Record of Event
Where: Casa across from, in Vivienda Urbana, & Cedesa in Dolores Hidalgo
When: Monday 21.2.11 9am – 5pm
Who: Holly, Saul (Cedesa), Jim Johnson & Daughter Hadley, Steve Stevens & wife, Pedrito Maynard-Reid, Nancy & Larry, (all visiting from Walla Walla Rotary Club), Laura – San Miguel Midday RC, + approx. 7 group 4 people from Vivienda Urbana,
Purpose: Multiple:
1. For the Walla Walla visitors to know more about the project & participate in the construction of another cistern
2. For the Walla Walla to get to know more about our co-operating partners & their location.
Vivienda Urbana
Larry, Nancy & Pedrito were collected from Hotel Sautto in Centro (where they were staying) & taken to Vivienda Urbana to work with another group of people.
We arrived at approx. 9.30 as planned, we had thought there was the possibility of working with the same group on the next phase (ie mixing cement) but deliveries of cement were delayed so they worked with people from Group 4, weaving wires again.
Larry was straight into things, from his experience on Saturday, Pedrito had another lesson with Laura & “got it” right away…Nancy was quality control!
Laura left them to it & promised to return at about 12 midday to take them to Cedesa with the rest of the group…
Jim & Steve were waiting at Sautto (our meeting point) with wives & daughter, & Susan gracefully bowed out since there was going to be a crush in the van…The others piled in & off we went.
We collected hot & dusty, Larry, Pedrito & Nancy, bade farewell to the people with whom they had been working & drove approx. 45 mins to Dolores Hidalgo, collecting Saul on the way. We were supposed to also collect Humberto but apparently he didn’t realize this, (just as well, as would definitely have been suffocation in the back of the van with an extra!).
Cedesa Visit
We arrived at Cedesa (in Dolores Hidalgo) & were greeted by Tere & Holly, the visitors watched the video which tells the history of Cedesa, it’s people & mission.
We had a delicious lunch, schnitzel, rice, tortillas, nopal (cactus) salad, choko, beans, washed down with lemonade & followed by desert of guava paste (Pedrito calls it Guava cheese in Jamaica)…
Holly gave us a great tour of the eco-technologies that Cedesa teaches, lorena stove, dry/composting toilets, cisterns, grey water recycling, dehydrator, solar distiller & solar hot water, & viewed the scale diorama of the water shed of this area. We also saw nopal orchard & herb & vege gardens, big piles of healthy compost & skipped the worm farm (Holly doesn’t like worms… ).
After a spot of shopping at the onsite produce store, (Pedrito bought Jamaica tea, coffee, guava cheese, honey, orange marmalade & other assorted goodies), happy with full bellies & bulging knowledge banks, we climbed (crammed!) back into the trusty steed (known as a chevy astro!) & made tracks back to San Miguel…
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
3rd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda Urbana Water Project (part of Micro Region 2)
Record of Event
Where: Casa beside Kinder, in Vivienda Urbana, Salud’s house in Guerrero, 1st Visit to Corralejo
When: Saturday 19.2.11 9am – 2pm
Who: Saul (Cedesa), David Gillis (Videographer, recording the process/project), Jim Johnson, Steve Stevens, Pedrito Maynard-Reid, Nancy & Larry, (all visiting from Walla Walla Rotary Club), Laura – San Miguel Midday RC, + approx. 7 group 1 people from Vivienda Urbana, & approx. 15 people at the Corralejo Assembly.
Purpose: Multiple:
1. For the Walla Walla visitors to know more about the project & participate in the construction of a cistern
2. To take water samples from the family well of Salud in Guerrero
3. To have a community meeting in Coralejo
4. To video the events of the day, to potentially include in a video about the project.
Vivienda de Urbana
We arrived at approx. 9.30 as planned, & Saul was waiting for us, he took us to the house where the 1st cistern was being worked on for group 1. The wire hooking tools (ganchos) were being made with a grinder & off-cuts of wire mesh.
Saul demonstrated to the Walla Walla crew the process of weaving the 3 layers of wire together. Everyone had a go, & found it to be more difficult than it looked, especially in the hot sun & on your knees!
It was pretty funny hearing Saul speaking in Spanish & the Walla Wallans responding in English, saying how difficult it was, & Saul disagreeing saying it was simple…& try again… & again…
Guerrero for water sample:
Larry was very determined to get it & stayed to work while the rest of us piled in the van & headed to the community down the road – Guerrero, to a location where one of the families had constructed a cistern as part of the phase I project in Capaderillo. We were there to take a sample of their well water (we know this area has high concentrations of fluoride – around 4.3mg/l) & wanted to take film footage of retrieving the sample, & will later show it being tested at the Laboratory at Cedesa (in Dolores Hidalgo).
The well is approx. 15 mtrs deep (pretty shallow as it is close to the “lake” (Presa, or Muddy Puddle as I refer to it!)…Pedrito insisted on pulling another bucket of water from the well to show how it was done, & we almost collapsed from laughing too hard, when his bucket first came up empty! He lowered it again & this time pulled it up full! David got some video footage of the hilarity & an interview with Salud & we thanked them & were on our way again.
We got back to find Larry diligently working beside his new Mexican friends. We explained we had to take Saul to Coralejeo to a community meeting, & people could stay & work, or come on the excursion.
Larry chose to stay & work, the rest of us headed off.
Corralejo de Abajo – community meeting
We drove to Coralejo, approx. 15 mins up Gto highway, & then supposedly close to the highway, but seems different people have different definitions of “close” & we are glad we didn’t accept David’s offer to walk the rest of the way, when we crammed the waiting community members in to show us the way… he may never have gotten there – it was a good 10 mins driving on a pretty “hairy” road.
We arrived to find a few people waiting for us, & more gathered.
It is a little community actually just round the river bend from Cinco Senores, but accessed by a different “road”.
The community looked comparatively pretty prosperous – finished houses, established gardens, & we lost Pedrito for a few minutes, but turns out he had discovered a very rare beast – a flush toilet! There were also a few more recent model pickups! After a short while we discovered that there were no men here in Coralejo, they are all working in the states. Some have been gone for 2-3 yrs, one woman mentioned her husband had been gone for 5 yrs… This is the catch 22, either you have your husband here & family unit complete, but less money, or husband absent & (hopefully) slightly more money!
We introduced ourselves & then Saul spent some time explaining what a community assembly is & why we were there, ie to invite them to become part of the Consejo (citizens water group – that has currently 18 communities)…he explained the benefits of becoming organized, & that they would then be able to meet, discuss, analyse & ultimately resolve their own issues.
He also talked about their water situation, they have a Sapasma supplied well, & piping to each house. This was put in about 9 yrs ago, they had to pay 7000 pesos per family. The well is guessed to be approx. 200mtrs deep, & they have never had it tested for Fluoride… Some people had damaged teeth but not many,
There were jokes made about the lack of men in the community, & the pro’s & con’s of this situation, including the very first private flush toilet we have encountered!
We were invited to “share a taco” & were taken to the house near the center, they fed us well with beans, rice, tortillas, & chicheron, washed down with Guayava water. I encouraged the Walla Wallan’s to partake in the food, explaining that I had never been sick the next day from eating at a community.
Everyone had a little rice & tortilla, & we thanked our gracious hosts & left to find our way back to Larry…
Back in Vivienda Urbana
We arrived back to find Larry had been working very hard, he’d also been fed (thankfully or he would have blown away!), we spoke to 2 of the older women who were separating beans from chaff, & rubbing maize off the cob (for grinding into flour to make tortillas)…
More photos were taken, & farewells made…
A hot dusty, exhausted but satisfied bunch of Walla Wallans were deposited back into town (for more interviews by David!) & a good day was had by all…
Next Event in Vivienda Urbana planned for 9.30am Mon 21st Feb 2011
Where: Casa beside Kinder, in Vivienda Urbana, Salud’s house in Guerrero, 1st Visit to Corralejo
When: Saturday 19.2.11 9am – 2pm
Who: Saul (Cedesa), David Gillis (Videographer, recording the process/project), Jim Johnson, Steve Stevens, Pedrito Maynard-Reid, Nancy & Larry, (all visiting from Walla Walla Rotary Club), Laura – San Miguel Midday RC, + approx. 7 group 1 people from Vivienda Urbana, & approx. 15 people at the Corralejo Assembly.
Purpose: Multiple:
1. For the Walla Walla visitors to know more about the project & participate in the construction of a cistern
2. To take water samples from the family well of Salud in Guerrero
3. To have a community meeting in Coralejo
4. To video the events of the day, to potentially include in a video about the project.
Vivienda de Urbana
We arrived at approx. 9.30 as planned, & Saul was waiting for us, he took us to the house where the 1st cistern was being worked on for group 1. The wire hooking tools (ganchos) were being made with a grinder & off-cuts of wire mesh.
Saul demonstrated to the Walla Walla crew the process of weaving the 3 layers of wire together. Everyone had a go, & found it to be more difficult than it looked, especially in the hot sun & on your knees!
It was pretty funny hearing Saul speaking in Spanish & the Walla Wallans responding in English, saying how difficult it was, & Saul disagreeing saying it was simple…& try again… & again…
Guerrero for water sample:
Larry was very determined to get it & stayed to work while the rest of us piled in the van & headed to the community down the road – Guerrero, to a location where one of the families had constructed a cistern as part of the phase I project in Capaderillo. We were there to take a sample of their well water (we know this area has high concentrations of fluoride – around 4.3mg/l) & wanted to take film footage of retrieving the sample, & will later show it being tested at the Laboratory at Cedesa (in Dolores Hidalgo).
The well is approx. 15 mtrs deep (pretty shallow as it is close to the “lake” (Presa, or Muddy Puddle as I refer to it!)…Pedrito insisted on pulling another bucket of water from the well to show how it was done, & we almost collapsed from laughing too hard, when his bucket first came up empty! He lowered it again & this time pulled it up full! David got some video footage of the hilarity & an interview with Salud & we thanked them & were on our way again.
We got back to find Larry diligently working beside his new Mexican friends. We explained we had to take Saul to Coralejeo to a community meeting, & people could stay & work, or come on the excursion.
Larry chose to stay & work, the rest of us headed off.
Corralejo de Abajo – community meeting
We drove to Coralejo, approx. 15 mins up Gto highway, & then supposedly close to the highway, but seems different people have different definitions of “close” & we are glad we didn’t accept David’s offer to walk the rest of the way, when we crammed the waiting community members in to show us the way… he may never have gotten there – it was a good 10 mins driving on a pretty “hairy” road.
We arrived to find a few people waiting for us, & more gathered.
It is a little community actually just round the river bend from Cinco Senores, but accessed by a different “road”.
The community looked comparatively pretty prosperous – finished houses, established gardens, & we lost Pedrito for a few minutes, but turns out he had discovered a very rare beast – a flush toilet! There were also a few more recent model pickups! After a short while we discovered that there were no men here in Coralejo, they are all working in the states. Some have been gone for 2-3 yrs, one woman mentioned her husband had been gone for 5 yrs… This is the catch 22, either you have your husband here & family unit complete, but less money, or husband absent & (hopefully) slightly more money!
We introduced ourselves & then Saul spent some time explaining what a community assembly is & why we were there, ie to invite them to become part of the Consejo (citizens water group – that has currently 18 communities)…he explained the benefits of becoming organized, & that they would then be able to meet, discuss, analyse & ultimately resolve their own issues.
He also talked about their water situation, they have a Sapasma supplied well, & piping to each house. This was put in about 9 yrs ago, they had to pay 7000 pesos per family. The well is guessed to be approx. 200mtrs deep, & they have never had it tested for Fluoride… Some people had damaged teeth but not many,
There were jokes made about the lack of men in the community, & the pro’s & con’s of this situation, including the very first private flush toilet we have encountered!
We were invited to “share a taco” & were taken to the house near the center, they fed us well with beans, rice, tortillas, & chicheron, washed down with Guayava water. I encouraged the Walla Wallan’s to partake in the food, explaining that I had never been sick the next day from eating at a community.
Everyone had a little rice & tortilla, & we thanked our gracious hosts & left to find our way back to Larry…
Back in Vivienda Urbana
We arrived back to find Larry had been working very hard, he’d also been fed (thankfully or he would have blown away!), we spoke to 2 of the older women who were separating beans from chaff, & rubbing maize off the cob (for grinding into flour to make tortillas)…
More photos were taken, & farewells made…
A hot dusty, exhausted but satisfied bunch of Walla Wallans were deposited back into town (for more interviews by David!) & a good day was had by all…
Next Event in Vivienda Urbana planned for 9.30am Mon 21st Feb 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
4th Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Palencia
Record of Event - Inauguration
Where: Community House in Palencia – 1hr north of Dolores Hidalgo,
When: 11th Feb 2011 12midday start (left SMA at 9am), event finished 3.10 (back in SMA5pm)
Who: Chela, Benigno, Saul – Cedesa, Laura (& my son Abe), Doris, Maureen – Rotary, 33 adults (incl 4 man) many kids!
Purpose:
Take visiting Rotarians to attend the inauguration & view some of the completed cisterns.
The trip there:
We first visited the current project in Vivienda Urbana & took some photos of the completed cistern, as this is the final day of the pilot. Collected Saul & drove to pick up Humberto, he must have misunderstood our intentions as he was in San Miguel for the day. We continued & drove to Cedesa.
We collected Benigno & Chela at Cedesa & headed for Palencia…
We arrived late at 12midday.
The people were ready in the salon waiting for us.
The welcome & program began immediately.
There were many speeches including the history of the working relationship between Cedesa & this community, ie more than 20 years working together to resolve issues of necessity as determined by the community.
Chela spoke a little about the project, & asked me to speak, I spoke & one of the men spoke English so interpreted for me (whew!). I congratulated them on their achievements, both past & present, & spoke of the pride Rotary (including our absent Tallahassee friends) have in their accomplishments.
Chela held a mini workshop with the kids, the theme was natural resources, she asked them to all run outside & in 2 minutes return with an example of a natural resource. They stampeded out the door & we thought they might just keep running, but back they came with hands full of leaves, branches, dirt, a can of water, flowers from the cactus, rocks…
She separated them into like resources & then engaged the kids in Q&A about natural resources, whether each object was, or how it was, & the need for conservation etc.
The kids were very animated & one in particular showed not only interest but lots of knowledge on the topic. They all enjoyed it!
Next the kids rushed off into the corner with their mums & returned dressed ready to do a dance for us… Mexican line dancing, best describes it, very cute with kids so young, some keen others reluctant but all participating…
Back they ran to the corner & came back this time (boys & girls) dressed in masks with walking sticks, as old men… they did an hilarious dance bent over, mimicking old men, going round in circles, with a dog joining in! & it ended with them all bunching together & falling over! We laughed so hard we had tears, & Maureen said she felt well mimicked…
Again they retreated to the far corner & this time the mothers came out dressed up, one large mum came dressed as a baby with a big babies bottle filled with brown liquid, it took us a while to work out what was going on, but basically it was a pantomime about the history of the water, going from germy water to well water, then discovering it had fluoride & arsenic & ending up at cisterns… interspersed with songs about germs & water etc… Very funny, & we had never seen adults performing before so extra special planning had gone into this!
A few more speeches & heart felt teary thank you’s directed at the visiting Rotarians & Cedesa…
Then they asked if there was a possibility of a 2nd phase in Palencia as there are many more families who need water… I said for them to get their list of names together & present them to us & we’ll see… I mentioned the project needs to be for a minimum of 20 cisterns.
Food came next, a special treat, plates of carnitas, nopal, red rice, & tortillas, washed down with pineapple flavoured water…
We were so full we were reluctant to follow the next part of the program, we headed to the primary school, it was a very hot day & super dusty, people offered to carry the bags of Doris & Maureen. Next we went to 4 other cisterns & ended up back at the salon, in the shade for a Q&A session.
The overwhelming feeling was one of gratitude for the assistance we had given them to solve their own issue. The possibility of a 2nd phase was raised again & I said there was no way we could promise anything but to submit the request & we would take it from there.
Cedesa will be visiting on following Tuesday to do a diagnostics /needs analysis, to determine what they wish to work on next, traspatios (back yard production), health workshops etc.
We climbed back in the Van & headed home… Dropping Chela & Benigno at Cedesa, Saul at the turnoff & the Rotarians back home…
Gracias a todos!!
Then end of a successful project, thank you to all concerned!!
Photos can be seen on the blog www.02h2o.blogspot.com under the label Palencia.
Where: Community House in Palencia – 1hr north of Dolores Hidalgo,
When: 11th Feb 2011 12midday start (left SMA at 9am), event finished 3.10 (back in SMA5pm)
Who: Chela, Benigno, Saul – Cedesa, Laura (& my son Abe), Doris, Maureen – Rotary, 33 adults (incl 4 man) many kids!
Purpose:
Take visiting Rotarians to attend the inauguration & view some of the completed cisterns.
The trip there:
We first visited the current project in Vivienda Urbana & took some photos of the completed cistern, as this is the final day of the pilot. Collected Saul & drove to pick up Humberto, he must have misunderstood our intentions as he was in San Miguel for the day. We continued & drove to Cedesa.
We collected Benigno & Chela at Cedesa & headed for Palencia…
We arrived late at 12midday.
The people were ready in the salon waiting for us.
The welcome & program began immediately.
There were many speeches including the history of the working relationship between Cedesa & this community, ie more than 20 years working together to resolve issues of necessity as determined by the community.
Chela spoke a little about the project, & asked me to speak, I spoke & one of the men spoke English so interpreted for me (whew!). I congratulated them on their achievements, both past & present, & spoke of the pride Rotary (including our absent Tallahassee friends) have in their accomplishments.
Chela held a mini workshop with the kids, the theme was natural resources, she asked them to all run outside & in 2 minutes return with an example of a natural resource. They stampeded out the door & we thought they might just keep running, but back they came with hands full of leaves, branches, dirt, a can of water, flowers from the cactus, rocks…
She separated them into like resources & then engaged the kids in Q&A about natural resources, whether each object was, or how it was, & the need for conservation etc.
The kids were very animated & one in particular showed not only interest but lots of knowledge on the topic. They all enjoyed it!
Next the kids rushed off into the corner with their mums & returned dressed ready to do a dance for us… Mexican line dancing, best describes it, very cute with kids so young, some keen others reluctant but all participating…
Back they ran to the corner & came back this time (boys & girls) dressed in masks with walking sticks, as old men… they did an hilarious dance bent over, mimicking old men, going round in circles, with a dog joining in! & it ended with them all bunching together & falling over! We laughed so hard we had tears, & Maureen said she felt well mimicked…
Again they retreated to the far corner & this time the mothers came out dressed up, one large mum came dressed as a baby with a big babies bottle filled with brown liquid, it took us a while to work out what was going on, but basically it was a pantomime about the history of the water, going from germy water to well water, then discovering it had fluoride & arsenic & ending up at cisterns… interspersed with songs about germs & water etc… Very funny, & we had never seen adults performing before so extra special planning had gone into this!
A few more speeches & heart felt teary thank you’s directed at the visiting Rotarians & Cedesa…
Then they asked if there was a possibility of a 2nd phase in Palencia as there are many more families who need water… I said for them to get their list of names together & present them to us & we’ll see… I mentioned the project needs to be for a minimum of 20 cisterns.
Food came next, a special treat, plates of carnitas, nopal, red rice, & tortillas, washed down with pineapple flavoured water…
We were so full we were reluctant to follow the next part of the program, we headed to the primary school, it was a very hot day & super dusty, people offered to carry the bags of Doris & Maureen. Next we went to 4 other cisterns & ended up back at the salon, in the shade for a Q&A session.
The overwhelming feeling was one of gratitude for the assistance we had given them to solve their own issue. The possibility of a 2nd phase was raised again & I said there was no way we could promise anything but to submit the request & we would take it from there.
Cedesa will be visiting on following Tuesday to do a diagnostics /needs analysis, to determine what they wish to work on next, traspatios (back yard production), health workshops etc.
We climbed back in the Van & headed home… Dropping Chela & Benigno at Cedesa, Saul at the turnoff & the Rotarians back home…
Gracias a todos!!
Then end of a successful project, thank you to all concerned!!
Photos can be seen on the blog www.02h2o.blogspot.com under the label Palencia.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Mtg 2 of Micro-Region 1 of the Communities requesting assistance with water
Where: Cinco Senores
When: 9.2.11
Who: Communities represented:
Cinco Senores 8, Juan Gonzalez 13, San Lorenzo 2, La Palmita 5, La Tinaja 3, Coralejo 2, La Cienega 3, Villa Guadalupe 2.
Holly, Chela, Saul, – Cedesa, Laura Rotary, Teacher of the school attended, Esaul from Comonfort.
We noted the bed & clothing in the corner of the classroom, the teacher sleeps here during the week & only returns on weekends as it is very difficult to get to this community. We had to cross the river 4 times & drive on big rocky river beds, we were not sure we’d make it at several points!
We all crammed into the small classroom.
Everyone introduced themselves & stated their community… I said a little about Rotary, as ususal.
Chela gave a brief history of the work we have been doing in the region starting with Los Torres, & including MdN CdP, VdA & Capaderillo.
She thanked the teacher for volunteering his classroom for this meeting, & said Teachers are often involved in the development of a community, they are a great source of co-ordination.
Chela said they have excellent young leaders forming in their communities who are great “promoters” /outreach workers, eg Audelia, Humberto, Ana.
One woman spoke up & said she thought Audelia would make an excellent promoter, she is a bit shy but should be proud.
Chela mentioned we are always talking as a team about how great the young leaders are & that they are already working to make a better future for this region & “god put Rotary in our path”, Rotary has the conscientiousness, & understand the problems to work on & resolve, with dignity & allowing the recipients their dignity.
What do all the communities have in common?
“the necessity for water” Water is very scarce & contaminated.
“Pedro & Jesus G. were working here with FAI (Save the Children) which is when the cistern for the school was constructed (there is a big cistern behind the school). They stopped coming & we didn’t know where to find them.”
Meeting began proper:
Saul explained the meeting process, eg elect a co-ordinator & secretary, he explained their roles including calling for agenda.
Letty was elected Co-ordinator, & Humberto to take notes.
Agenda
1 commission to presidencia report
2 dry toilets, how do they function
3. presentation re the climate workshop at Cedesa
4 rules of the communities
5 plan the meeting in Juan Gonzalez, re the Fondo Verde next grant
Item 1 presidencia commission
It was noted that Villa de Guadalupe & Tierra Blanca were not present, but all else sent representatives to the Presidencia to ask for an audience with mayor Lucy, approx. 20 people attended.
Item 2 dry toilets
Chela asked who knew how dry toilets function? Holly knows as she has one at her house.
They were described as ecological, economical (don’t need water), they don’t contaminate & you can use the compost, they don’t put fecal matter in the air (like current poo in the wild method!), the fertilizer is organic.
Chela asked if the other types of toilets were good – no, they waste water, contaminate the environment, including rivers, drainage, sewage…The 2 vital points about dry toilets,
They don’t require water & they don’t contaminate the environment, in fact they reduce contamination.
Of the communities represented at this meeting only 3 have toilets.
Cinco Senores, Juan Gonzalez & Villa de Guadalupe.
Cinco Senores, have about 15 toilets, but no-one using them as toilets, in fact when we visited one after the meeting, inside it had grain & tools & I opened the back door underneath, where the poo bucket should have been, only to find about 10 hens all clucking madly & so quickly shut it up again to keep them safe for the night!
They don’t use them because they don’t function well, they have only one chamber & the collection unit is a big shallow open bucket, not ideal, as the pee & poo don’t separate & never really dry out…
We spoke with one of the men in the community & described what needed to be changed for them to function, they need to be divided into 2 chambers by placing a wall down the middle, then use one side for six months & make a hole the other side for the toilet to move to that side for the next six months, while sealing the first chamber until it dries. The pee should also be separated, & can be done by attaching a hose to the front of the toilet vessel. Holly mentioned she would see if Benigno had time to come to Cinco Senores, but would at least get a copy of the toilet manual to them in the meantime.
Juan Gonzalez they have the 2 chamber toilet & do use them. Their model does not separate the pee & poo at source, it has a separate lower tank that the pee drains into. They put sawdust, ashes & lime in the loo each time they use it. They do have flies & mozzies in the warm season.
Villa de Guadalupe
These guys have the rolls Royce of dry toilets, they have 2 chambers, pee/poo separator, & even have water collection with which to wash their hands (in hand basin attached to outside of the building).
There was a 6mth project to build & educate people in the use of these toilets which finished late last year so they are using them.
There was more discussion on what should be added to the toilet after use, many people don’t have access to sawdust, no trees nearby, some are using leaf litter, Chela said better to leave leaf litter for the trees & just use Cal or dirt.
Item 3 workshop on climate change de-brief
Saul described the workshop they had at Cedesa on the 28/29/1 for all campesinos. Several of the young people at today’s meeting had been to the workshop & have prepared a presentation for the meeting today.
The subject was protecting the environment, reforestation, not removing sand/extraction, analyzing the existing situation, preserving heritage seed, damage to rivers, reduction of fertilizers, use of organic fertilizers only, etc.
They were very well prepared & had posters to describe/illustrate the points.
Saul mentioned “if we don’t take notice of what these young people are telling us we will have issues in the future”.
Another woman in the meeting said “my father is in his 80’s & gave us his land, & told us it is soo important we continue to work it & don’t be tempted to sell it, as smaller parcels are harder to make productive”.
There was talk about prepared food versus traditional meals, beans, rice tortillas, Chela pointed out what you consume affects your whole body, artificial flavourings & colourings & sugar are not good for you, in fact they poison your body/blood.
One mother joked “I eat only healthy food & don’t get sick, not like my daughter (she pointed her out, presenting at the front of the meeting),who always gets a cold!” everyone laughed.
Chela asked everyone to sum up in points
• Plant more plants
• Retain/rescue your traditions
• Conserve seed
• Plant & maintain productive foods/fruits/medicinal foods/calabasa/trees
• Defend the earth & seeds
• Be conscientious
• Retain community/maintain community/build community
• Include the young people, they are interested & positive & want to work in the campo
Saul & Chela reiterated, we cant decide for you what will happen you your communities, you need to take responsibility for this yourselves.
Item 4 Rules of this Micro-region (Micro region 1)
During the last regional meeting it was suggested each micro-region should create their own rules.
After discussion it was decided
• Participation compulsory
• Punctuality important, if 1 hr late you will be marked absent
• Need to create an attendance list & take the role each meeting.
Chela pointed out for example Villa de Guadalupe had not attended the regional meeting or the commission to the presidencia, so what should happen?
Someone added “maybe they have justification?”
One of the Villa de Guadalupe people said they didn’t have transport to the presidencia, everyone said this was no excuse, they all have the same issue.
One of the other women from VdG said she & others are interested but the reps. they have in the consejo are not interested in Cisterns or dry toilets so they’re not that motivated, this woman asked if she could go instead, & they said, no because she was not the official rep.
Chela pointed out, it is very important for each community to ensure the best representatives are selected, that they will represent their community well & with conscience.
Spirit of service is very obvious in the youth in this area.
The meeting all decided that the priority of who gets water cisterns next should be changed, Villa de Guadalupe should forfeit one position as a consequence for non attendance at 2 events.
Priority for the cisterns is now
Juan Gonzalez/San Lorenzo, Cinco Senores, La Cienega, Villa de Guadalupe & La Tinaja
Priority for the sanitarios secos is now
La Tinaja, La Palmita, Coralejo, Cinco Senores, Juan Gonzalez & La Cienega.
Item 5 – Presidencia commission report
Saul mentioned we need to plan for the first meeting with Lucy, 4 representatives will meet with Lucy on the 16th feb at 11.30am.
There is a tentative meeting planned for the whole region to attend at Cedecom presidencia bldg. on 23rd Feb. Topics to include water, toilets, bridges & roads.
There were issues when the 20 representatives went to ask for a meeting with Lucy. Although they went entirely passively they were perceived as threatening.
There was discussion regarding govt. obligation & that water is a basic human right. Rotary has provided a large amount of funding but it is not an obligation that Rotary do this, they do it out of service.
Chela suggested people could read the constitution which is available at every papeleria
Someone asked why Chela can’t come to the meeting on the 16th with Lucy, & Chela pointed out it is not up to her, but that they are able to represent themselves & their issues & reach a solution.
There will be one more micro regional meeting in March & after that there is probably no need for both micro regional & regional meetings, as well as project community meetings.
Item 6 – Juan Gonzalez/San Lorenzo project planning meeting
The next project to begin will be in Juan Gonzalez/San Lorenzo. This project will be funded by fondo verde, & topped up by a $2k contribution from New Braumfels RC in Texas.
The project planning meeting will be at 10am on the 2nd March in Juan Gonzalez (Same day as the potential next regional meeting)
Next Micro region 1 meeting 9th March 2011 at 11am at La Tinaja at la clinica
(meeting concluded at 4pm – we were treated to the usual local banquet of tortillas beans rice, chicheron, chick peas, & then meandered our way along the river bed, weaving back n forth over huge rocks & puddles until we finally made it to the highway…)
When: 9.2.11
Who: Communities represented:
Cinco Senores 8, Juan Gonzalez 13, San Lorenzo 2, La Palmita 5, La Tinaja 3, Coralejo 2, La Cienega 3, Villa Guadalupe 2.
Holly, Chela, Saul, – Cedesa, Laura Rotary, Teacher of the school attended, Esaul from Comonfort.
We noted the bed & clothing in the corner of the classroom, the teacher sleeps here during the week & only returns on weekends as it is very difficult to get to this community. We had to cross the river 4 times & drive on big rocky river beds, we were not sure we’d make it at several points!
We all crammed into the small classroom.
Everyone introduced themselves & stated their community… I said a little about Rotary, as ususal.
Chela gave a brief history of the work we have been doing in the region starting with Los Torres, & including MdN CdP, VdA & Capaderillo.
She thanked the teacher for volunteering his classroom for this meeting, & said Teachers are often involved in the development of a community, they are a great source of co-ordination.
Chela said they have excellent young leaders forming in their communities who are great “promoters” /outreach workers, eg Audelia, Humberto, Ana.
One woman spoke up & said she thought Audelia would make an excellent promoter, she is a bit shy but should be proud.
Chela mentioned we are always talking as a team about how great the young leaders are & that they are already working to make a better future for this region & “god put Rotary in our path”, Rotary has the conscientiousness, & understand the problems to work on & resolve, with dignity & allowing the recipients their dignity.
What do all the communities have in common?
“the necessity for water” Water is very scarce & contaminated.
“Pedro & Jesus G. were working here with FAI (Save the Children) which is when the cistern for the school was constructed (there is a big cistern behind the school). They stopped coming & we didn’t know where to find them.”
Meeting began proper:
Saul explained the meeting process, eg elect a co-ordinator & secretary, he explained their roles including calling for agenda.
Letty was elected Co-ordinator, & Humberto to take notes.
Agenda
1 commission to presidencia report
2 dry toilets, how do they function
3. presentation re the climate workshop at Cedesa
4 rules of the communities
5 plan the meeting in Juan Gonzalez, re the Fondo Verde next grant
Item 1 presidencia commission
It was noted that Villa de Guadalupe & Tierra Blanca were not present, but all else sent representatives to the Presidencia to ask for an audience with mayor Lucy, approx. 20 people attended.
Item 2 dry toilets
Chela asked who knew how dry toilets function? Holly knows as she has one at her house.
They were described as ecological, economical (don’t need water), they don’t contaminate & you can use the compost, they don’t put fecal matter in the air (like current poo in the wild method!), the fertilizer is organic.
Chela asked if the other types of toilets were good – no, they waste water, contaminate the environment, including rivers, drainage, sewage…The 2 vital points about dry toilets,
They don’t require water & they don’t contaminate the environment, in fact they reduce contamination.
Of the communities represented at this meeting only 3 have toilets.
Cinco Senores, Juan Gonzalez & Villa de Guadalupe.
Cinco Senores, have about 15 toilets, but no-one using them as toilets, in fact when we visited one after the meeting, inside it had grain & tools & I opened the back door underneath, where the poo bucket should have been, only to find about 10 hens all clucking madly & so quickly shut it up again to keep them safe for the night!
They don’t use them because they don’t function well, they have only one chamber & the collection unit is a big shallow open bucket, not ideal, as the pee & poo don’t separate & never really dry out…
We spoke with one of the men in the community & described what needed to be changed for them to function, they need to be divided into 2 chambers by placing a wall down the middle, then use one side for six months & make a hole the other side for the toilet to move to that side for the next six months, while sealing the first chamber until it dries. The pee should also be separated, & can be done by attaching a hose to the front of the toilet vessel. Holly mentioned she would see if Benigno had time to come to Cinco Senores, but would at least get a copy of the toilet manual to them in the meantime.
Juan Gonzalez they have the 2 chamber toilet & do use them. Their model does not separate the pee & poo at source, it has a separate lower tank that the pee drains into. They put sawdust, ashes & lime in the loo each time they use it. They do have flies & mozzies in the warm season.
Villa de Guadalupe
These guys have the rolls Royce of dry toilets, they have 2 chambers, pee/poo separator, & even have water collection with which to wash their hands (in hand basin attached to outside of the building).
There was a 6mth project to build & educate people in the use of these toilets which finished late last year so they are using them.
There was more discussion on what should be added to the toilet after use, many people don’t have access to sawdust, no trees nearby, some are using leaf litter, Chela said better to leave leaf litter for the trees & just use Cal or dirt.
Item 3 workshop on climate change de-brief
Saul described the workshop they had at Cedesa on the 28/29/1 for all campesinos. Several of the young people at today’s meeting had been to the workshop & have prepared a presentation for the meeting today.
The subject was protecting the environment, reforestation, not removing sand/extraction, analyzing the existing situation, preserving heritage seed, damage to rivers, reduction of fertilizers, use of organic fertilizers only, etc.
They were very well prepared & had posters to describe/illustrate the points.
Saul mentioned “if we don’t take notice of what these young people are telling us we will have issues in the future”.
Another woman in the meeting said “my father is in his 80’s & gave us his land, & told us it is soo important we continue to work it & don’t be tempted to sell it, as smaller parcels are harder to make productive”.
There was talk about prepared food versus traditional meals, beans, rice tortillas, Chela pointed out what you consume affects your whole body, artificial flavourings & colourings & sugar are not good for you, in fact they poison your body/blood.
One mother joked “I eat only healthy food & don’t get sick, not like my daughter (she pointed her out, presenting at the front of the meeting),who always gets a cold!” everyone laughed.
Chela asked everyone to sum up in points
• Plant more plants
• Retain/rescue your traditions
• Conserve seed
• Plant & maintain productive foods/fruits/medicinal foods/calabasa/trees
• Defend the earth & seeds
• Be conscientious
• Retain community/maintain community/build community
• Include the young people, they are interested & positive & want to work in the campo
Saul & Chela reiterated, we cant decide for you what will happen you your communities, you need to take responsibility for this yourselves.
Item 4 Rules of this Micro-region (Micro region 1)
During the last regional meeting it was suggested each micro-region should create their own rules.
After discussion it was decided
• Participation compulsory
• Punctuality important, if 1 hr late you will be marked absent
• Need to create an attendance list & take the role each meeting.
Chela pointed out for example Villa de Guadalupe had not attended the regional meeting or the commission to the presidencia, so what should happen?
Someone added “maybe they have justification?”
One of the Villa de Guadalupe people said they didn’t have transport to the presidencia, everyone said this was no excuse, they all have the same issue.
One of the other women from VdG said she & others are interested but the reps. they have in the consejo are not interested in Cisterns or dry toilets so they’re not that motivated, this woman asked if she could go instead, & they said, no because she was not the official rep.
Chela pointed out, it is very important for each community to ensure the best representatives are selected, that they will represent their community well & with conscience.
Spirit of service is very obvious in the youth in this area.
The meeting all decided that the priority of who gets water cisterns next should be changed, Villa de Guadalupe should forfeit one position as a consequence for non attendance at 2 events.
Priority for the cisterns is now
Juan Gonzalez/San Lorenzo, Cinco Senores, La Cienega, Villa de Guadalupe & La Tinaja
Priority for the sanitarios secos is now
La Tinaja, La Palmita, Coralejo, Cinco Senores, Juan Gonzalez & La Cienega.
Item 5 – Presidencia commission report
Saul mentioned we need to plan for the first meeting with Lucy, 4 representatives will meet with Lucy on the 16th feb at 11.30am.
There is a tentative meeting planned for the whole region to attend at Cedecom presidencia bldg. on 23rd Feb. Topics to include water, toilets, bridges & roads.
There were issues when the 20 representatives went to ask for a meeting with Lucy. Although they went entirely passively they were perceived as threatening.
There was discussion regarding govt. obligation & that water is a basic human right. Rotary has provided a large amount of funding but it is not an obligation that Rotary do this, they do it out of service.
Chela suggested people could read the constitution which is available at every papeleria
Someone asked why Chela can’t come to the meeting on the 16th with Lucy, & Chela pointed out it is not up to her, but that they are able to represent themselves & their issues & reach a solution.
There will be one more micro regional meeting in March & after that there is probably no need for both micro regional & regional meetings, as well as project community meetings.
Item 6 – Juan Gonzalez/San Lorenzo project planning meeting
The next project to begin will be in Juan Gonzalez/San Lorenzo. This project will be funded by fondo verde, & topped up by a $2k contribution from New Braumfels RC in Texas.
The project planning meeting will be at 10am on the 2nd March in Juan Gonzalez (Same day as the potential next regional meeting)
Next Micro region 1 meeting 9th March 2011 at 11am at La Tinaja at la clinica
(meeting concluded at 4pm – we were treated to the usual local banquet of tortillas beans rice, chicheron, chick peas, & then meandered our way along the river bed, weaving back n forth over huge rocks & puddles until we finally made it to the highway…)
Monday, February 7, 2011
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda Urbana Water Project (part of Micro Region 2)
Record of Event
Where: Kinder in Vivienda Urbana
When: Mon 7.2.11 9am – 11.am
Who: Saul (Cedesa), Rafael Cruz (technician from Los Torres) , Laura SMA Midday RC, Steve Stevens & Jim Johnson Walla Walla RC (joint funders), Martha Donnelly (interested guest), Gary Reid (Rotary volunteer & photographer), community of Vivienda Urbana participants in water cistern project 26 adults, at least 50% men, also Humberto & Audelia from San Lorenzo Community – to participate in the training & at least 7 dogs!,
Purpose: This was day one of the pilot training session, during which all the participants of the project meet daily for 4 days to construct a cistern from start to finish, including installation of pvc piping, & preparation of roof surface… Rafael Cruz is doing the technical demonstration, with Saul assisting & explaining further.
We arrived at 9.15 & work was already fully underway, with everyone participating & learning the new skills. There were men working with a grinder to cut wire off the big mesh roll to make into hooks (ganchos) to weave the chicken wire & mesh “sandwich”…
Jim & Steve asked many questions & got the feel for the process.
Gary took many photos.
We discovered the kinder had flush toilets, but currently not functioning since there is almost never water to use to flush them. They have an underground cistern to receive the water for flushing but it was empty.
There are 38 children at the kindergarten, but since today was a national holiday the kids were at home.
Rafael made the measurements of the pvc required & gave Laura the list to order (& pay for) for delivery asap.
He will visit the community on Saturday to go house by house of the participants & assist with the measurement of pvc, & collate a list of PVC required for the bulk order (ie 24 cisterns).
We watched & learned for approx. 1.5 hrs more & then left.
We did a brief driveby tour of the other cisterns already built with the previous project in Capaderillo, then drove back to town.
This pilot will be completed on Thursday.
Order for the standard materials at Talego (hardware supplies store), was placed & 50% deposit paid on Tuesday 8th Feb.
Please see photos on the blog, under label Vivienda Urbana.
Next meeting in Vivienda Urbana planned for 10.30am Wed 23rd Feb 2011
Where: Kinder in Vivienda Urbana
When: Mon 7.2.11 9am – 11.am
Who: Saul (Cedesa), Rafael Cruz (technician from Los Torres) , Laura SMA Midday RC, Steve Stevens & Jim Johnson Walla Walla RC (joint funders), Martha Donnelly (interested guest), Gary Reid (Rotary volunteer & photographer), community of Vivienda Urbana participants in water cistern project 26 adults, at least 50% men, also Humberto & Audelia from San Lorenzo Community – to participate in the training & at least 7 dogs!,
Purpose: This was day one of the pilot training session, during which all the participants of the project meet daily for 4 days to construct a cistern from start to finish, including installation of pvc piping, & preparation of roof surface… Rafael Cruz is doing the technical demonstration, with Saul assisting & explaining further.
We arrived at 9.15 & work was already fully underway, with everyone participating & learning the new skills. There were men working with a grinder to cut wire off the big mesh roll to make into hooks (ganchos) to weave the chicken wire & mesh “sandwich”…
Jim & Steve asked many questions & got the feel for the process.
Gary took many photos.
We discovered the kinder had flush toilets, but currently not functioning since there is almost never water to use to flush them. They have an underground cistern to receive the water for flushing but it was empty.
There are 38 children at the kindergarten, but since today was a national holiday the kids were at home.
Rafael made the measurements of the pvc required & gave Laura the list to order (& pay for) for delivery asap.
He will visit the community on Saturday to go house by house of the participants & assist with the measurement of pvc, & collate a list of PVC required for the bulk order (ie 24 cisterns).
We watched & learned for approx. 1.5 hrs more & then left.
We did a brief driveby tour of the other cisterns already built with the previous project in Capaderillo, then drove back to town.
This pilot will be completed on Thursday.
Order for the standard materials at Talego (hardware supplies store), was placed & 50% deposit paid on Tuesday 8th Feb.
Please see photos on the blog, under label Vivienda Urbana.
Next meeting in Vivienda Urbana planned for 10.30am Wed 23rd Feb 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
3rd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Palencia
3rd Event of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Palencia
Where: Community House in Palencia – 1hr north of Dolores Hidalgo,
When: 3rd Feb 2011 12.20 start (left SMA at 10am), meeting finished 2.40 (back in SMA5pm)
Who: Chela, Benigno – Cedesa, Laura – Rotary, 18 adults (incl 1 man) + 5 kids
Purpose:
The cisterns are all constructed, the project is essentially finished, the final inauguration requires planning.
Background.
Rotary met with this community in January 2010, after Chela had alerted us to the fact this community has the highest levels of Fluoride & arsenic than any in SMA. They had heard of the projects in SMA & petitioned us for assistance. See report 1, & 2 for more information.
Some brief facts about the community were raised in the previous meeting, included again here for ease of reference
• Approx 80 families /500 people
• Cedesa have been working with this community for 22 years
• Palencia is approx 1 hr from Cedesa in Dolores Hidalgo
• The community well was drilled 18 years ago, they have been drinking contaminated water for 18years
• There are smaller family wells that fill up when it rains, but they do not last the dry season
• There was a cacique (self appointed boss) when cedesa began work here, he is still apart from the community
• They have worked on many community projects together, including fighting for land rights, building a community centre (with funding for materials from local govt.), obtaining electricity
Item 1 – introductions all round:
A co-ordinator & record taker were nominated & unanimously elected
Agenda points were called for
• Inauguration of the cisterns project
• Closure of the water project
• Planning of continuing work with Cedesa & the Palencia community
• Diagnostics of Community needs
• Information re Campesino Climate workshop at Cedesa
• Other points
Item 2 – role called & introductions made
All attending the meeting introduced themselves, including me & Rotary.
Item 3 – general opening discussion
Chela mentioned that her & I had been talking on the way in the car about the situation with the rural communities, that they were in dire need & were barely subsisting.
She had mentioned the reasons for this were, her mum’s generation were not taught to read, & historically there was a lack of nutrition, water, education, as a result of generations of this situation, people were not motivated to change & not aware of the possibilities for change. They were not united, families are separate, & communities are not encouraged to work together. This has allowed for the situation to stay the same.
Other parts of the world, for example Brazil, “have vision, imagination & curiosity”…
Here – what future do we currently have? We need to improve our thoughts about the future & what we would like to change.
Item 4 - Report from the Climate Workshop at Cedesa
A couple from Palencia had attended the workshop on climate at Cedesa & gave a very thorough report of what they learnt there, the themes, the focus, suggested solutions to issues as well as summary important points…
It was very detailed & well reported & took around 45mins.
Some of the topics raised were:
• Seed heritage
• Genetic modification of seed & implications
• The need to save a %age of seed from each crop for the next crop
• Conservation of water, land & seed.
• 22% of Mexicans are campesinos.
• Monsanto, & compulsory seed purchase, as seeds do not replicate
• Chemical fertilizers & their negative effects on flora & fauna (incl humans)
• Maintaining a tradition of healthy food (beans, nopal, etc)
• Natural fertilizers
• Land ownership, maintain productivity by retaining larger parcels, foreign ownership
• Deforestation
• Abuse of the rivers by extraction
• Campesinos are not poor, but rich in that they have the capability to grow food to sustain themselves
• Campesinos are not 2nd class citizens they have great riches in their land & potential
• If you have food & not money you can survive, but if you have money & there is no food you can not.
• Involve youth,
• Catch water
• Defend the integrity of the seed
• Maintain your property, selling for $$ is very short sighted
• Television is a huge waste of time, should be used responsibly, can be educative but also disruptive.
• Important to teach the kids so the ‘learning” is not lost
• Video games are time wasters
• People have bad priorities, have $$ for tv, phone etc, but not to buy tools or seed or trees to make the land more productive
Chela talked a little on the topic of youth & they are the future, “you need to consider well, the future you are creating for them”.
Chela asked the audience to sum up the topics Juan & Estella had raised re the Workshop.
What were the solutions:
• Conserve our native seed
• Avoid selling your land
• Even without water you can grow nopal & maguey
• Produce food
• Teach our children
Item 5 – planning for the closure/inauguration of the project 11th Feb 2011
Necessity – clean/safe water because we have contaminated water.
Objective – what do you want to do for the closure?
Reach more people in the community with the information re the purpose of the project, so the people can see the results of the project, one of the women undertook to make sure her whole family is aware of the issues & solution.
Maybe do a workshop to involve the kids in the theme.
One cistern was constructed at the Community Salon, one at the school & 19 individual family cisterns were constructed.
A small committee was formed to create the program & invite the kids & teachers.
Program
Juan & Estella to be co-ordinators of the event
11am welcome & a few words
11.15 a panel of 3 to describe the development of the community (history)
12midday, workshop with the kids on the subject of water
12.45 reflection
1pm cultural events
2pm lunch
3pm walk to see some of the cisterns constructed
4pm closure, doubts & questions, discussion, farewell
Item 6- Diagnostico (needs analysis)
A needs analysis will be carried out by the community with assistance by Benigno…
They will do this on Tuesday 15th Feb. ie what needs do the community have & what would they like to continue working on?
On the way back to Cedesa I questioned Benigno about the process of the project, he said it had run very smoothly, this community are used to working co-operatively in groups & there were no issues there… The only issue was delivery of materials as it is a long way from Dolores Hidalgo.
The cisterns were completed without an issue. 19 family cisterns & 2 community use cisterns.
A very good result!!
Meeting finished at 2.40pm.
We drove back to cedesa to drop off Chela & Benigno & arrived back in SMA around 5pm
Where: Community House in Palencia – 1hr north of Dolores Hidalgo,
When: 3rd Feb 2011 12.20 start (left SMA at 10am), meeting finished 2.40 (back in SMA5pm)
Who: Chela, Benigno – Cedesa, Laura – Rotary, 18 adults (incl 1 man) + 5 kids
Purpose:
The cisterns are all constructed, the project is essentially finished, the final inauguration requires planning.
Background.
Rotary met with this community in January 2010, after Chela had alerted us to the fact this community has the highest levels of Fluoride & arsenic than any in SMA. They had heard of the projects in SMA & petitioned us for assistance. See report 1, & 2 for more information.
Some brief facts about the community were raised in the previous meeting, included again here for ease of reference
• Approx 80 families /500 people
• Cedesa have been working with this community for 22 years
• Palencia is approx 1 hr from Cedesa in Dolores Hidalgo
• The community well was drilled 18 years ago, they have been drinking contaminated water for 18years
• There are smaller family wells that fill up when it rains, but they do not last the dry season
• There was a cacique (self appointed boss) when cedesa began work here, he is still apart from the community
• They have worked on many community projects together, including fighting for land rights, building a community centre (with funding for materials from local govt.), obtaining electricity
Item 1 – introductions all round:
A co-ordinator & record taker were nominated & unanimously elected
Agenda points were called for
• Inauguration of the cisterns project
• Closure of the water project
• Planning of continuing work with Cedesa & the Palencia community
• Diagnostics of Community needs
• Information re Campesino Climate workshop at Cedesa
• Other points
Item 2 – role called & introductions made
All attending the meeting introduced themselves, including me & Rotary.
Item 3 – general opening discussion
Chela mentioned that her & I had been talking on the way in the car about the situation with the rural communities, that they were in dire need & were barely subsisting.
She had mentioned the reasons for this were, her mum’s generation were not taught to read, & historically there was a lack of nutrition, water, education, as a result of generations of this situation, people were not motivated to change & not aware of the possibilities for change. They were not united, families are separate, & communities are not encouraged to work together. This has allowed for the situation to stay the same.
Other parts of the world, for example Brazil, “have vision, imagination & curiosity”…
Here – what future do we currently have? We need to improve our thoughts about the future & what we would like to change.
Item 4 - Report from the Climate Workshop at Cedesa
A couple from Palencia had attended the workshop on climate at Cedesa & gave a very thorough report of what they learnt there, the themes, the focus, suggested solutions to issues as well as summary important points…
It was very detailed & well reported & took around 45mins.
Some of the topics raised were:
• Seed heritage
• Genetic modification of seed & implications
• The need to save a %age of seed from each crop for the next crop
• Conservation of water, land & seed.
• 22% of Mexicans are campesinos.
• Monsanto, & compulsory seed purchase, as seeds do not replicate
• Chemical fertilizers & their negative effects on flora & fauna (incl humans)
• Maintaining a tradition of healthy food (beans, nopal, etc)
• Natural fertilizers
• Land ownership, maintain productivity by retaining larger parcels, foreign ownership
• Deforestation
• Abuse of the rivers by extraction
• Campesinos are not poor, but rich in that they have the capability to grow food to sustain themselves
• Campesinos are not 2nd class citizens they have great riches in their land & potential
• If you have food & not money you can survive, but if you have money & there is no food you can not.
• Involve youth,
• Catch water
• Defend the integrity of the seed
• Maintain your property, selling for $$ is very short sighted
• Television is a huge waste of time, should be used responsibly, can be educative but also disruptive.
• Important to teach the kids so the ‘learning” is not lost
• Video games are time wasters
• People have bad priorities, have $$ for tv, phone etc, but not to buy tools or seed or trees to make the land more productive
Chela talked a little on the topic of youth & they are the future, “you need to consider well, the future you are creating for them”.
Chela asked the audience to sum up the topics Juan & Estella had raised re the Workshop.
What were the solutions:
• Conserve our native seed
• Avoid selling your land
• Even without water you can grow nopal & maguey
• Produce food
• Teach our children
Item 5 – planning for the closure/inauguration of the project 11th Feb 2011
Necessity – clean/safe water because we have contaminated water.
Objective – what do you want to do for the closure?
Reach more people in the community with the information re the purpose of the project, so the people can see the results of the project, one of the women undertook to make sure her whole family is aware of the issues & solution.
Maybe do a workshop to involve the kids in the theme.
One cistern was constructed at the Community Salon, one at the school & 19 individual family cisterns were constructed.
A small committee was formed to create the program & invite the kids & teachers.
Program
Juan & Estella to be co-ordinators of the event
11am welcome & a few words
11.15 a panel of 3 to describe the development of the community (history)
12midday, workshop with the kids on the subject of water
12.45 reflection
1pm cultural events
2pm lunch
3pm walk to see some of the cisterns constructed
4pm closure, doubts & questions, discussion, farewell
Item 6- Diagnostico (needs analysis)
A needs analysis will be carried out by the community with assistance by Benigno…
They will do this on Tuesday 15th Feb. ie what needs do the community have & what would they like to continue working on?
On the way back to Cedesa I questioned Benigno about the process of the project, he said it had run very smoothly, this community are used to working co-operatively in groups & there were no issues there… The only issue was delivery of materials as it is a long way from Dolores Hidalgo.
The cisterns were completed without an issue. 19 family cisterns & 2 community use cisterns.
A very good result!!
Meeting finished at 2.40pm.
We drove back to cedesa to drop off Chela & Benigno & arrived back in SMA around 5pm
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
4th Regional Mtg of the Communities requesting assistance with water / 1st as a Consejo.
Where: Presita Santa Rosa primary school grounds
When: 2.2.11
Who: Communities represented: La Cienega (3), Juan Gonzalez (4), La Palmita (5), Vivienda de Arriba (3), Cinco Senores (3), Capaderillo (4), Los Torres (5), Tierra Blanca (9), Vivienda Urbana (2), Guerrero (2), La tinaja (4), San Lorenzo (2), Montecillo de Nieto (late 5), Presita Santa Rosa (4), Cruz del Palmar (? Late), San Isidro (0), La Aurora (3 late – flat tyre), villa de Guadalupe (0), Bandita – 1st visit (2), (more than 62 adults including 13 men.
Chela, Saul, Jesús Guitierrez, Holly Yasui,- Cedesa, Laura – Rotary,
Purpose: To continue work on resolving the water & other issues with these communities
We arrived at 12pm as planned, but the Delegado of Presita Santa Rosa – Jose Luz - didn’t have a meeting placed arranged, he had forgotten to ask for the keys & the person with the keys was not there.
We talked for a while about possible other venues, but no houses big enough, & then asked the maestro at the school if we could use their grounds, the children graciously gave up their chairs for a number of the assembly, the rest of us sat on the ground, under a large tree. It was difficult to hear.
Consequently the meeting did not start until 12.20.
Chela “it is a bit of a problem that you didn’t organize a place to receive us, it is important to have a space to meet, so we’re not wasting time looking for somewhere when we arrive. You invited us, you should have organized – everyone understand & agree?” “si”
This meeting is of the wider region, combining all the micro regions.
Chela began with introductions all round (ie each community representative stated their name & the number of people with them, & then those people stated their names.
There was a proposal for a co-ordinator – Roberto from Presita, & secretary intitally Ana from Vivienda was chosen but she declined saying she co-ordinated the previous regional meeting & therefore someone else should have a turn. Audelia from San Lorenzo was voted Secretary for the meeting.
Saul prompted Roberto to call for points for the agenda for today.
Roberto introduced himself & called for all to raise their hands with points, & raise their hands to speak. He asked them to raise the issues re the communities’ necessities.
There was a pause (mostly probably because it was difficult to hear outside but also some were timid to be first)
Chela “we’re here for a particular purpose, to deal with issues you raise, so it is important you speak your issues or doubts”
These issues were then raised
• Water
• Sanitarios (toilets)
• Gardens (nurseries for germinating plants) (Guerrero raised this point)
• Contamination of water
• Health
• Suggestion – every community could state their primary needs & we could decide what to talk about.
• Each community representative should have the opportunity to say what their objectives for attending the meeting are.
Saul – Is everyone clear about what the “Consejo” (citizen’s board) is?
Chela asked all the representatives of the Consejo to raise their hands, there were 26 reps.
There were some communities who are not yet part of the consejo but were representative.
Roberto “we have different people representing at each meeting so it is difficult to have consistency, & often people do not really know what is going on, it is important that the same people come each time & report back”
Jesus –“that’s true because this is a new process, new for you, new for us, & it is up to you to form the process & rules, & form of work that will take place, not Cedesa or Rotary, but you – the communities.”
Chela “ you need to decide what you are building as you are the owners of this process, this process will stem from your ideas”.
Responses
“for me it’s a group of citizens working together to determine the needs of each, & how we can resolve these necessities, find the resources & work together on the solutions – only my opinion & my suggestion, but it involves the participation of all”
“When I explained the Consejo to my community I said it was a group of people working together to decide on necessities, & make decisions in total by community assembly & resolve things together”
“I’m not part of the Consejo but of the community, I think it’s in meetings in different parts of the region”
“the consejo is for you because you are the consejo”
“we talk about this & that, & decide things about this & that, this is what I understand”
“we meet in each community & talk about the issues to bring to the consejo as a region”
“we are here because we would like dry toilets” Chela pointed out we are talking about what a consejo is, not raising the issues at the moment. “a consejo is to assist the communities” “to work on solutions for toilets, water, roads etc”
Chela – that’s great – we could talk more on this but since we have a short time today that will work as a summary.
There are essentially 26 representatives of the consejo here, & the rest are here to support the consejo.
Chela asked – is it a group or the total community you are representing?
Majority were representing a group, ie they had met as a group & elected their rep. as opposed to managing to organize an entire community meeting.
She suggested next time we could get more specific & see exactly who were representing groups & who were representing communities, & how each were elected.
The name of the consejo contains the word Agua (water) but essentially all the representatives are representing all the issues for their communities (groups).
(Montecillo de Nieto & CdPalmar arrived at this point, they had been at opportunities program)
It is very important to recognize that the people in this consejo are taking the time to volunteer to work on this, many would say no, we’re too busy, this is not my job etc, but this is very important & you are demonstrating a spirit of service.
Chela – it is for the service of the community without pay or reward, except of the heart.
Roberto asked – any more discussion? “no” then let’s get on with the agenda.
Chela described what had taken place at the Micro regional meetings
That they all voted the priority of the communities in their region.
Micro region 1 had voted Juan Gonzalez & San Lorenzo to be the next recipients of any available resources for materials for cisterns.
Micro region 2 had voted for Vivienda Urbana, & in fact that project has begun (it is being funded by Tallahassee Rotary club & district & Walla Walla Washington RC). 25 cisterns in total.
Villa de Guadalupe has been voted 2nd on the list in Micro region 1, but they are not here today, people need to be motivated & live up to their commitments to attend meetings, even if resources take time to procure.
“we need to talk to Sapasma about our faulty wells” (at least 3 of the community have issues with their wells) (Los Torres, Villa de Guadalupe & Coralejo)
We will need to visit Sapasma as a group & convey the issues.
Holly & I left the meeting at this point, we had urgent appt. back in SMA.
Subsequently it was decided a delegation would go to Presidencia to ask for an appointment to discuss the issues (they will go on Monday).
Next meeting will depend on the time given for the appointment with the Presidencia, it will be a week before in order to plan the presentation.
Next Micro regional meeting Micro region 1 9th Feb 1pm. At Cinco Senores.
When: 2.2.11
Who: Communities represented: La Cienega (3), Juan Gonzalez (4), La Palmita (5), Vivienda de Arriba (3), Cinco Senores (3), Capaderillo (4), Los Torres (5), Tierra Blanca (9), Vivienda Urbana (2), Guerrero (2), La tinaja (4), San Lorenzo (2), Montecillo de Nieto (late 5), Presita Santa Rosa (4), Cruz del Palmar (? Late), San Isidro (0), La Aurora (3 late – flat tyre), villa de Guadalupe (0), Bandita – 1st visit (2), (more than 62 adults including 13 men.
Chela, Saul, Jesús Guitierrez, Holly Yasui,- Cedesa, Laura – Rotary,
Purpose: To continue work on resolving the water & other issues with these communities
We arrived at 12pm as planned, but the Delegado of Presita Santa Rosa – Jose Luz - didn’t have a meeting placed arranged, he had forgotten to ask for the keys & the person with the keys was not there.
We talked for a while about possible other venues, but no houses big enough, & then asked the maestro at the school if we could use their grounds, the children graciously gave up their chairs for a number of the assembly, the rest of us sat on the ground, under a large tree. It was difficult to hear.
Consequently the meeting did not start until 12.20.
Chela “it is a bit of a problem that you didn’t organize a place to receive us, it is important to have a space to meet, so we’re not wasting time looking for somewhere when we arrive. You invited us, you should have organized – everyone understand & agree?” “si”
This meeting is of the wider region, combining all the micro regions.
Chela began with introductions all round (ie each community representative stated their name & the number of people with them, & then those people stated their names.
There was a proposal for a co-ordinator – Roberto from Presita, & secretary intitally Ana from Vivienda was chosen but she declined saying she co-ordinated the previous regional meeting & therefore someone else should have a turn. Audelia from San Lorenzo was voted Secretary for the meeting.
Saul prompted Roberto to call for points for the agenda for today.
Roberto introduced himself & called for all to raise their hands with points, & raise their hands to speak. He asked them to raise the issues re the communities’ necessities.
There was a pause (mostly probably because it was difficult to hear outside but also some were timid to be first)
Chela “we’re here for a particular purpose, to deal with issues you raise, so it is important you speak your issues or doubts”
These issues were then raised
• Water
• Sanitarios (toilets)
• Gardens (nurseries for germinating plants) (Guerrero raised this point)
• Contamination of water
• Health
• Suggestion – every community could state their primary needs & we could decide what to talk about.
• Each community representative should have the opportunity to say what their objectives for attending the meeting are.
Saul – Is everyone clear about what the “Consejo” (citizen’s board) is?
Chela asked all the representatives of the Consejo to raise their hands, there were 26 reps.
There were some communities who are not yet part of the consejo but were representative.
Roberto “we have different people representing at each meeting so it is difficult to have consistency, & often people do not really know what is going on, it is important that the same people come each time & report back”
Jesus –“that’s true because this is a new process, new for you, new for us, & it is up to you to form the process & rules, & form of work that will take place, not Cedesa or Rotary, but you – the communities.”
Chela “ you need to decide what you are building as you are the owners of this process, this process will stem from your ideas”.
Responses
“for me it’s a group of citizens working together to determine the needs of each, & how we can resolve these necessities, find the resources & work together on the solutions – only my opinion & my suggestion, but it involves the participation of all”
“When I explained the Consejo to my community I said it was a group of people working together to decide on necessities, & make decisions in total by community assembly & resolve things together”
“I’m not part of the Consejo but of the community, I think it’s in meetings in different parts of the region”
“the consejo is for you because you are the consejo”
“we talk about this & that, & decide things about this & that, this is what I understand”
“we meet in each community & talk about the issues to bring to the consejo as a region”
“we are here because we would like dry toilets” Chela pointed out we are talking about what a consejo is, not raising the issues at the moment. “a consejo is to assist the communities” “to work on solutions for toilets, water, roads etc”
Chela – that’s great – we could talk more on this but since we have a short time today that will work as a summary.
There are essentially 26 representatives of the consejo here, & the rest are here to support the consejo.
Chela asked – is it a group or the total community you are representing?
Majority were representing a group, ie they had met as a group & elected their rep. as opposed to managing to organize an entire community meeting.
She suggested next time we could get more specific & see exactly who were representing groups & who were representing communities, & how each were elected.
The name of the consejo contains the word Agua (water) but essentially all the representatives are representing all the issues for their communities (groups).
(Montecillo de Nieto & CdPalmar arrived at this point, they had been at opportunities program)
It is very important to recognize that the people in this consejo are taking the time to volunteer to work on this, many would say no, we’re too busy, this is not my job etc, but this is very important & you are demonstrating a spirit of service.
Chela – it is for the service of the community without pay or reward, except of the heart.
Roberto asked – any more discussion? “no” then let’s get on with the agenda.
Chela described what had taken place at the Micro regional meetings
That they all voted the priority of the communities in their region.
Micro region 1 had voted Juan Gonzalez & San Lorenzo to be the next recipients of any available resources for materials for cisterns.
Micro region 2 had voted for Vivienda Urbana, & in fact that project has begun (it is being funded by Tallahassee Rotary club & district & Walla Walla Washington RC). 25 cisterns in total.
Villa de Guadalupe has been voted 2nd on the list in Micro region 1, but they are not here today, people need to be motivated & live up to their commitments to attend meetings, even if resources take time to procure.
“we need to talk to Sapasma about our faulty wells” (at least 3 of the community have issues with their wells) (Los Torres, Villa de Guadalupe & Coralejo)
We will need to visit Sapasma as a group & convey the issues.
Holly & I left the meeting at this point, we had urgent appt. back in SMA.
Subsequently it was decided a delegation would go to Presidencia to ask for an appointment to discuss the issues (they will go on Monday).
Next meeting will depend on the time given for the appointment with the Presidencia, it will be a week before in order to plan the presentation.
Next Micro regional meeting Micro region 1 9th Feb 1pm. At Cinco Senores.
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