7th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar Water Project

Record of Event pg 1 of 4

7th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar Water Project


Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Wed June 09.06.10 11.40 – 2pm
Who: Chela, (Cedesa), Elena & Laura (Rotary), 27 adults incl 7 men, + 11kids, 1 dog,

Purpose: Review construction of individual cisterns

There were some new people here today so we introduced ourselves.

Chela called for proposed Co-ordinator for the day.
Analaura was proposed.
Analaura called the roll.

The 4 new people at today’s meeting are
Catalina (was at 1st meeting)
Hermelinda Ramirez
Maria Dolores
Theresa Salazar
(2 are from the other side of the river & 2 in Centro)
1 woman attended first meeting but then had to go to GTO, she is interested though.)

Elena said a few words in personal prayer before we began, about protecting the environment & being open to receive good words…

Chela asked why are you involved?
They all said they were interested in this project.
Chela reiterated that participation in meetings is compulsory to plan the process, discuss issues eg, not letting cats onto the roofs to keep them clean.

The problem of cats on roofs was discussed, apparently it is common for neighbours cats to go on roofs & poo. I suggested a slingshot, or a water bottle with vinegar in! They all laughed.

Elena suggested a sandbox, & educating them to use it.
They all agreed Amigos de los Animales would be welcome to neuter the animals.
Elena knows the organisation & mentioned getting in touch with them.

This is an important item to discuss as keeping the roofs clean is a very important part of the maintenance of the system. If you have a plague of cats & dogs maybe you need to take control & responsibility for this, they can not be allowed to breed randomly. Dog & cat faeces are very polluting & contaminating.

Action: Elena asked for the name & contact of Imelda Ramirez Ignatio Allende #70, ph 415 119 4016, as her dog has a problem with “sarne” (mange) & Elena offered to contact her vet to see what can be done.

There is no vet available near Cruz del Palmar – a mobile vet clinic could be a good idea!

“often no Doctor here, let alone a vet!”





Record of Event pg 2 of 4

Review of Project
The first 12 cisterns are all completed.
Materials for the rest of the cisterns have been received (as of yesterday – cement delivered).
All the wires are woven & cylinders have been created, so only cement needs to be applied.

There was a discussion about piping/pvc, they are missing
Codos 45 3” x 2 (from first delivery)
Tees 3” x 21 (2nd delivery)
Codos 45 3” x 10 (2nd delivery)
Tapones incercion 3” x 8 (2nd delivery)

Laura checked invoices & discovered that although the correct amount was ordered, for some reason the invoice was for less than was ordered. An additional order was since paid & will be collected on 15th June.

Some of the cisterns are “crooked”
There was a discussion as some of the cisterns are not perfectly straight. This is because they did not adhere to the training exactly.

After much discussion, & because it is only aesthetic it was decided it is not a problem, & to call them “rustic” or “organic” examples.

Co-incidentally Jose Miguel Cruz (one of the Los Torres team of experts) was visiting the clinic across the road so Elena went to see him to ask him to come & chat with the meeting.

5 cisterns are slightly crooked. It was decided the groups would benefit from an additional 2 day’s training/consultation by Rafa, 1 to visit the extra 7 people in group 4, & 1 for any other doubts.

Ana from Group 4 will call Rafa & co-ordinate with the other groups.

Chela explained it is important for them to do their best on construction as these examples are seen by the rest of the community(s).

Jose Miguel arrived with Chucha & explained the process required to ensure the cisterns are straight & not on a lean.
Including
• Place the top on carefully
• Measure the distance from the centre to the edge with a piece of string & make sure it is the same all round (this will centre it)
• Don’t bend or lean on the wire form because it is bendable, & you don’t want this.
Everyone was asked if they are clear on what they need to do now, & all agreed.

Question – will it affect the water – no – it’s purely aesthetic.

Miguel gave Ana Rafa’s contact details for the extra 2 days work agreed.







Record of Event pg 3 of 4

Group co-operation
There was discussion about working in groups, many are not co-operating. Chela talked about Montecillo de Nieto, & how well they were working in harmony.

Chela - You need to decide on the hours that will work for all of you & then stick to that commitment. You need to respect this & it’s in your hands to decide between yourselves. It affects you all, when you don’t want to work in groups it wont work, it’s a principal point of this project, to learn to work co-operatively in groups & respect arrangements/agreements.

Chela – from my perspective if you can’t respect agreements we don’t or can’t continue to work in CdP.

There is a lack of respect & you need to work on this.

Group 4 in particular needs to get together to get things organised, if you agree an hour to begin, then be there.

In some groups they are each house that they work on is providing food & drink for the ones working, so they are all naturally taking turns at catering.

Doubts & questions
One of the women mentioned that Los Torres cisterns get called “balls” but a woman asked her the other day
“what are all those Monos blancos (white monkeys!) popping up in Cruz del Palmar!)
Everyone thought this was pretty funny.

What is the next time for a visit, & what will we cover?
Next visit will be 14th July, covering maintenance & function of the cisterns when the rains arrive.

There was a brief discussion re the water alternatives eg, solar distillation, for example this would be useful on years when it is dry & there is no rainwater. Chela explained that Cedesa has workshops on these & it would be worthwhile for a few to attend.

Brief discussion re toilets, some have septic systems.

Discussion about possibility of Phase II in Cruz del Palmar
It is interesting to note that there are waves of interest in a community, we have now worked in enough to see a pattern.
1st lots of interest in case they miss out, then fewer return when they realise they have to do the work & are not receiving a hand out, then there is a bit of a delay while the project gets underway & construction begins, & then once the first few are finished, a new wave of interest is created as the later adopters finally “get it” & see what we were talking about!

There are 4 extra people today but Chela invited them to start a list of 2nd Phase people, knowing that money will take a while & they need to work to achieve this.
There are a couple of newly weds interested, but they thought they had to have a family first before they qualified, we explained no, just willing to do the work & participate.






Record of Event pg 4 of 4

Chela – Cisterns are not a “fashion item” they are a resolution to a grave problem…

There was more discussion about people wanting them but not being prepared to work for them, one woman pointed out to these people that it is well worth it, since it is there for the future for their family, “yes it’s a lot of work & commitment & effort, but then the solution is in place from then on…”

With this safe drinking water the health of your family will improve & there will be fewer visits to the clinic, & health will be back in your hands.

“If people have problem attending the meetings then they’re going to have more problems to construct their cistern”

Chela - really it’s a small investment of time compared with the solution it provides, investment in the cistern, but also investment in your community to grow together, valuable learning time, as well as the cistern/water solution for life.

Chela – we came here today because we know the issue & wish to resolve it, we are here to help, a few days of your life in return for healthy drinking water for future generations! It’s a bargain!

Some people have been working from 6pm to Midnight, it’s cooler then – we joked that this might be why some are crooked, they’ve been falling asleep while they work…

People were invited to attend the next assembly if they are interested in phase II.

Next Assembly Cruz del Palmar July 14 at 11am

PS Forgot to add at the end of the Cruz assembly we were approached by a young woman with a daughter of about 5 needing medical check up of a skull operation she had had, we contacted Patro Nato Pro Ninos (the medical NGO here) & made the referral.

We were also asked for assistance for uniforms for a girls soccer team, Yolande's daughters are in a team.

Elena caught up with some others from the team in Los Torres, & asked them to get pricing for us... we intend to add this to the list for our mini-committee of hands on/more immediate projects.

We then left & went to the house of Jesus, (one of the group of 7 extra cisterns) he had invited us to stay for Comida.
His house was amazing, full of inherited furniture from his grandmother & we were treated to a very elegant lunch (he used to be a caterer), spaghetti alfredo, chicken with capsicum cheese & mushrooms with fresh fruit desert, we then were toured his animals, horse, turkeys, about 7 million chickens, 1 peacock, 2 pheasants, & a blue bird I didn’t recognise, we also got to see the feathers off the chicken we had just eaten for lunch as proof of the freshness!! Ahhh Mexico – full of surprises.

Then we headed off with full bellies to Capaderillo for the next assembly!

Report respectfully submitted by Laura Stewart

5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Capaderillo potential water Project

Record of Event pg 1 of 3

5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Capaderillo potential water Project

Where: Capaderillo Primary School - classroom
When: Wed 9th June 3pm – 5.30
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Elena & Laura (Rotary), 54 adults + 4 men (outside listening through the classroom windows!), + 4 kids

Purpose: To plan the next step of the project.

When we arrived there was a big group already awaiting us in the classroom & several more people crammed in to this full classroom.

There were 22 people from neighbouring Vivienda de Abajo (also called Vivienda Urbana) coming to see how they could be included in the project.
There was also a woman from neighbouring Viviendilla (basically the same neighbourhood but a little further over).
3 people were from La Aurora (they had attended the assembly in Vivienda de Arriba & were invited today.

Vivienda Urbana has approx. 40-50 families & a primary school.
Viviendilla has approx. 20-30 families, & share primary with Cienegita.
La Aurora has approx. 10 families.

There were 36 people attending from Capaderillo.

Introductions
Chela, Elena & Laura
We began working with Los Torres 18ths ago & have since worked in CdP, MdN, VdArriba, & are starting work in Tierra Blanca.

San Isidro Capadero, La Aurora & La Tinaja have also initiated contact.

Chela – why are we here?
Vivienda woman “ we are getting together a group of people interested in constructing cisterns to catch water during the rains”
“ I am interested in this project & would like to learn more”
“I am here for the same reason, hopefully I can come here to see if we can get help with our water situation”
“the teacher invited us to attend if we were interested”

Chela – why capture water?
“because the water here is contaminated & the water from the rain is safe to drink”
“because the water coming from the tap has chloro in it?”
“we have wells but not for drinking water, just for domestic use”
“the wells are from 16- 30mtrs deep” (30 mtrs in Vivienda de Abajo)

Chela – who adds chloro to their pozo water? – no-one
Chela – what are the contaminants?
“sodio” – why is salt bad for you, bad for blood, arteries, kidneys & heart.
Why do you have damaged teeth? “from the water”
What in the water? “saro?” – no.
“fluoride” yes – it affects your teeth & other parts of your body, bones & the brain & all major organs.
What other dangerous minerals exist in the water? Arsenic – causes problems with circulation, cancer & other illnesses.

Chela In Cruz del Palmar there is manganese too. These minerals exist in the water & then contaminate your body, not just affecting your health, but the health of your kids & grandkids.
The problem exists in this region, it is naturally occurring & there are a few people working to resolve this, from Cedesa & Rotary.


Record of Event pg 2 of 3


Rotary provided the funds to provide the solution in MdN, LT, CdP & VdAriiba, $$$ for materials, & training in construction & organization.

The next project – here in Capaderillo is being funded by the green fund from the Ecology department, that’s why we’re here today, to plan for this project, & also look at the possibility of opening up the opportunity for other communities.

Elena – these projects multiply the force/strength, when we work together we achieve more. Plant a seed in the dark & nothing happens, with light & care the tree will grow fruit. Through these projects you will learn integration & organization.

Chela – these communities have a lot in common, your kids go to the same schools, & use the same communal spaces, church & soccer pitches. It makes sense to work together on this, since you have so many things in common, & you all have contaminated water too. If you’re interested we can resolve the issue of resources.

Phase I is for Capaderillo a few Vivienda de Abajo & 1 Guerrero family.
Phase II could be Vivienda de Abajo & Capaderillo, (& possibly La Aurora – although it is approx. 1 hr away by foot. It I closer to Don Juan with approx. 30 families, & Guerrero with approx. 40 families)

One of the women later said, she believes Guerrero is unlikely to want to co-operate, they are known not to be joiners (Ecology dept had said the same about one of their projects).

The measure is of the people with good conscience who wish to commit.

Chela suggested
Change the meeting in Los Torres on the 28th July from 12 to 11am, so we can visit Aurora at 3pm.

First meeting in Aurora/Don Juan/Guerrero to be 28th July at 3pm – Aurora will invite the other communities)

Chela asked about phase II for this Capaderillo/Vivienda de Abajo, I explained we have funding agreed but have yet to write the exact Matching Grant so would be good to have specific details, Chela asked the phase II people to go outside & write their list of names.

The list is to include name of family & number of kids.
Maria Salud & Anamaria will co-ordinate the list of phase II people.

One woman asked about her single daughter who has 1 child, if she is able to participate & help then yes, add her to the list.

The phase II people left the classroom & the men listening through the windows then had space to come in & sit down, these were Phase I people. We continued with Phase I planning.

Phase I called the roll – 5 missing from the roll.
Question, can someone represent someone else in assemblies, yes, 1 person from each family.


Update re timing/schedule
The cheque was promised by Ecology on the 26th May, but we are still waiting. Jesus has been up to the presidencia several times but still no joy. Now they have come up with additional information they require, we suspect the cash is not currently available, but will let them know asap, & will spring into action as soon as we have the cash in hand.






Record of Event pg 3 of 3


2 people from Phase I have said they are unable to work,
Pulcheria, & Ema.
This was discussed & the groups all agreed to remove them from the project & open their slots to 2 people from Phase II who are able to work.
Joel “available & willing” (in his own words) joined group 1 (with their blessing)
Maricela Joined group 6 (in place of Pulcheria).

Chela asked if all groups were clear & co-ordinators were clear on their groups – answer was Si & Si.

The group requested a cistern for the primary in Guerrero (many of their children go there) & also Secondaria.

We suggested these options would be ideal for pilot for phase II.

Re: materials, all of the malla (mesh) & wire, will be delivered for all 38 families at the same time so all can commence work at the same time, once all are completed to the cylinder stage the balance of the materials will be delivered.

This is to prevent the issue of people not co-operating until their materials arrive…

The list for Phase II was handed to me – it contains request for 34 cisterns including Guerrero Primary, Kinder & Telesecundaria at Vivienda de Abajo.

Action: Laura will re-write the Capaderillo Phase II project with 34 cisterns budgeted, since we have additional financial support offered.

Next Assembly for Capaderillo 14 July at 3pm
(Chela advised that both Phases will be planned at that meeting)

This report respectfully submitted by Laura Stewart