Record of Event pg 1 of 3
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Capaderillo potential water Project
Where: Capaderillo Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Wed 5th May at 12pm
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), & Chela (Cedesa) + 31 adults (including 2 men) +3kids (& 2 dogs)
Purpose: Next Assembly re potential future water project in this community
There are 5 new people @ today’s meeting.
26 who have been in previous meetings (or sent representatives).
This is the 3rd community assembly/meeting & everyone was invited to say their name (first name only) to introduce themselves, this is surprisingly a very difficult task for some, who are too shy to say their first names, & introduce themselves as “her daughter” for example…
Procopio, the young kid that answered the hydraulic cycle questions last time is back again.
Chela asked for proposal for a co-ordinator – everyone too shy… she prompted them to describe what the role consisted of. “inform those that don’t understand, the reason for the meeting”, “ people raise their hands to talk, & the co-ordinator ‘gives people the word’ “… “to keep order”, “to provoke participation”. “ solicit the attendees for agenda topics”, “help analyse the issues raised”,
Elvia was proposed & she joked about proposing Tomasa for the role (Tomasa wasn’t here today!)… All voted for Elvia.
Chela then realised that we had newcomers & we should explain who we are & why we’re here for them. Essentially she gave a brief explanation that we are planning a resolution for the drinking water issue.
Elvia was directed to call for Agenda items for today’s meeting.
• Progress
• Promises/commitments
• Revise meetings of ecology & sapasma & presidencia
• Planning the next step
Chela asked those visiting for the first time where they were from. 2 were visiting from Vivienda de Abajo, they want to know more & they were invited by friend. They were asked to describe their water circumstance… Alicia – no community well, a family pozo (well) (contaminated), they are close to the school & have to carry water there. The other woman has a well but it dries up in the dry season, they have to pull the water up by hand, it’s actually her sister’s well.
Around 12 people attending today have their own wells, from 15-25 mtrs deep, the problem is these wells are contaminated. Chela explained soon Cedesa will be able to do tests of their wells, but the tests the govt has done in the past show levels of 4mg/l (VERY DANGEROUS LEVELS), & that’s really why we are all here.
Chela explained that Vivienda de Arriba & Cruz del Palmar communities came to us after seeing the success of Los Torres (in Montecillo de Nieto – we went to them), the word is spreading & therefore the solution is growing.
Chela “you are all interested in being involved in resolving your own issue, through participation & construction of your own cisterns.
Revise meetings of ecology & sapasma & presidencia
Laura (through Elena) described the process by which $$$ have now become available for the project here in Capaderillo.
Ecology has agreed to fund the project which comes with great added responsibility for this Community - this project really has to succeed. Future project funding will be reliant on the success of this project.
Record of Event pg 2 of 3
The partners will be Cedesa (organising), Los Torres tech guys, (teaching & demonstrating construction), Rotary (oversight & reporting), Ecology Green fund ($$ for the project) & Capaderillo Community (building their own cisterns)…All of this is to happen before the next rains (ie in the next 6 -8 wks).
Question Why do we build the type of cisterns we do? Why not below ground?
One of the men present asked why we build the above ground cisterns & there was discussion around this… Chela said there are basically 2 types of water tanks, above ground & below ground. She asked why we build above ground
“imagine it takes more work to excavate a hole”,
Other reasons why we don’t use below ground cisterns:
• It takes more work to retrieve the water daily from a below ground cistern (as opposed to turning on a tap).
• It is harder to keep clean, as it has to be opened to retrieve the water (bacteria/dirt is easily introduced).
• Harder to identify a leak.
• Is more likely to get slime as it is uncovered while retrieving water
We compared the process of receiving funds from the Ecology green fund (which comes largely from fines for infringements on environmental laws), versus the huge work involved in applying for & eventually receiving $$ from Rotary. Chela said it is important for them to know how many people are working on their behalf in so many different areas…
At this point there was a lot of information being transferred & people were starting to look a bit glassy eyed, Chela challenged one man, he said “I’m falling asleep but I’m still gathering all the info” everyone laughed…
Chela reiterated it’s important that everyone knows the whole team, & solidarity behind them, & that now the Municipality is responding to this call for help (as per their obligation to respond), & now they know all about the greenfund too!
It was explained that we have to come up with a full plan to present on the 15th of May to Ecology for approval, it involves responsibility, commitment & volunteering to work, it is incredibly important to get this right as it will open the door for others in the same predicament.
Planning the next step
How many cisterns to include? How many people had attended previous meetings, as part of the commitment in order to receive these materials (cisterns) was participation in the meetings.
It was decided minimum attendance of 2 of the 3 meetings was necessary to qualify to get on the list.
The next step is to start forming groups (work groups). Saul explained it is very important that those who volunteer for each group are happy to work together, & are able to work at the same time (ie some might choose weekends, others afternoons). Working together in groups if primary to the success of the project, & when the materials arrive, we don’t want people to just want to build their own cisterns & not help in a team.
The Pilot will be at the primary school.
At this point there are approx. 30 on the list, so there will be 5 groups of 6 families.
Saul reiterated how important it is to have a minimum of 1 abanile (experienced builder) in the group. Julio, one of the other men, said if there is not one per group, we can look for one to help.
Record of Event pg 3 of 3
Group 1
Cruz*
Saul*
Enedina
Elvia
Emma
Reinalda
Group 2
Timotea*
Estelo*
Maria Con.
Julia
Luz
Elena
Group 3
Consuelo
Remedios
Margarita
Juana V.
Cristina*
Maria Guad*
Group 4
Carolina*
Lucia
Adriana
Nicolasa
Francisca
Marino*
Group 5
Juana A*
Lucia
Hermelinda*
Lilia
Martina
Noema
Group 6 (pending)
Eva*
Juana R
Alicia (VdAb)
Martina(VdAb)
Francisca (1st mtg)
Herminia (1st mtg)
Pulchiria(mother)
* denotes group leaders/co-ordinators
While working with people to form groups, it was discovered that there are 7 people who would like to be on the list, but are on the “waiting list” since they haven’t attended the requisite number of meetings at this point.
Hence we now have 37 people on the list to receive cisterns.
The next meeting was to be 2nd June at 11am, but since we have since received the good news that the funding from Ecology is definite, there will be an additional planning meeting on Wed. 26th May at 11am (pre meeting at 10am)
Next Assembly in Capaderillo will be Wednesday 26/5 at 11am (10am in El Cortijo)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
8th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
8th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: Montecillo de Nieto Kindergarten
When: 05.05.10 12.20 – 1.20pm
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), 12 women & 1 man.
Purpose: Resolve Group 4 work issues
Meeting was called in answer to a request to help resolve working issues in Group 4. 2 women who are supposed to be part of the group are not working with the group, they simply came to see the work being done & then went home. The women who are working would like help to resolve this, & are suggesting another woman receive the materials of one of these women, since she is working with them of her own accord.
When we arrived the women were ready & waiting. They reported they have completed one cistern already, & it has water in it to stop it cracking, this water will be emptied before the rains, so to not contaminate the drinkable rain water.
Elena opened the discussions with a general description about growth, & not asking or relying on others, but taking responsibility for ones own actions, working in harmony & in peace to make success with your own hands…
The materials for just 3 of the 6 in the group have arrived, this is as planned, ie the first 3 cisterns need to be completed before the materials for the next 3 cisterns will be delivered.
Of the 2 women who have said to be not working, one was present & one came later during the meeting. The one woman attending said she could not work because her son was sick.
The other women in the group said they don’t mind if she receives the materials but they don’t intend to help her build her cistern, & they’re concerned this will create a precedent of others wanting to build their own cisterns without helping or co-operating in a group (one of the main objectives of this project is to learn to work in groups to solve issues).
The 2nd woman arrived, & discussion centred around responsibility & being part of a team.
There was a lot of discussion as to how to resolve this, whether the women should receive the materials or whether the materials be given to people who are working & prepared to work.
The woman with the sick son apparently is married to a “mason” who could help with the work of the cisterns. She would ask him.
A proposal was made - if the women demonstrate their motivation to make up for their lack of involvement, ie by bringing meals to the 3 families on the days she is unable to work, they will consider it..
Woman 1 with the sick son – Cruz Jimenez, will do extra work, ie her husband will help.
Woman 2 – Saleta - will provide food on Sat & Sun to the working party (breakfast & lunch), & will work with the group on Mon, Tues & Wed.
It was then raised that another woman – Consuelo Ramirez, had been working extra hard, despite not being on the list to receive materials for a cistern.
Laura suggested that since we are running slightly under budget there is enough $$ to make her the 27th cistern…
After the meeting was closed, Saleta admitted the reason she had not been involved, is she was afraid she couldn’t actually do the work required, she had never done this type of work before. This is why she had jumped at the chance of providing food, since that’s something she knows very well how to do! The others explained how easy it actually was & that she had to get over her fear & just start doing the work - & she’d soon realize how easy it is.
Next Assembly in Montecillo de Nieto 16.6.10 12pm at Kinder
8th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: Montecillo de Nieto Kindergarten
When: 05.05.10 12.20 – 1.20pm
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), 12 women & 1 man.
Purpose: Resolve Group 4 work issues
Meeting was called in answer to a request to help resolve working issues in Group 4. 2 women who are supposed to be part of the group are not working with the group, they simply came to see the work being done & then went home. The women who are working would like help to resolve this, & are suggesting another woman receive the materials of one of these women, since she is working with them of her own accord.
When we arrived the women were ready & waiting. They reported they have completed one cistern already, & it has water in it to stop it cracking, this water will be emptied before the rains, so to not contaminate the drinkable rain water.
Elena opened the discussions with a general description about growth, & not asking or relying on others, but taking responsibility for ones own actions, working in harmony & in peace to make success with your own hands…
The materials for just 3 of the 6 in the group have arrived, this is as planned, ie the first 3 cisterns need to be completed before the materials for the next 3 cisterns will be delivered.
Of the 2 women who have said to be not working, one was present & one came later during the meeting. The one woman attending said she could not work because her son was sick.
The other women in the group said they don’t mind if she receives the materials but they don’t intend to help her build her cistern, & they’re concerned this will create a precedent of others wanting to build their own cisterns without helping or co-operating in a group (one of the main objectives of this project is to learn to work in groups to solve issues).
The 2nd woman arrived, & discussion centred around responsibility & being part of a team.
There was a lot of discussion as to how to resolve this, whether the women should receive the materials or whether the materials be given to people who are working & prepared to work.
The woman with the sick son apparently is married to a “mason” who could help with the work of the cisterns. She would ask him.
A proposal was made - if the women demonstrate their motivation to make up for their lack of involvement, ie by bringing meals to the 3 families on the days she is unable to work, they will consider it..
Woman 1 with the sick son – Cruz Jimenez, will do extra work, ie her husband will help.
Woman 2 – Saleta - will provide food on Sat & Sun to the working party (breakfast & lunch), & will work with the group on Mon, Tues & Wed.
It was then raised that another woman – Consuelo Ramirez, had been working extra hard, despite not being on the list to receive materials for a cistern.
Laura suggested that since we are running slightly under budget there is enough $$ to make her the 27th cistern…
After the meeting was closed, Saleta admitted the reason she had not been involved, is she was afraid she couldn’t actually do the work required, she had never done this type of work before. This is why she had jumped at the chance of providing food, since that’s something she knows very well how to do! The others explained how easy it actually was & that she had to get over her fear & just start doing the work - & she’d soon realize how easy it is.
Next Assembly in Montecillo de Nieto 16.6.10 12pm at Kinder
Report of 1st visit to Tierra Blanca
Where: Tierra Blanca – courtyard beside old church, under big tree…
When: 05.05.10 2pm
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), Chela (Cedesa), 34 women, 7 men, 11kids, 7dogs
Purpose: We were invited to visit this community to talk about water issues.
Back ground:
Tierra Blanca backs onto Vivienda de Arriba & Cruz del Palmar. The community of Tierra Blanca has a large sapasma drilled community well which they share with Vivienda de Arriba & Espejo (approx. 30 families).
2 members of TB have attended assemblies in Los Torres & several have attended assemblies in Vivienda de Arriba, to ask about the possibility of having a water project in their community.
2 women were waiting under a tree on the road from Vivienda de Arriba, to show us the way to Tierra Blanca. We drove down the road past VdA & came to a dried river bed full of rocks, in one place there were several deep puddles, this is where we crossed.
Tierra Blanca lies right beside this (dried) river, called “Sandamien Rio” which is apparently the same river as San Marco, further down.
We were greeted by many women, & led to the courtyard beside the old church. There was a very big overhanging tree (shade) & a long concrete ledge (seat) for everyone in the community to sit on.
We were not able to make a circle in the shade, so sat with them on the long ledge & us in front of them on crates.
We all introduced ourselves, & Chela explained about Cedesa & Rotary, & their respective roles, as well as our collaboration.
She asked who was familiar with Los Torres (they all were), & with the project there – again a majority. She said many of them had come to the assembly in VdA & asked for us to visit this community. She asked who were invited to today’s assembly, they advised not all had been informed, just a 1st group to exchange information & see what it’s all about.
One of the comments “we like what Los Torres has, it’s very beautiful, maybe the water is bad here, there have been lots of illnesses & we’re not sure what’s causing it, maybe it is the water. People here have had a lot of lung cancer, starting with sore backs & with a short time, cancer & death, the latest death is a 22 yr old woman, she had pain her back & then was in her grave very quickly”
“we don’t have elders in this community, most people die young here”
We began to ask questions –
• There are approx. 120 families, & in the whole community only 8 people who are older than 70.
• One 70+ woman was at the assembly, she spoke & said the only reason she thinks she is still alive, is that she didn’t come from TB originally, she came here when she was 16, she said both her son & daughter (born in TB) are already dead.
• This has been a problem for 30 yrs or more.
Chela began to speak about bad food, as she looked around & saw many eating “cheetos” & drinking coca cola. They estimated they have had this food in the community for 20 or 30 yrs. It is cheap, light & easy to carry, & easy to access. They eat junk food because they say they don’t have the money for better food.
Chela asked if they eat it every day – “yes or every other day”. They sell it in the school & in all the tiendas (small shops),
Chela – It’s poinsonous – you know that right? “yes but we cant afford the other food”, “we don’t know better, it’s a way of life”, “it’s like an addiction, even if we don’t have the money, we ask for credit & buy it”. “the doctor said not to drink coke when you’re pregnant, but everyone does”
One of the women who has a tienda is obviously angry at Chela for telling her customers not to buy this food, “all communities consume coke, it’s not just this one!”.
This is just part of the problem…
There were more reports of illness & death.
“whole family disappeared, cancer or something”
“amputee uncle, at nopales, agua miel, ate well, but they all died of cancer, all her cousins, her mother died of a big bump in her stomach, they were drinking water from puddles”
“TB has had a well for 10 yrs now”
The tienda owner said “there is a big alcohol problem, & water problem, the whole community has the problem.”
Generally the community gets along well, & they even shake hands when they see eachother, “yes we fight, some agree with me, others don’t (again the tienda owner).
Chela talked about assemblies: they are very helpful for listening & speaking & analysing issues.
You must leave personal issues at home, & just talk about community issues at the assemblies.
We met Susanah (Concha from Los Torres’ s sister, Guillermo’s other daughter)
Chela asked if they would like us to help with the issue of early mortality – they all said yes…
She suggested we need to analyse the water first, although it is strange that the issue only appears to exist in Tierra Blanca yet there are 3 communities sharing the same water source…
We asked if they had taken this issue to the health authorities or asked for help from anyone on this.
They have mentioned it at the health clinic in Cruz del Palmar, & were told just to boil their water & add chlorine drops (if it is chemical poisoning, this will worsten the situation!), they also mentioned it to the teachers at the Cruz del Palmar secondaria school, the teachers were empathetic but couldn’t suggest anything.
Water talk.
We talked a little about the potential for a water cistern project, described what it involved & referred to Los Torres. Here are some general water facts from this community
Pimaria approx. 80 kids
Secondaria approx. 50 kids
Kinder approx. 25 kids
Community well, with metal piping to other houses in their community, + 2 other communities (VdA & Espejo),
Well is 10 yrs old
Well is approx. 150 mtrs deep
Water pumped to holding tank & then piped to households, sometimes it works in the morning sometimes in the afternoon
Some people have latrines, most do not & “just go in the wild”
Water is mostly clear & transparent in the lower parts of the community
Water in the higher up parts of the community is often yellow, probably piping problems
The tienda owner, does not have water as she chose not to participate in the sapasma program
(it was insisted that we go to Julia’s house for a snack - tostadas, lettuce, rice, beans)
While we were at Julia’s house they discussed that the whole community was built on an old Otomi burial ground. They said under parts of their house were ruins & graves, & that during the rains often bones & skulls were washed out on the hills.
They also talked about many years ago, people digging for “treasure” buried with the bones, & that pottery & jewellery was found & sold to antique shops in San Miguel. They felt remorse for this & thought it might be a reason for the illnesses.
Next Tierra Blanca meeting was scheduled for 2nd June at 2.30
When: 05.05.10 2pm
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), Chela (Cedesa), 34 women, 7 men, 11kids, 7dogs
Purpose: We were invited to visit this community to talk about water issues.
Back ground:
Tierra Blanca backs onto Vivienda de Arriba & Cruz del Palmar. The community of Tierra Blanca has a large sapasma drilled community well which they share with Vivienda de Arriba & Espejo (approx. 30 families).
2 members of TB have attended assemblies in Los Torres & several have attended assemblies in Vivienda de Arriba, to ask about the possibility of having a water project in their community.
2 women were waiting under a tree on the road from Vivienda de Arriba, to show us the way to Tierra Blanca. We drove down the road past VdA & came to a dried river bed full of rocks, in one place there were several deep puddles, this is where we crossed.
Tierra Blanca lies right beside this (dried) river, called “Sandamien Rio” which is apparently the same river as San Marco, further down.
We were greeted by many women, & led to the courtyard beside the old church. There was a very big overhanging tree (shade) & a long concrete ledge (seat) for everyone in the community to sit on.
We were not able to make a circle in the shade, so sat with them on the long ledge & us in front of them on crates.
We all introduced ourselves, & Chela explained about Cedesa & Rotary, & their respective roles, as well as our collaboration.
She asked who was familiar with Los Torres (they all were), & with the project there – again a majority. She said many of them had come to the assembly in VdA & asked for us to visit this community. She asked who were invited to today’s assembly, they advised not all had been informed, just a 1st group to exchange information & see what it’s all about.
One of the comments “we like what Los Torres has, it’s very beautiful, maybe the water is bad here, there have been lots of illnesses & we’re not sure what’s causing it, maybe it is the water. People here have had a lot of lung cancer, starting with sore backs & with a short time, cancer & death, the latest death is a 22 yr old woman, she had pain her back & then was in her grave very quickly”
“we don’t have elders in this community, most people die young here”
We began to ask questions –
• There are approx. 120 families, & in the whole community only 8 people who are older than 70.
• One 70+ woman was at the assembly, she spoke & said the only reason she thinks she is still alive, is that she didn’t come from TB originally, she came here when she was 16, she said both her son & daughter (born in TB) are already dead.
• This has been a problem for 30 yrs or more.
Chela began to speak about bad food, as she looked around & saw many eating “cheetos” & drinking coca cola. They estimated they have had this food in the community for 20 or 30 yrs. It is cheap, light & easy to carry, & easy to access. They eat junk food because they say they don’t have the money for better food.
Chela asked if they eat it every day – “yes or every other day”. They sell it in the school & in all the tiendas (small shops),
Chela – It’s poinsonous – you know that right? “yes but we cant afford the other food”, “we don’t know better, it’s a way of life”, “it’s like an addiction, even if we don’t have the money, we ask for credit & buy it”. “the doctor said not to drink coke when you’re pregnant, but everyone does”
One of the women who has a tienda is obviously angry at Chela for telling her customers not to buy this food, “all communities consume coke, it’s not just this one!”.
This is just part of the problem…
There were more reports of illness & death.
“whole family disappeared, cancer or something”
“amputee uncle, at nopales, agua miel, ate well, but they all died of cancer, all her cousins, her mother died of a big bump in her stomach, they were drinking water from puddles”
“TB has had a well for 10 yrs now”
The tienda owner said “there is a big alcohol problem, & water problem, the whole community has the problem.”
Generally the community gets along well, & they even shake hands when they see eachother, “yes we fight, some agree with me, others don’t (again the tienda owner).
Chela talked about assemblies: they are very helpful for listening & speaking & analysing issues.
You must leave personal issues at home, & just talk about community issues at the assemblies.
We met Susanah (Concha from Los Torres’ s sister, Guillermo’s other daughter)
Chela asked if they would like us to help with the issue of early mortality – they all said yes…
She suggested we need to analyse the water first, although it is strange that the issue only appears to exist in Tierra Blanca yet there are 3 communities sharing the same water source…
We asked if they had taken this issue to the health authorities or asked for help from anyone on this.
They have mentioned it at the health clinic in Cruz del Palmar, & were told just to boil their water & add chlorine drops (if it is chemical poisoning, this will worsten the situation!), they also mentioned it to the teachers at the Cruz del Palmar secondaria school, the teachers were empathetic but couldn’t suggest anything.
Water talk.
We talked a little about the potential for a water cistern project, described what it involved & referred to Los Torres. Here are some general water facts from this community
Pimaria approx. 80 kids
Secondaria approx. 50 kids
Kinder approx. 25 kids
Community well, with metal piping to other houses in their community, + 2 other communities (VdA & Espejo),
Well is 10 yrs old
Well is approx. 150 mtrs deep
Water pumped to holding tank & then piped to households, sometimes it works in the morning sometimes in the afternoon
Some people have latrines, most do not & “just go in the wild”
Water is mostly clear & transparent in the lower parts of the community
Water in the higher up parts of the community is often yellow, probably piping problems
The tienda owner, does not have water as she chose not to participate in the sapasma program
(it was insisted that we go to Julia’s house for a snack - tostadas, lettuce, rice, beans)
While we were at Julia’s house they discussed that the whole community was built on an old Otomi burial ground. They said under parts of their house were ruins & graves, & that during the rains often bones & skulls were washed out on the hills.
They also talked about many years ago, people digging for “treasure” buried with the bones, & that pottery & jewellery was found & sold to antique shops in San Miguel. They felt remorse for this & thought it might be a reason for the illnesses.
Next Tierra Blanca meeting was scheduled for 2nd June at 2.30
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