm for Arsenic (25-30 parts per million is max safe level).
I said I would raise it at the Community Service Committee meeting – NB I did & it was decided that we should concentrate on communities in our own region first, this is outside the municipality of SMA.
We continued on to Los Torres.
There was a school meeting at the same time so slightly fewer people than normal, but still a good turnout on a very hot day.
The four groups constructing the 27 cisterns were roll called,
Attending were 5/7 group 1, 4/6 group 2, 6/7 group 3, & 3/7 group 4.
There were 4 phase III attendees.
The co-ordinator & records keeper were elected. Co-ordinator Veronica, Records Maricela.
The following agenda items were first decided & then discussed in order.
1. Review of the work to date.
Group 1. 3 almost finished (pipes to be connected)
Group 2 2 almost finished
Group 3 People in the group are not helping
Group 4 No materials have been delivered yet.
As of today the sand has arrived & there are materials for 6 more.
Group 1, only have materials for 1 more
Group 2 only have materials for 1 more
Group 3 only have materials for 3 more
Group 4 only have materials for 1 more
There was a lot of discussion about the difficulties they are finding working in groups. Working in groups is a new concept for many of these people. Some comments Concha “it is important to be in groups & not split off by family” Juan “when men are working with women around they should be aware of their language if women want to work with them” this was echoed by another young man. Juana “her husband started in a group, thought it was too much work now wants to just do it with his neighbours.”
Page 2 of 3
Porfiria “they have been too busy washing clothes, because of the swine flu the teacher has said they have to wash the kids clothes every day, so they have no time to help building the cisterns”
Veronica was the co-ordinator of this meeting & was very firm with everyone, she was a complete natural at the role, & had the meeting running very smoothly.
There was more discussion about what makes good groups, respect, motivation etc, & it was agreed that group 1 would help group 4 solve their problems. Also Benigno (Cedesa) will visit to help resolve any outstanding issues.
Group 2 said that they have 2 people working 100% of the time & others a lot less. Some people are helping by lending their tools.
Hilaria “ there needs to be an arrangement made re lending of tools, eg trade, gift, exchange”
Guillermo “ has had training, knows the full process is happy to help & his tools are used everywhere, still waiting for materials”
Concha “if people need help they should ask for it, otherwise who will know?”
Chela mentioned that asking shows interest, & then explained the definition of solidarity.
Group 3
Was some dispute about mis communication of arranged time to meet at someone´s house. Veronica asked the meeting if the rest of the people were prepared to help the woman or not, they all said they would. Another woman said if someone offers to help doesn’t mean they will do it for you!
Priority was decided – people with more knowledge should get their materials & build their cisterns 1st, then those people will help the next ones.
A new priority list for order of delivery of materials was created.
A young man said “at a lot of the meetings people say they will do things, & then don’t do it, people should stick to their word”.
2. Phase IV the school cisterns (funded by San Miguel Community fund 2nd Grant)
Who went to meet with the teacher (to plan re school phase IV)
Chuy, Hilaria, Catalina (Juan´s wife), Ofelia, Nicolasa & Elana
At first the Teacher said No, because she thought it was the same as the Montecillo de Nieto school Project completed by the govt & Ilan, & she thought it was dangerous, too easy to damage.
When they explained the cisterns would be the same as the one at the Kinder she happily agreed.
They asked when the materials would be available, I said whenever they are ready.
There was a discussion as to whether it should happen during or after phase II, some suggested during, as no-one would help afterwards.
Guillermo suggested small groups as big groups are inefficient.
The mini committee (as above) need to inform all of the parents of the school that they need to help with construction of the cisterns in 15 days at a meeting at the school.
There are approx 80 kids at school
Page 3 of 3
There should be a representative at school when the Maestra cant be there.
Make up the groups with the people here & then ask others at school to join the groups.
The 3 groups were decided.
It was agreed that they should either work or if they cant work then pay $100 pesos, this will pay the leaders of the groups who will be there all day every day to co-ordinate & need to be reimbursed for time off work.
There will be 2 abiniles for the 3 cisterns, they will be paid $250 pesos per day from the money collected from the people that are unable to work.
Meeting finished at 2.40pm
The next meeting is scheduled for 25.06.09 (I will be away in NZ)
It needs to be noted that the meeting today was so well organized, the community involvement was huge & there is a real sense of progress organization & motivation & an attitude of “we can do this!”… Amazing!
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 11.06.09 10.30 – 2.40pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Britta (Bi lingual visitor), & approx 26 community members
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
I asked Chela (Cedesa), if she was able to continue her good work in another community that we are proposing as our next water Project – Lomas de San Jose.
She agreed, & we will need to firm up details closer to the time, when we have funding committed etc.
Chela mentioned 2 communities Cedesa have been working with for a long time that have horrendously high levels of fluoride. In the municipality of Palencia there are 8 communities with high levels of Fluoride & Arsenic. 4 of those are particularly high, San Deigo de la Union & San Luis de la Paz. SLdlP has approx 200 families, their levels are 6.8mg/l fluoride (1.5 is maximum safe level), & 60-70 ppm for Arsenic (25-30 parts per million is max safe level).
I said I would raise it at the Community Service Committee meeting – NB I did & it was decided that we should concentrate on communities in our own region first, this is outside the municipality of SMA.
We continued on to Los Torres.
There was a school meeting at the same time so slightly fewer people than normal, but still a good turnout on a very hot day.
The four groups constructing the 27 cisterns were roll called,
Attending were 5/7 group 1, 4/6 group 2, 6/7 group 3, & 3/7 group 4.
There were 4 phase III attendees.
The co-ordinator & records keeper were elected. Co-ordinator Veronica, Records Maricela.
The following agenda items were first decided & then discussed in order.
1. Review of the work to date.
Group 1. 3 almost finished (pipes to be connected)
Group 2 2 almost finished
Group 3 People in the group are not helping
Group 4 No materials have been delivered yet.
As of today the sand has arrived & there are materials for 6 more.
Group 1, only have materials for 1 more
Group 2 only have materials for 1 more
Group 3 only have materials for 3 more
Group 4 only have materials for 1 more
There was a lot of discussion about the difficulties they are finding working in groups. Working in groups is a new concept for many of these people. Some comments Concha “it is important to be in groups & not split off by family” Juan “when men are working with women around they should be aware of their language if women want to work with them” this was echoed by another young man. Juana “her husband started in a group, thought it was too much work now wants to just do it with his neighbours.”
Page 2 of 3
Porfiria “they have been too busy washing clothes, because of the swine flu the teacher has said they have to wash the kids clothes every day, so they have no time to help building the cisterns”
Veronica was the co-ordinator of this meeting & was very firm with everyone, she was a complete natural at the role, & had the meeting running very smoothly.
There was more discussion about what makes good groups, respect, motivation etc, & it was agreed that group 1 would help group 4 solve their problems. Also Benigno (Cedesa) will visit to help resolve any outstanding issues.
Group 2 said that they have 2 people working 100% of the time & others a lot less. Some people are helping by lending their tools.
Hilaria “ there needs to be an arrangement made re lending of tools, eg trade, gift, exchange”
Guillermo “ has had training, knows the full process is happy to help & his tools are used everywhere, still waiting for materials”
Concha “if people need help they should ask for it, otherwise who will know?”
Chela mentioned that asking shows interest, & then explained the definition of solidarity.
Group 3
Was some dispute about mis communication of arranged time to meet at someone´s house. Veronica asked the meeting if the rest of the people were prepared to help the woman or not, they all said they would. Another woman said if someone offers to help doesn’t mean they will do it for you!
Priority was decided – people with more knowledge should get their materials & build their cisterns 1st, then those people will help the next ones.
A new priority list for order of delivery of materials was created.
A young man said “at a lot of the meetings people say they will do things, & then don’t do it, people should stick to their word”.
2. Phase IV the school cisterns (funded by San Miguel Community fund 2nd Grant)
Who went to meet with the teacher (to plan re school phase IV)
Chuy, Hilaria, Catalina (Juan´s wife), Ofelia, Nicolasa & Elana
At first the Teacher said No, because she thought it was the same as the Montecillo de Nieto school Project completed by the govt & Ilan, & she thought it was dangerous, too easy to damage.
When they explained the cisterns would be the same as the one at the Kinder she happily agreed.
They asked when the materials would be available, I said whenever they are ready.
There was a discussion as to whether it should happen during or after phase II, some suggested during, as no-one would help afterwards.
Guillermo suggested small groups as big groups are inefficient.
The mini committee (as above) need to inform all of the parents of the school that they need to help with construction of the cisterns in 15 days at a meeting at the school.
There are approx 80 kids at school
Page 3 of 3
There should be a representative at school when the Maestra cant be there.
Make up the groups with the people here & then ask others at school to join the groups.
The 3 groups were decided.
It was agreed that they should either work or if they cant work then pay $100 pesos, this will pay the leaders of the groups who will be there all day every day to co-ordinate & need to be reimbursed for time off work.
There will be 2 abiniles for the 3 cisterns, they will be paid $250 pesos per day from the money collected from the people that are unable to work.
Meeting finished at 2.40pm
The next meeting is scheduled for 25.06.09 (I will be away in NZ)
It needs to be noted that the meeting today was so well organized, the community involvement was huge & there is a real sense of progress organization & motivation & an attitude of “we can do this!”… Amazing!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: Sunday 070609 6pm – 7.40pm
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary) & 25 adults & 6 kids
Purpose: Follow up re 1st meeting last week, to determine interest in participating in a water collection project to be co-ordinated by Rotary with Cedesa to provide training & operations expertise.
1stly a welcome & re-introduction of ourselves & the purpose of Rotary.
The members of the community were a little embarrassed at the smaller number of people attending today. We agreed that it was normal, & that Sunday is a difficult day, a lot of people are visiting family in other locations.
Angelika – a teacher – is one of the leaders, she volunteered at the last meeting to collect a mini-census of the families interested in participating. She has a list of 39 families.
Angelika is in the lower part of the community.
Another leader José Luis (the guy with the black glasses that works for Pepsi) is collecting info for the upper part of the community, he was not able to attend the meeting today, they believe he has approx 30 names on his list.
We discussed the next steps & we described the process as completed in Los Torres.
They decided to form 5 groups of 8 families (with one having 7 families) to make up the 39 families.
The first step is for the community to decide the leaders of these groups, & then for those leaders to form their groups & begin to organise.
This should be achieved by the next meeting date.
Enrique left at 6.55 (he had an important talk on the environment to attend) & Laura stayed behind to answer any questions, during that time Ignacio came forward as he spoke very good English & helped to translate questions & answers.
• The questions at the end of the session were largely on dimensions of the cistern, what to do if they don´t have space for a large cistern & dry toilets.
• It was agreed that the next highest priority besides water for this community is dry toilets
• They also asked for computers in their community, they do not have a school, their kids go to the neighbouring school, & that school does not have computers either.
Contact phone numbers are
Angelika Ramirez 110 2027
Ignacio 110 2028
Action: Enrique is confirming Greenfund commitment/laura confirm cedesa schedule
Next meeting is Saturday 13th June at 6pm
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: Sunday 070609 6pm – 7.40pm
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary) & 25 adults & 6 kids
Purpose: Follow up re 1st meeting last week, to determine interest in participating in a water collection project to be co-ordinated by Rotary with Cedesa to provide training & operations expertise.
1stly a welcome & re-introduction of ourselves & the purpose of Rotary.
The members of the community were a little embarrassed at the smaller number of people attending today. We agreed that it was normal, & that Sunday is a difficult day, a lot of people are visiting family in other locations.
Angelika – a teacher – is one of the leaders, she volunteered at the last meeting to collect a mini-census of the families interested in participating. She has a list of 39 families.
Angelika is in the lower part of the community.
Another leader José Luis (the guy with the black glasses that works for Pepsi) is collecting info for the upper part of the community, he was not able to attend the meeting today, they believe he has approx 30 names on his list.
We discussed the next steps & we described the process as completed in Los Torres.
They decided to form 5 groups of 8 families (with one having 7 families) to make up the 39 families.
The first step is for the community to decide the leaders of these groups, & then for those leaders to form their groups & begin to organise.
This should be achieved by the next meeting date.
Enrique left at 6.55 (he had an important talk on the environment to attend) & Laura stayed behind to answer any questions, during that time Ignacio came forward as he spoke very good English & helped to translate questions & answers.
• The questions at the end of the session were largely on dimensions of the cistern, what to do if they don´t have space for a large cistern & dry toilets.
• It was agreed that the next highest priority besides water for this community is dry toilets
• They also asked for computers in their community, they do not have a school, their kids go to the neighbouring school, & that school does not have computers either.
Contact phone numbers are
Angelika Ramirez 110 2027
Ignacio 110 2028
Action: Enrique is confirming Greenfund commitment/laura confirm cedesa schedule
Next meeting is Saturday 13th June at 6pm
Friday, May 29, 2009
1st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
1st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: Friday 29.05.09 6pm – 7.40pm
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary) & 65 adults & 25 kids from the community.
Purpose: Introduction meeting with members of the community potentially interested in participating in a water collection project.
Enriqué visited the tienda (the focal point) earlier in the week to ask if there was any interest in a community meeting to discuss the possibility of a solution to their water issues. He asked the tienda owners to inform the community.
At 6pm Enriqué & I arrived to find a large welcoming group gathered across from the Tienda.
We introduced ourselves & described Rotary & it´s purpose worldwide & told them of the pilot water collection project we completed in Los Torres, & phase II of that project currently in progress.
We took a whiteboard & drew pictures of the cistern & water collection system, & described how it was done. We also passed around the newspaper article published in the Atención that showed the LT kinder & community & the cistern.
We also explained the co-ordination & teaching was done by an organisation called Cedesa.
We asked where they get their water from currently:
• They receive it by pipa (municipality trucks)
• the deliveries are from 8-20 days apart
• sometimes during the rainy season the trucks can not get through to make the deliveries
• They receive 200 ltrs per family per delivery
• They often run out of water between deliveries.
• They do not drink the water, it often smells of chlorine & is a yellowish colour,
• They can not afford the fuel to boil the water so -
• They buy their drinking water
• There are no wells in the community (although a ranch nearby has a well)
We asked if there was any interest in participating in a project if we were to provide the materials & train the trainer, & they build the cisterns in groups for use by individual families. With a show of hands, almost 100% responded yes.
It is very interesting to note that this community was immediately animated & participating in 2 way discussion, other communities that I have visited have been very shy & did not volunteer to “tomar la palabra” (take the word, or speak…),
This community was happily the opposite! They immediately began asking questions & discussing plans amongst themselves.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
1st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
They asked the next steps –
• since they did not know the size of their community, number of families etc. we asked for them to do a mini-census of those interested in participating in the project
• They were happy to do this in 1 wk
• We agreed to meet the following Sunday at 6pm
Interesting observations:
• Although this community is only 10 minutes from town, the living standards are as bad, if not worse than those of the more rural communities, the rural communities tend to have more space in which to have crops or backyard gardens, this community has smaller (less productive) lots.
• Many of the households are without fathers (working in the USA or absent)
• They have no delegado or community committee organised as they are in the municipality (ie under the Mayor)
• They have no school, the children must attend school in the neighbouring community (apparently a bone of contention)
After the meeting concluded, a number of the people remained milling around asking us questions,
• they would like help to build dry toilets,
• & 2 of the mothers bought forward an 8 year old boy (whose mum was not at the meeting), he does not attend school as his mother can not afford the fees or to buy a uniform, he said he would really like to go to school.
Next meeting Sunday 7 June 6pm – outside the Tienda.
1st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: Friday 29.05.09 6pm – 7.40pm
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary) & 65 adults & 25 kids from the community.
Purpose: Introduction meeting with members of the community potentially interested in participating in a water collection project.
Enriqué visited the tienda (the focal point) earlier in the week to ask if there was any interest in a community meeting to discuss the possibility of a solution to their water issues. He asked the tienda owners to inform the community.
At 6pm Enriqué & I arrived to find a large welcoming group gathered across from the Tienda.
We introduced ourselves & described Rotary & it´s purpose worldwide & told them of the pilot water collection project we completed in Los Torres, & phase II of that project currently in progress.
We took a whiteboard & drew pictures of the cistern & water collection system, & described how it was done. We also passed around the newspaper article published in the Atención that showed the LT kinder & community & the cistern.
We also explained the co-ordination & teaching was done by an organisation called Cedesa.
We asked where they get their water from currently:
• They receive it by pipa (municipality trucks)
• the deliveries are from 8-20 days apart
• sometimes during the rainy season the trucks can not get through to make the deliveries
• They receive 200 ltrs per family per delivery
• They often run out of water between deliveries.
• They do not drink the water, it often smells of chlorine & is a yellowish colour,
• They can not afford the fuel to boil the water so -
• They buy their drinking water
• There are no wells in the community (although a ranch nearby has a well)
We asked if there was any interest in participating in a project if we were to provide the materials & train the trainer, & they build the cisterns in groups for use by individual families. With a show of hands, almost 100% responded yes.
It is very interesting to note that this community was immediately animated & participating in 2 way discussion, other communities that I have visited have been very shy & did not volunteer to “tomar la palabra” (take the word, or speak…),
This community was happily the opposite! They immediately began asking questions & discussing plans amongst themselves.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
1st Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
They asked the next steps –
• since they did not know the size of their community, number of families etc. we asked for them to do a mini-census of those interested in participating in the project
• They were happy to do this in 1 wk
• We agreed to meet the following Sunday at 6pm
Interesting observations:
• Although this community is only 10 minutes from town, the living standards are as bad, if not worse than those of the more rural communities, the rural communities tend to have more space in which to have crops or backyard gardens, this community has smaller (less productive) lots.
• Many of the households are without fathers (working in the USA or absent)
• They have no delegado or community committee organised as they are in the municipality (ie under the Mayor)
• They have no school, the children must attend school in the neighbouring community (apparently a bone of contention)
After the meeting concluded, a number of the people remained milling around asking us questions,
• they would like help to build dry toilets,
• & 2 of the mothers bought forward an 8 year old boy (whose mum was not at the meeting), he does not attend school as his mother can not afford the fees or to buy a uniform, he said he would really like to go to school.
Next meeting Sunday 7 June 6pm – outside the Tienda.
Friday, May 22, 2009
27th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
27th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta)
When: 22.05.09 10.30 – 12pm
Who: Holly Yasui & Benigno (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary),
Purpose: Discuss some points re Phase II of the project , discuss the school cisterns project & how many families for phase III.
Roofing – we discussed the possibility of not needing to replace the asbestos roofing. Some research has found that drinking asbestos may not be too damaging, compared to breathing it! Benigno pointed out that the roofs get very dry & powdery & we decided it is not worth the risk.
Benigno will get price comparison of three types of roofing
• Plastic lamina
• Metal lamina
• Onduline
Benigno is in Venezuela from 26/5 – 1/6.
Holly is in hospital for hip operation for 4 days, June 4,5,6 & 7, then will be in bed recuperating for 2-4 wks.
B will check emails as often as possible, he doesn’t have email at home, but will check whenever he is at Cedesa.
B will also check that they diverted the first rains at the kinder, he told them they needed to. This is the first visit since some rain.
At the meeting of 28th May we need to discuss:
how many families would like to be involved in phase III.
The plan for the school cisterns (Re the SMCF grant number 2)
There was some problem with the cashing of the cheque that was deposited directly into the account for Hierro Comercial, there is a rumour that the cheque was rejected for some reason, we are therefore not sure if the delivery to the community has been made. B will be checking that today, Holly will check on the Chq when she is in Dolores next.
Later discovered – cheque was rejected, something to do with signatures, not sure why & a fee of $172 was charged, with no proper explanation. A big mystery (& huge hassle!)
Next meeting 28.5.09 Los Torres, 11am @ Chucha’s house.
27th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta)
When: 22.05.09 10.30 – 12pm
Who: Holly Yasui & Benigno (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary),
Purpose: Discuss some points re Phase II of the project , discuss the school cisterns project & how many families for phase III.
Roofing – we discussed the possibility of not needing to replace the asbestos roofing. Some research has found that drinking asbestos may not be too damaging, compared to breathing it! Benigno pointed out that the roofs get very dry & powdery & we decided it is not worth the risk.
Benigno will get price comparison of three types of roofing
• Plastic lamina
• Metal lamina
• Onduline
Benigno is in Venezuela from 26/5 – 1/6.
Holly is in hospital for hip operation for 4 days, June 4,5,6 & 7, then will be in bed recuperating for 2-4 wks.
B will check emails as often as possible, he doesn’t have email at home, but will check whenever he is at Cedesa.
B will also check that they diverted the first rains at the kinder, he told them they needed to. This is the first visit since some rain.
At the meeting of 28th May we need to discuss:
how many families would like to be involved in phase III.
The plan for the school cisterns (Re the SMCF grant number 2)
There was some problem with the cashing of the cheque that was deposited directly into the account for Hierro Comercial, there is a rumour that the cheque was rejected for some reason, we are therefore not sure if the delivery to the community has been made. B will be checking that today, Holly will check on the Chq when she is in Dolores next.
Later discovered – cheque was rejected, something to do with signatures, not sure why & a fee of $172 was charged, with no proper explanation. A big mystery (& huge hassle!)
Next meeting 28.5.09 Los Torres, 11am @ Chucha’s house.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
26th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
26th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: Los Torres – Maria de Jesus & José Miguel´s house
When: 23.04.09 12.00 -3.30pm
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Ma Jesus, + 29 adults (including 3 men),
Purpose: Plan Phase II of the project with the community.
Order of discussion –
Chela welcomed everyone, & thanked Ma Jesus for hosting the meeting. Great under the shade! Chela re-iterated the difference between a meeting & an assembly, & asked for volunteer co-ordinator & secretary.
Concha was voted meeting co-ord, & Tere to take the notes.
3 things to cover
1. A review of the project, what have we learnt? Why are we having this meeting? Contaminated water, quality of water. One of the women mentioned that only 1 person in her family has obvious problems with their teeth from the water, & wondered if there was an explanation. (we couldn’t answer that).
It was re-iterated that only those that choose to participate will be able to receive the cisterns.
Ma Jesus (the delegada) said that she hopes that they will have more meetings of this type so they can take more responsibility for issues in their community & speak up more. They would also like to learn how to improve their lives without destroying or negatively impacting the environment.
Chela said
• “people who are quiet will never be heard” as a motivation for others to speak.
• Dont be embarrassed to talk
• You have the right to protest
• If we don’t speak we remain objects, we need to speak to become subjects
Others said
“it´s useful to come to meetings to learn how to come to agreement”
“they learn & decide many things”
& the kindly town drunk said “come to meetings to refresh your heart”.
One very shy man spoke up for the first time to say that he was really surprised how easy it was to build a cistern, he thought it was going to be much more difficult & that it involved welding.
Everyone agreed that they enjoyed the inauguracion on 4.4.
2. Monday & Tues Next week Benigno will come to LT to look at spec.s of each location (with each family).
A number of people decided to wait until phase III so that others could have their cisterns built. Josefina Barranca, Rosa, Dulce, Consuelo, Cruz Rodriguez, Matilde, & Alejandro.
New groups were created for co-operative construction.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
26th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Group 1
Jose Miguel & Maria de Jesus
Hilaria Cruz & Elerterio Ramirez
Concha Alvarado & Santiago Cruz
Juana Barranca & Geronimo Maya
Ma de Carmen Barranca & Rafael Cruz
Porfiria Alvara & Guibino Ferrer
Juana Ramirez & Candido Soria
Group 2
Juan Alvarado & Catalina Landin
Guillermo Alvarado & Delvina Navarro
Reyna Alvarado & Pedro Barranca
Teresa Ramirez & Delfino Alvarado
Juan Sanchenz & Gudelia Alvarado
Maricela Barranca & Guillermo Alvarado
Fabiana Maya & Videl Ferrer
Group 3
Primo Barranca & Ofelia Alvarado
Domingo Mendez & Maria del Ramirez
Maria Soria & Sabino Maya
Maria Dolores Ramirez & Augustin Lara
Cecilia Cruz & Abel Gonzalez
Magdalena Barranca & Leobardo Gonzalez
Group 4
Lucia Gonzalez
Leova Barranca & Samuel Garcia
Maria Guadalupe Barranca & Jesus Martinez
Pabla Ramirez & Hermelando Ferrer
Carolina Cruz & Gerardo Gonzalez
Cecilia Barranca & Aurelio Barranca
(NB I did not get all the groups correct, as there is a total of 27 families & I only have 26)
The plan is to work simultaneously in each group, ie each group to build all the cisterns in that group at once. Once they have worked with Benigno to design the system & cistern placement & piping for each house.
Two from each group will go with Benigno to each of the family houses & arrange the date materials to be delivered & work to begin. Benigno will meet at 10am at the school.
Meeting closed 3.30pm
Next meeting 11am 28.05.09 at Chucha’s house
26th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: Los Torres – Maria de Jesus & José Miguel´s house
When: 23.04.09 12.00 -3.30pm
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Ma Jesus, + 29 adults (including 3 men),
Purpose: Plan Phase II of the project with the community.
Order of discussion –
Chela welcomed everyone, & thanked Ma Jesus for hosting the meeting. Great under the shade! Chela re-iterated the difference between a meeting & an assembly, & asked for volunteer co-ordinator & secretary.
Concha was voted meeting co-ord, & Tere to take the notes.
3 things to cover
1. A review of the project, what have we learnt? Why are we having this meeting? Contaminated water, quality of water. One of the women mentioned that only 1 person in her family has obvious problems with their teeth from the water, & wondered if there was an explanation. (we couldn’t answer that).
It was re-iterated that only those that choose to participate will be able to receive the cisterns.
Ma Jesus (the delegada) said that she hopes that they will have more meetings of this type so they can take more responsibility for issues in their community & speak up more. They would also like to learn how to improve their lives without destroying or negatively impacting the environment.
Chela said
• “people who are quiet will never be heard” as a motivation for others to speak.
• Dont be embarrassed to talk
• You have the right to protest
• If we don’t speak we remain objects, we need to speak to become subjects
Others said
“it´s useful to come to meetings to learn how to come to agreement”
“they learn & decide many things”
& the kindly town drunk said “come to meetings to refresh your heart”.
One very shy man spoke up for the first time to say that he was really surprised how easy it was to build a cistern, he thought it was going to be much more difficult & that it involved welding.
Everyone agreed that they enjoyed the inauguracion on 4.4.
2. Monday & Tues Next week Benigno will come to LT to look at spec.s of each location (with each family).
A number of people decided to wait until phase III so that others could have their cisterns built. Josefina Barranca, Rosa, Dulce, Consuelo, Cruz Rodriguez, Matilde, & Alejandro.
New groups were created for co-operative construction.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
26th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Group 1
Jose Miguel & Maria de Jesus
Hilaria Cruz & Elerterio Ramirez
Concha Alvarado & Santiago Cruz
Juana Barranca & Geronimo Maya
Ma de Carmen Barranca & Rafael Cruz
Porfiria Alvara & Guibino Ferrer
Juana Ramirez & Candido Soria
Group 2
Juan Alvarado & Catalina Landin
Guillermo Alvarado & Delvina Navarro
Reyna Alvarado & Pedro Barranca
Teresa Ramirez & Delfino Alvarado
Juan Sanchenz & Gudelia Alvarado
Maricela Barranca & Guillermo Alvarado
Fabiana Maya & Videl Ferrer
Group 3
Primo Barranca & Ofelia Alvarado
Domingo Mendez & Maria del Ramirez
Maria Soria & Sabino Maya
Maria Dolores Ramirez & Augustin Lara
Cecilia Cruz & Abel Gonzalez
Magdalena Barranca & Leobardo Gonzalez
Group 4
Lucia Gonzalez
Leova Barranca & Samuel Garcia
Maria Guadalupe Barranca & Jesus Martinez
Pabla Ramirez & Hermelando Ferrer
Carolina Cruz & Gerardo Gonzalez
Cecilia Barranca & Aurelio Barranca
(NB I did not get all the groups correct, as there is a total of 27 families & I only have 26)
The plan is to work simultaneously in each group, ie each group to build all the cisterns in that group at once. Once they have worked with Benigno to design the system & cistern placement & piping for each house.
Two from each group will go with Benigno to each of the family houses & arrange the date materials to be delivered & work to begin. Benigno will meet at 10am at the school.
Meeting closed 3.30pm
Next meeting 11am 28.05.09 at Chucha’s house
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