Another brief update, (full reports to follow)...
Both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba began their pilot projects at their respective primary schools today.
During the pilot projects all of the participants learn each of the steps involved in constructing these ferro cement cisterns.
Those that can, help, those that can't, contribute in other ways, they bring food & drinks & help mind children...
A collaborative effort.
Monday, March 22, 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Where: Vivienda de Arriba (40 mins from SMA)
When: Monday 22nd March 11am – 2.10pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Juan & Guillermo Alvarado (Trainers from Los Torres) & 7 adults (5 men & 7 women), by the time I left at 2pm.
Purpose: Pilot – construction of cistern & water collection system at the Vivienda de Arriba primary school.
Background: This pilot was “bought forward”, Juan & Guillermo liaised with the community directly to begin earlier than previously planned. As a result the order for the materials was placed hurriedly by me last Saturday. I had given a typed list of the standard materials required + a list of the variable materials (ie the piping & bricks etc, that changes depending on the location of the cistern in relation to the roof, & roof size etc).
Observations of the day
The supplier, Materiales Rivera – in San Miguel, had assured us the delivery could be made before 9.30 on Monday – it was now 11am & no sign of the materials.
There were 5 men (plus Guillermo & Juan – the trainers), all digging a hole for the pad for the cistern, with shovels & picks. The men were all grandfathers, & none had been at the assemblies, so was good to see them involved. These were all old cowboys, complete with cowboy hats & boots...
Again, they all asked if it was only me – (& my less than fluent Spanish!), & Juan broke out a few words from his English vocab in solidarity.
I met the Maestro (teacher) who was very happy for this project to be happening in his school. They have a small school of just 19 kids, in contrast to Cruz del Palmar, who have around 200 kids!!
I called Holly & asked her to call Materiales Rivera to see what was going on, she called back to say the truck drivers’ mother had died & he had not made it into work today, so they were just sending another truck now. (that was at 11am, & the drive is only 40 mins or so, so we remained hopeful).
Around 11.30 some women arrived laden with buckets, filled with plates, cups, & food.
We assumed it was for almuerzo for the kids but after 20mins the women finally told us they were waiting for us, & that it was to feed the workers...
The cowboys downed shovels & we ate delicious lunch of rice, beans, tortillas & some hot vegetable soup that was described as a hangover cure!! All very delicious & nutritious & washed down with water flavoured with guava (or coke, but the coke bottles remained closed while there was agua fresco available)...
Still we waited, & joked about the truck being lost, until I decided it was time to make another check up call, 2 hrs after the other one!
Again I called Holly, who in turn called Materiales Rivera, to be told the truck had left 15mins ago... hmmmm....
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
The cowboys finished the preparation for the pad, & began to sift the sand for the cement, & finally, with a lot of hurrah! The truck arrived at around 1.15...
By 2.10 when I left, the materials had been unloaded (those old cowboys can carry 8 bricks in one go!), & the mesh was rolled out & being crocheted... More women arrived when the materials go there, & there were 12 people working (+ Juan & Guillermo) when I left...This is a much smaller community than Cruz del Palmar, so a good turnout!
Click on this link to see Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/ViviendaDeArribaWaterProject?feat=directlink
I couldn’t help thinking those old cowboys would have some interesting stories to tell about their lives & adventures in the States, but bid them farewell & congrats on the first stage of their mission, & headed back into town.
Next event – day 4 of the pilot 25th March 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Where: Vivienda de Arriba (40 mins from SMA)
When: Monday 22nd March 11am – 2.10pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Juan & Guillermo Alvarado (Trainers from Los Torres) & 7 adults (5 men & 7 women), by the time I left at 2pm.
Purpose: Pilot – construction of cistern & water collection system at the Vivienda de Arriba primary school.
Background: This pilot was “bought forward”, Juan & Guillermo liaised with the community directly to begin earlier than previously planned. As a result the order for the materials was placed hurriedly by me last Saturday. I had given a typed list of the standard materials required + a list of the variable materials (ie the piping & bricks etc, that changes depending on the location of the cistern in relation to the roof, & roof size etc).
Observations of the day
The supplier, Materiales Rivera – in San Miguel, had assured us the delivery could be made before 9.30 on Monday – it was now 11am & no sign of the materials.
There were 5 men (plus Guillermo & Juan – the trainers), all digging a hole for the pad for the cistern, with shovels & picks. The men were all grandfathers, & none had been at the assemblies, so was good to see them involved. These were all old cowboys, complete with cowboy hats & boots...
Again, they all asked if it was only me – (& my less than fluent Spanish!), & Juan broke out a few words from his English vocab in solidarity.
I met the Maestro (teacher) who was very happy for this project to be happening in his school. They have a small school of just 19 kids, in contrast to Cruz del Palmar, who have around 200 kids!!
I called Holly & asked her to call Materiales Rivera to see what was going on, she called back to say the truck drivers’ mother had died & he had not made it into work today, so they were just sending another truck now. (that was at 11am, & the drive is only 40 mins or so, so we remained hopeful).
Around 11.30 some women arrived laden with buckets, filled with plates, cups, & food.
We assumed it was for almuerzo for the kids but after 20mins the women finally told us they were waiting for us, & that it was to feed the workers...
The cowboys downed shovels & we ate delicious lunch of rice, beans, tortillas & some hot vegetable soup that was described as a hangover cure!! All very delicious & nutritious & washed down with water flavoured with guava (or coke, but the coke bottles remained closed while there was agua fresco available)...
Still we waited, & joked about the truck being lost, until I decided it was time to make another check up call, 2 hrs after the other one!
Again I called Holly, who in turn called Materiales Rivera, to be told the truck had left 15mins ago... hmmmm....
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
The cowboys finished the preparation for the pad, & began to sift the sand for the cement, & finally, with a lot of hurrah! The truck arrived at around 1.15...
By 2.10 when I left, the materials had been unloaded (those old cowboys can carry 8 bricks in one go!), & the mesh was rolled out & being crocheted... More women arrived when the materials go there, & there were 12 people working (+ Juan & Guillermo) when I left...This is a much smaller community than Cruz del Palmar, so a good turnout!
Click on this link to see Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/ViviendaDeArribaWaterProject?feat=directlink
I couldn’t help thinking those old cowboys would have some interesting stories to tell about their lives & adventures in the States, but bid them farewell & congrats on the first stage of their mission, & headed back into town.
Next event – day 4 of the pilot 25th March 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Mon 22nd March 9am-10.40
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Rafael Cruz (trainer from Los Torres) & by 9.30 29adults, approx 50/50 men/women. (7 kids, plus interested onlookers – kids from the primary school).
Purpose: 4 Day Pilot – building a cistern & collection system at the Cruz del Palmar Primary school.
Record of Event
I arrived on time at 9am to find Rafael (the trainer) & around 8 people gathering for the Pilot. By 9.30 there were 29 people, all occupied in the first steps of the construction.
They all asked where Holly, Chela or Elena were, they are nervous when it’s only me, because my Spanish is limited, but we managed to convey all we needed to.
The wire was laid out with the mesh on top & the wire on top of that, there were more people than tools, so one of the guys went to get a grinder & they cut off a strip of the mesh & made more ganchos (hooks), so that everyone could work on this task.
The “crocheting” begins at one side of the roll, by row, & ends at the other, with 4 diamonds of wire mesh “crocheted” in each square of mesh.
Everyone was in good spirit & all eager to learn.
There was a strange “bucket of water” ritual going on at the primary school, it took me a while to work out why there were kids criss-crossing the courtyard carrying buckets of water, in what seemed to be a random way. Turns out, these kids were all going to the toilet, & they needed to first take the bucket & fill it at various taps & mini tanks, then carry it to the toilet, to use to flush, then carry the water back to the mini tank, & the bucket back to the classroom.
I remembered how we as kids used to ask to be excused so we could get some time out of the classroom, & was giggling to myself that so many of these kids were doing the same, then it struck me that many of these kids probably don’t have toilets at home, & so save their “routine” for school.
I don’t know if there were more bucket carriers than usual because they were interested to see what was going on in their playground, many did decide to detour close to the action!
Rafael was very organised & had everyone occupied. I took a few photos, & bid them a successful mission, & headed off to their neighbouring community – Vivienda de Arriba, who were beginning their Pilot at their primary school today too.
One reason for the good turnout - it had been decided by the people at the previous assembly that whoever participates in the training will be on the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
I noticed Analaura had the attendance list in the records book.
Next visit will be on the last day of the Pilot, 25th March at 9am
Photos on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/CruzDelPalmarWaterProject?feat=directlink
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Mon 22nd March 9am-10.40
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Rafael Cruz (trainer from Los Torres) & by 9.30 29adults, approx 50/50 men/women. (7 kids, plus interested onlookers – kids from the primary school).
Purpose: 4 Day Pilot – building a cistern & collection system at the Cruz del Palmar Primary school.
Record of Event
I arrived on time at 9am to find Rafael (the trainer) & around 8 people gathering for the Pilot. By 9.30 there were 29 people, all occupied in the first steps of the construction.
They all asked where Holly, Chela or Elena were, they are nervous when it’s only me, because my Spanish is limited, but we managed to convey all we needed to.
The wire was laid out with the mesh on top & the wire on top of that, there were more people than tools, so one of the guys went to get a grinder & they cut off a strip of the mesh & made more ganchos (hooks), so that everyone could work on this task.
The “crocheting” begins at one side of the roll, by row, & ends at the other, with 4 diamonds of wire mesh “crocheted” in each square of mesh.
Everyone was in good spirit & all eager to learn.
There was a strange “bucket of water” ritual going on at the primary school, it took me a while to work out why there were kids criss-crossing the courtyard carrying buckets of water, in what seemed to be a random way. Turns out, these kids were all going to the toilet, & they needed to first take the bucket & fill it at various taps & mini tanks, then carry it to the toilet, to use to flush, then carry the water back to the mini tank, & the bucket back to the classroom.
I remembered how we as kids used to ask to be excused so we could get some time out of the classroom, & was giggling to myself that so many of these kids were doing the same, then it struck me that many of these kids probably don’t have toilets at home, & so save their “routine” for school.
I don’t know if there were more bucket carriers than usual because they were interested to see what was going on in their playground, many did decide to detour close to the action!
Rafael was very organised & had everyone occupied. I took a few photos, & bid them a successful mission, & headed off to their neighbouring community – Vivienda de Arriba, who were beginning their Pilot at their primary school today too.
One reason for the good turnout - it had been decided by the people at the previous assembly that whoever participates in the training will be on the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
I noticed Analaura had the attendance list in the records book.
Next visit will be on the last day of the Pilot, 25th March at 9am
Photos on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/CruzDelPalmarWaterProject?feat=directlink
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