Report 2 on Vivienda de Arriba assembly, March 10, 2010
Report kindly written by Holly Yasui in Laura's absence.
We arrived at Vivienda de Arriba a Little before 3 p.m., and there was a small group of people from Tierra Blanca waiting outside the chapel, including Juana Granados and her son Fernando who attended the Water Day activities in Los Torres on March 5. They told us it was a 20-minute walk from Tierra Blanca to Vivienda de Arriba.
Ana Maria Torres, who has been our main contact in Vivienda de Arriba, arrived right on the dot at 3 p.m., saw that the gate was locked and went off to get a key. We entered the churchyard, and because it was very windy, decided to meet in a small room on the side of the chapel so that Chela could use the rotofolio without the pages flying around.
Holly passed her notebook around for a list of persons attending, and at 3:30 there were 14 people from Vivienda and 10 from Tierra Blanca. More arrived in the course of the meeting, see below the two groups formed for the training. Two weeks ago, Ana had asked us at the last Los Torres assembly if we could limit the number of people from Tierra Blanca at “their” (Vivienda’s) assemblies, and she made sure that the notebook that I passed around was signed first by people from Vivienda de Arriba, then the people from Tierra Blanca. (Note: after the meeting, in the privacy of her mother-in-law’s house, Ana told us that she felt that the people from Tierra Blanca were “troublesome” or “belligerent” - the word in Spanish is “conflictiva” - because at their water committee meetings, held in Tierra Blanca where the well is located, the Tierrablancans always steamroll over everyone else. As Chela and Holly were driving back to La Cieneguita, Chela explained that there is often conflict between large and small communities, especially as regards water for “newcomers” since the water committee is always a political football.)
Chela started the assembly off by asking the newcomers why they had come to this meeting, and then asking those who had attended the last assembly to explain the project. As in Cruz del Palmar in the morning, she discussed the difference between the government programs (only “Piso Firme” and “Oportunidades” have been promulgated in Vivienda de A) that owe the people attention, and nonprofit organizations like CEDESA and Rotary, which work with communities in solidarity. She emphasized that communities need to organize themselves in order to get the government to help them to solve their problems.
Chela also engaged the people at the meeting in a discussion of the contamination of water – whether or not it is contaminated, and why; also what they should use the water from rain-harvesting for (drinking and cooking only, not washing). She explained that there are three players in the rain-harvesting project: the community provides labor in mutual-aid groups (what they provide is: work, cooperation and participation in meetings and training), CEDESA helps the community to organize, and Rotary provides materials for the construction, and pays the trainers, who are men from Los Torres who learned how to make the cisterns during their initial project. She asked Holly to explain the training and construction process, which she did, starting with the weaving together of the two meshes, the raising of the frame, the application of cement, placing the spigot and water-level indicator tube, the door and connecting the pipes from the roof. Holly also mentioned the need for space next to their roofs for the cistern, and the number of days required to build them (4), as Laura had expressed concern that the people understand this clearly from the outset, since this was a problem at Lomas de San Josè.
Chela then focused on the people from Vivienda because, as she put it, a delegation from Vivienda has been attending the meetings at Los Torres since last October, so they have been waiting a long time for their project to begin whereas the people from Tierra Blanca have just begun the process.
The people from Vivienda decided to do their pilot project at the primary school (only 19 students there, but the kinder has only 6! It is a very small community), and split up into two groups as follows (names followed by asterisks are the team leaders):
GROUP 1
Ana Maria Torres*
Agripina Ramírez*
Lorena Vazquéz
Valentin (represented by his mother, Marcelina who lives in Cruz del Palmar)
Aurelia
Gloria*
Lorena Ramírez
Ana Isabel Ramírez
María de la Luz Ramírez
Alfredo Granados
GROUP 2
Ángela
Julia/Patricio Torres*
Maricela Granados*
Teresa Alvarado
Cristina Morales*
Irene López
Cirila Ramírez
María de Jesús
Natividad
Tomasa
The training will take place the week of April 5, concurrent with the training at Cruz del Palmar, if the Los Torres Consulting Team (equipo de asesoria) can do it then. Holly called Miguel Cruz in Los Torres to ask him to coordinate that with the other three on the team, and will call back on Friday, March 12 to confirm.
Next Assembly April 14th 3pm.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 4
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Wed 10th March 11am – 1.30pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Holly Yasui & Chela Martinez (for Cedesa) 32 adults (incl. 2 men), + 15 kids.
Purpose: Planning for the next stage of the water project
Update: As a result of the change of Scope of the MG received for the community of Lomas de San Jose, (who recently declined our project for lack of numbers). we now have immediate funding for this community,
With this MG we have sufficient funding for 19 cisterns, 1 pilot & 18 individual family cisterns. Vivienda de Arriba (neighbouring community) will receive the other 19 cisterns.
Record of Event
We managed to arrive on time this time, after getting lost last time!
When we arrived Yolande had already created a circular seating arrangement out of planks & bricks.
The people slowly filtered in, & we began the assembly at 11.30.
Item 1 – Welcome
Chela welcomed everyone & asked how long they thought the meeting should be – everyone looked a bit blank, so Holly responded – ideally 1 hour.
Chela explained it’s important to meet & get to know eachother & to relate, & in the process of relating establish a relationship of trust between “you & us”...
Everyone was asked to introduce themselves – first names only to make it easier. There was some giggling as people are embarrassed to speak, one young woman introduced her mother instead, until we insisted she say her own name.
Chela invited everyone to call her Chela, not Senorita, she said she’s over that, & asked them to feel confident to speak.
They were asked for a show of hands as to who was here today, but not the previous meeting. (approx 10 people).
Chela said she would co-ordinate the meeting this time, but in future meetings they will will elect a co-ordinator & record taker each time.
Item 2 – explanation & background
Chela “why are you here today?”
Responses –
I have come to hear what the program is about,
To hear about the cisternas, I’m interested because we need water.
I live in the top part of CdP & we have a lot of problems with water, we suffer a lot.
I want to know if I’m on the list, if I’m not I’ll leave the meeting, I want to know more about it.
I live here & I went to Los Torres to ask what they have & how they got it, & to see “what you gave to them”...
Record of Event pg 2 of 4
I’m attending to get more info, 3rd hand is not so good, you have to find out for yourself, that’s why I’m here.
Chela “what is the objective of this meeting/reunion?”
Chela invited Laura (through Holly) to talk a little about our history working with Cedesa in Los Torres. (I gave a brief history).
Chela talked about Cedesa, it’s not a program, it’s a school to train people on organising. Chela also explained that Rotary was a large organisation with more than 30,000 clubs worldwide, a service organisation, voluntary. Without everyone on the team we can’t resolve this, we’re a team, with integral development being the goal or objective.
Rotary can not resolve all the issues, but with Cedesa training you can take control of your own issues & resolve them, by finding necessary resources.
We wish to collaborate with people in the region to resolve the issue of lack of safe drinking water.
Chela “what water problems do you have?”
- Contaminated water
- Can’t drink the water
- Often water is not there when we turn on the taps
- Water from the taps (if it is there) is not drinkable.
We are offering to assist with the construction of cisterns to catch water for drinking & cooking.
Chela “If you buy water, who get’s the $$$?”
- Santorini, Ciel, Bonafont, & these are owned by Coca Cola & Pepsi & Nestle – foreign ownership.
“how much do you spend on water weekly?”
- 80pesos, $100 pesos, $120 pesos (depending on family sizes)
A garafon is 20 litres so each litre is 1 peso.
52 wks x 80pesos = 4140 pesos per year, money they don’t have!
Cisterna is 12,000 litres & costs approx $8000 pesos, once, & then water is free from then on.
In 2 years you could have bought your own cistern!
This is the significance of water & cost in your household. Water is life, the subterranean water does not represent life for you guys, since it is contaminated in this region, rain water is life.
Chela”how is this affecting your family economy?”
Response – with giggles – we’re getting poorer & the companies are getting richer.
We – Cedesa & Rotary, come out of solidarity, the govt has a responsibility to respond to your issue. The govt. Administers $$$ but where do those $$$ come from? “us, Taxes”
They have a responsibility to help you with resources to resolve your drinking water issue – yes or no? “YES”.
Record of Event pg 3 of 4
Item 3 – planning phase
How many families are there in CdP? – 300
We can’t help 300 families but we can train people, & have an impact. We can train one group & they can train others & after you can ask Govt. For help with financial resources to purchase materials.
The first phase is training for you:
33 families on the list.
Community provides participation, labour to build.
Cedesa provides the training
Rotary provides $$$ for the materials.
The list needs to be divided into groups to learn the full process of construction.
If you can’t help with construction, you can contribute by bringing food & drink to the workers.
The training phase consists of a pilot of 4 days to build the cistern. The work involves
1. Crochet the wire
2. Mix concrete
3. Apply concrete
All things most people can do easily. The final application of the concrete is a little more specialist but there are people in your community who do this easily.
Whoever participates in the training will be the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
Item 4 Pilot project plans
Where would you like to build the first cistern?
Primary 200 kids
Secondaria 900 kids
Kinder 50 kids
They decided the primary school, since they provide breakfast at school & it has the longest school day. They use 2 garafons of water per meal. One cistern will not be sufficient water for drinking for all the kids, but will help with the meal preparation.
The smallest kids are the most prone to health issues.
In CdP all the schools buy water, they ask the parents for donations for this.
There are 33 people here today, we need to work in groups, it was decided to have 3 groups of 11. Those in bold are the chosen leaders.
Record of Event pg 4 of 4
Group 1.
Lucia
Sonia
Maria
Teresa
Imelda
Jose Luis
Ester Maya
Juana
Irene
Marta
Martin
Group 2
Laura
Yola
Diana
Celia
Julia
Soledad
Elizabeth
Leticia
Olivia
Estela
Wencilada Group 3
Cristina
Nicolasa
Benita
Marcelina
Eva
Leticia N
Esther
Herminia
Maricela
Luisa
Domitilia
All the leaders need to take info re their groups, & ensure they all have sufficient space (2.5m) for the cistern.
The head of the PTA (Sonia) will check with the Teachers (since confirmed yes).
We arranged materials will be delivered on the 5th April, but since then Rafael (from Los Torres) who will be doing the training, went to visit & co-ordinate directly with the community & changed the date until 22nd March. (Materials to be delivered before then – Laura placed the order on the 17th March & made payment).
Proposed demo days are now 22, 23,24,25th March. 10am to 5pm.
Leaders are responsible for co-ordinating their groups, ie attendance, food & drink
They will need to bring tools
Wheel barrow, wire cutters, ganchos/hooks, trowels, shovels, ladder, buckets.
More than 2 people from each group will need to learn the entire process, ideally 4. So that for the individual cistern construction there are more experts.
The next assembly is planned for 14th April at 11am –
The community thanked us & departed, & Yolande invited us in for some lunch.
Delicious, beans with chorizo, nopal & tomato, torillas, beans & a guava drink.
We headed out full & happy at 2pm, Laura headed back to town to attend her son’s birthday dinner, & Chela & Holly went on to the 2nd assembly in Vivienda de Arriba.
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Wed 10th March 11am – 1.30pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Holly Yasui & Chela Martinez (for Cedesa) 32 adults (incl. 2 men), + 15 kids.
Purpose: Planning for the next stage of the water project
Update: As a result of the change of Scope of the MG received for the community of Lomas de San Jose, (who recently declined our project for lack of numbers). we now have immediate funding for this community,
With this MG we have sufficient funding for 19 cisterns, 1 pilot & 18 individual family cisterns. Vivienda de Arriba (neighbouring community) will receive the other 19 cisterns.
Record of Event
We managed to arrive on time this time, after getting lost last time!
When we arrived Yolande had already created a circular seating arrangement out of planks & bricks.
The people slowly filtered in, & we began the assembly at 11.30.
Item 1 – Welcome
Chela welcomed everyone & asked how long they thought the meeting should be – everyone looked a bit blank, so Holly responded – ideally 1 hour.
Chela explained it’s important to meet & get to know eachother & to relate, & in the process of relating establish a relationship of trust between “you & us”...
Everyone was asked to introduce themselves – first names only to make it easier. There was some giggling as people are embarrassed to speak, one young woman introduced her mother instead, until we insisted she say her own name.
Chela invited everyone to call her Chela, not Senorita, she said she’s over that, & asked them to feel confident to speak.
They were asked for a show of hands as to who was here today, but not the previous meeting. (approx 10 people).
Chela said she would co-ordinate the meeting this time, but in future meetings they will will elect a co-ordinator & record taker each time.
Item 2 – explanation & background
Chela “why are you here today?”
Responses –
I have come to hear what the program is about,
To hear about the cisternas, I’m interested because we need water.
I live in the top part of CdP & we have a lot of problems with water, we suffer a lot.
I want to know if I’m on the list, if I’m not I’ll leave the meeting, I want to know more about it.
I live here & I went to Los Torres to ask what they have & how they got it, & to see “what you gave to them”...
Record of Event pg 2 of 4
I’m attending to get more info, 3rd hand is not so good, you have to find out for yourself, that’s why I’m here.
Chela “what is the objective of this meeting/reunion?”
Chela invited Laura (through Holly) to talk a little about our history working with Cedesa in Los Torres. (I gave a brief history).
Chela talked about Cedesa, it’s not a program, it’s a school to train people on organising. Chela also explained that Rotary was a large organisation with more than 30,000 clubs worldwide, a service organisation, voluntary. Without everyone on the team we can’t resolve this, we’re a team, with integral development being the goal or objective.
Rotary can not resolve all the issues, but with Cedesa training you can take control of your own issues & resolve them, by finding necessary resources.
We wish to collaborate with people in the region to resolve the issue of lack of safe drinking water.
Chela “what water problems do you have?”
- Contaminated water
- Can’t drink the water
- Often water is not there when we turn on the taps
- Water from the taps (if it is there) is not drinkable.
We are offering to assist with the construction of cisterns to catch water for drinking & cooking.
Chela “If you buy water, who get’s the $$$?”
- Santorini, Ciel, Bonafont, & these are owned by Coca Cola & Pepsi & Nestle – foreign ownership.
“how much do you spend on water weekly?”
- 80pesos, $100 pesos, $120 pesos (depending on family sizes)
A garafon is 20 litres so each litre is 1 peso.
52 wks x 80pesos = 4140 pesos per year, money they don’t have!
Cisterna is 12,000 litres & costs approx $8000 pesos, once, & then water is free from then on.
In 2 years you could have bought your own cistern!
This is the significance of water & cost in your household. Water is life, the subterranean water does not represent life for you guys, since it is contaminated in this region, rain water is life.
Chela”how is this affecting your family economy?”
Response – with giggles – we’re getting poorer & the companies are getting richer.
We – Cedesa & Rotary, come out of solidarity, the govt has a responsibility to respond to your issue. The govt. Administers $$$ but where do those $$$ come from? “us, Taxes”
They have a responsibility to help you with resources to resolve your drinking water issue – yes or no? “YES”.
Record of Event pg 3 of 4
Item 3 – planning phase
How many families are there in CdP? – 300
We can’t help 300 families but we can train people, & have an impact. We can train one group & they can train others & after you can ask Govt. For help with financial resources to purchase materials.
The first phase is training for you:
33 families on the list.
Community provides participation, labour to build.
Cedesa provides the training
Rotary provides $$$ for the materials.
The list needs to be divided into groups to learn the full process of construction.
If you can’t help with construction, you can contribute by bringing food & drink to the workers.
The training phase consists of a pilot of 4 days to build the cistern. The work involves
1. Crochet the wire
2. Mix concrete
3. Apply concrete
All things most people can do easily. The final application of the concrete is a little more specialist but there are people in your community who do this easily.
Whoever participates in the training will be the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
Item 4 Pilot project plans
Where would you like to build the first cistern?
Primary 200 kids
Secondaria 900 kids
Kinder 50 kids
They decided the primary school, since they provide breakfast at school & it has the longest school day. They use 2 garafons of water per meal. One cistern will not be sufficient water for drinking for all the kids, but will help with the meal preparation.
The smallest kids are the most prone to health issues.
In CdP all the schools buy water, they ask the parents for donations for this.
There are 33 people here today, we need to work in groups, it was decided to have 3 groups of 11. Those in bold are the chosen leaders.
Record of Event pg 4 of 4
Group 1.
Lucia
Sonia
Maria
Teresa
Imelda
Jose Luis
Ester Maya
Juana
Irene
Marta
Martin
Group 2
Laura
Yola
Diana
Celia
Julia
Soledad
Elizabeth
Leticia
Olivia
Estela
Wencilada Group 3
Cristina
Nicolasa
Benita
Marcelina
Eva
Leticia N
Esther
Herminia
Maricela
Luisa
Domitilia
All the leaders need to take info re their groups, & ensure they all have sufficient space (2.5m) for the cistern.
The head of the PTA (Sonia) will check with the Teachers (since confirmed yes).
We arranged materials will be delivered on the 5th April, but since then Rafael (from Los Torres) who will be doing the training, went to visit & co-ordinate directly with the community & changed the date until 22nd March. (Materials to be delivered before then – Laura placed the order on the 17th March & made payment).
Proposed demo days are now 22, 23,24,25th March. 10am to 5pm.
Leaders are responsible for co-ordinating their groups, ie attendance, food & drink
They will need to bring tools
Wheel barrow, wire cutters, ganchos/hooks, trowels, shovels, ladder, buckets.
More than 2 people from each group will need to learn the entire process, ideally 4. So that for the individual cistern construction there are more experts.
The next assembly is planned for 14th April at 11am –
The community thanked us & departed, & Yolande invited us in for some lunch.
Delicious, beans with chorizo, nopal & tomato, torillas, beans & a guava drink.
We headed out full & happy at 2pm, Laura headed back to town to attend her son’s birthday dinner, & Chela & Holly went on to the 2nd assembly in Vivienda de Arriba.
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