2nd Mtg Cienega Juana Ruiz

Record of Event

Where: Salon de Lectura Cienega Juana Ruiz
When: Wed 4.5.11 5pm (we were late coming from our planning meeting) – 8pm
Who: Saul, Chela, Holly + (Cedesa), Laura, (Rotary), 3 Sapasma Promoters + 30 adults (incl 4 men) from Community of Cienega.

Purpose: 2nd planning meeting for the Water Cistern project, funded as part of the US$35k Sapasma grant. This project (along with the one in Villa de Guadalupe) will be considered a training program for Sapasma promoters to learn the Cedesa method & overall operations of the water projects. It will be to provide 26 family cisterns in Cienega + 1 pilot will be funded by the Bellingham Rotary Club direct grant.

Sapasma will be attending all planning meetings as well as training pilot & various individual family work sessions, to learn the process from beginning to end.

Chela explained why we were late, we had had 3 meetings prior to this one.

A co-ordinator was elected – Adriana & secretary (?)

Introductions by Sapasma, & the Roll was called. Chela asked who else was attended (other than those on the list) & why they were here – they responded they were interested in getting water.

One person who is on the list does not have space for the cistern so is donating her place. Chela asked who agreed & who want3ed to comment. Amelia (consejo rep) explained that it was a decision for the whole group to discuss & make.

Chela wanted to clarify that the project is not a normal program/handout but an involved process. She asked if anyone wanted to talk about the water situation in general to know more.
The discussion then covered the topics of contaminants, bacterial v chemical/mineral. The contaminant fluoride was discussed, along with the symptoms. & the method of killing bacteria with the Sodis (www.sodis.ch) was briefly explained.

Chela asked why Sapasma was there – the crowd responded to learn the process along side us & to provide resources, & also to talk about the pozo issue.

Chela “so you have your resources organized already?” si, but we need to organize the work groups, & plan the project, we have done that already, for our homework! We have 5 groups organized…
We then had a discussion as we had only budgeted on 4 work groups (ie each work group needs their own set of plywood & water truck deliveries – in this case). So we needed to reorganize the work groups into just 4 groups.

There was discussion about the water situation, as there is none in this community (only irrigation wells from which they have to “borrow” water, or dry river beds where they excavate approx. 1mtr to collect the water from the muddy puddle), we need to organize with Sapasma to have pipas (water trucks), & these cost money – so a solicitude needs to be made (with Sapasma’s promoters assistance) to the municipality to cover the cost of these water truck deliveries, which are essential for the construction of the cisterns.

Holly spent many hours working on the solution, she estimated the qty of water for each cistern to be approx. 2400 cisterns, ie 12 tambos (big buckets), each truck can be 5000 or 10,000 ltrs so need to arrange for deliveries sufficient for 2400 per family per group. A schedule has been drawn up to ensure the construction of the cisterns is not held up for lack of water deliveries.

Chela asked who at Sapasma is responsible for ensuring the water deliveries, & the promoters responded Waldo.


The groups were then formed - 4 groups (formatting lost in this blog!)

Luis Gonz
Ricardo Guerrero ©
Soccorro Soria ©
Adriana Ramirez
Veronica Torres
Abelina Soria
Emelia Gonz (CC)/A
Audencia
Marina Ramz.
Elisa Martinez©
Jose Soria
Victoria Vargas
Rosalia Vargas ©
Rutilia Ramz
Luisa Guerrero
Calina Vasquez (a)
Javier Guerrero ©
Carmela Guerrero©
Estela Monton
Sanjuana Torres
Almadelia ©
Paulina (a)
Juana Vazquez
Imelda Martinez ©
Victoria Vazquez
Consuelo Juarez


There was a discussion about the need for a minimum of 1-2 abaniles per each group, if they are not available on afternoons or weekends even, they will need, as a group to contribute to pay someone. Emelia pointed out that many people can be abaniles, they don’t need a degree in it she asked Sergio “have you got a degree?” everyone laughed.

Sapasma asked if they can take photos to record the process, Emelia began preening herself & again everyone cracked up laughing.

The co-ordinator role for the groups was explained, ie they are the go-to people for deliveries, short deliveries, issues etc, 2 co-ordinators were appointed for each group.

Emelia was appointed as community co-ordinator (ie overall co-ordinator).

Saul explained that the abanile involvement is very important, it is essential to make the best possible cistern so it does not fail you…

Emelia mentioned how much she is enjoying the thought of working together in groups, this community have worked together before & have achieved a lot, they have facilities we have not seen in other communities, eg a community kitchen, a health clinic, a library, & even a small bull ring… they enjoy working together, Emelia “it is one thing to be talking about work, but it really lifts your spirits when you work together & slap on the cement!”

Saul reiterated – it really is a joy to work in teams on these projects – developing harmony.

Saul mentioned the chain of command re the group work, re errors or issues, try to resolve them amongst your group, then with your group co-ordinators, then with the community co-ordinator & as a last resort call him.

Hours of work re the Pilot
The pilot is to begin in Cienega on the 9th May. There was discussion about starting time for the day’s work. Some wanted to start at 7am, others 8am & others 9am. 8 am was the consensus.

When deliveries are ready they call Saul, & Saul will all the leaders of the project to meet the trucks to tell them where to go.

Attendance at the pilot is ideal for all members all days, ie to learn the process fully. Those that really can not attend need to send representatives, &/or provide food & drink.

PVC limit 2.5 tramos per family
Saul mentioned there is a limit to the qty of PVC piping that will be supplied by the project, many people want to have their cisterns way away from the house & this costs more in piping. The new method is to build the cistern as close as poss. Or where they desire, then measure the piping requirements once the cistern is in place, this is a more precise method.

The location of the cistern is important & needs to take into account the overall plan for the whole backyard, including gardens, rubbish, compost, animals, fruit trees, etc.

Some people paint pictures or decorate their cisterns, in Vivienda Urbana someone has drawn a picture of jesus on the cross, in Vivienda Arriba they have elephants on the side & stampeding up the top! The cistern is there for your whole life so it’s important to accommodate it in the best possible spot.
It is 2.5 mtrs high + .7 more for the peak.

No throwaway cups & plates – the volume of rubbish created during the communal meetings is immense & everyone is encouraged to bring re-usable plates & cups to cut down waste.

Tools – the tools required for the first day were listed, including ladders, wheelbarrows, big buckets, wire cutters, grinder, sieves

End of planning session for the Water Project

Pozo…
Discussion/plans were made re the situation with the Pozo.
Piping was put in place approx. 3 yrs ago, after working on the issue for 7 yrs, but now the pipes are in a state of disrepair & they are still not hooked up to the well.

There is an issue re the concession holder for the well, he went to the USA, they have been working on changing the ownership of the concession.

Sapasma asked if they had a water committee, the delegado said yes they have been appointed but have never received training, Sapasma explained they may have been missed, they have trained 83 communities in the region but must have missed this one.

A phone number was exchanged so the delegado can co=ordinate a training session for the water committee.

The Delegado mentioned they have been working for many years on the issue of provision of water with Sapasma, but have not got anywhere.

Chela said there are many responsible, not just Sapasma, that the whole community needs to take responsibility to push this forward. (I missed the end of the meeting as had to take a phone call)

Meeting finished at 7.20pm & a big feast was provided!
Next meeting 9/5/11 – pilot construction at Casa de Salud begins 8am.