On 21st October 2010 Norman Myden from Chinook Rotary Club emailed me to see what we could get going re a water project - I told him he'd come to the right place, & we immediately set to work... In December we applied to the Alberta's Govt Community Initiatives Program (CIP) for funding which we hoped to match with Rotary Club & District & the Foundation to achieve a large grant of US$65,300.....
Well, I am very happy to announce that a year later on Oct 25th we received a very happy email from Ashley at The Rotary Foundation informing us our application had been successful & we are to receive the funding!!
District 5360 (located in Canada and includes all of the Rotary clubs in Alberta from Ponoka south and also clubs in the south-west region of Saskatchewan) is providing US$10,000, Chinook RC is providing $10,000 + Alberta Govt $20,000, SMA Midday is providing US$200 (& lots of blood, sweat & tears!) & this is all being matched by The Rotary Foundation with US$25,100.
For a grand total of US$65,300 & a planned cistern count of 108 cisterns in 4 communities decided by the Consejo (citizen's council) of 18 communities.
We are working through the small details now, opening bank accounts, transferring $$ & are expecting to be able to begin the project early December!!
The communities will be
Guerrero
La Tinaja
Cruz del Palmar
& 3 Esquinas (near Palencia)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Happy Update...Sapasma Project II
Work with the Consejo (citizen's council) continues, they meet around 6wkly & continue to provide priority for water projects, dry toilet projects & other issues. As a result of their continued hard work, we have now been successful in achieving funding for 2 more major projects. One with Sapasma (detailed in this post) & the 2nd with another Rotary Global Grant (see separate post)
Sapasma (our local water authority) have agreed to fund another project for 59 cisterns mxn$439,399 pesos. This project will be carried out in 3 communities with an additional 3 solo cisterns to be provided in 2 more communities.
Los Torres will carry out phase III & construct 18 cisterns.
Presita de Santa Rosa will carry out phase I & construct 20 cisterns - with an additional cistern being funded by a private donation - thank you Chris - & thank you Holly for arranging this.
Cienega will carry out phase II & construct 18 cisterns.
Cinco Senores will work with University de Leon & receive a single cistern.
Rancho Bonito will receive 2 single cisterns...
Paperwork is currently being completed & funding is expected to be received this week, with 1st Pilot in LT scheduled to kick off on 7th Nov.
It will be a punishingly tough rollout, with every effort to get things underway before Christmas!!
Sapasma (our local water authority) have agreed to fund another project for 59 cisterns mxn$439,399 pesos. This project will be carried out in 3 communities with an additional 3 solo cisterns to be provided in 2 more communities.
Los Torres will carry out phase III & construct 18 cisterns.
Presita de Santa Rosa will carry out phase I & construct 20 cisterns - with an additional cistern being funded by a private donation - thank you Chris - & thank you Holly for arranging this.
Cienega will carry out phase II & construct 18 cisterns.
Cinco Senores will work with University de Leon & receive a single cistern.
Rancho Bonito will receive 2 single cisterns...
Paperwork is currently being completed & funding is expected to be received this week, with 1st Pilot in LT scheduled to kick off on 7th Nov.
It will be a punishingly tough rollout, with every effort to get things underway before Christmas!!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Record of Event 10th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar Water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community - courtyard of chapel
When: Wed 19.10.11
Who: Chela, Saul & Holly (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), 54 adults incl 8 men, + 13kids, 2 dogs,
Purpose: General Community assembly & pre-planning meeting re forthcoming water & dry toilet projects being administered by Rotary, Cedesa & the Consejo (in different
combinations)
We arrived at 12.30 thinking the meeting was to begin at 12, running a little late, but were advised some thought the meeting was to start at 11am, so apologies were made to these people for waiting so long…
The attendance roll was called, 10 were present for Sanitarios Secos only, 22 were present for cisterns only & 12 were present for both, 5 were absent from cisterns list.
(39 on the list but 5 absent – a govt program was also scheduled for today, re the elderly, possibly some were at this event.
Chela asked if there were any in the crowd that didn’t know us (the water project team), a couple of people raised their hands so we gave introductions of ourselves & Holly explained if she & I were talking it was because she was translating for me.
Chela introduced herself & gave a brief history of the project including a little re the separate roles & also about the Consejo (citizen’s council).
In the first phase we were working in the close region, as the projects have continued we have extended to more communities in this region & formed a citizen’s council, Cata – a member of Cruz del Palmar community – is president of this Consejo & has been reporting back to all of you - correct? “si!!”
“Let’s go ahead & create the agenda for today’s meeting”
Saul explained each meeting we have in communities follows the same basic format, elect a co-ordinator & record taker, he explained the roles of each & the need to have a specific “minutes” book as an archive of each meeting & agreements made.
“It’s important for the people n the community to not be afraid & step up to take the roles, who do you propose?”
No-one immediately responded, Saul laughed & said this was the easy bit, ie to propose someone – this elicited a response with 3 people proposed. Juana will be co-ordinator & Letty records taker.
“what is the role of the co-ordinator?” To keep order, the way to do this - ask people to raise their hands & be appointed to speak, for the respect of all & to create a harmonious meeting, everyone is encouraged to speak in turn to increase the “rain of ideas”.
The record taker records all agreements made & details we might need to refer to in future.
We need to suggest points for discussion & work for today’s agenda
Agenda
Cisterns
Dry Toilets
Introduction re Cisterns & Dry toilets
Backyard production
Doubts & questions
The Consejo, purpose & function
1. Introduction – why do you want cisterns? Dry toilets?
“almost no water” “contaminated water” “upper part of community have no water” “we don’t have water & are looking for a form of obtaining water” “water is life” “the contaminated water is damaging to the health of our kids”
Discussion ensued, who has toilets, some people do, but mostly latrines (just holes). What are the contaminants of the water in this region “fluoride, arsenic & manganese”.
Bacterial contaminants are a different question & are very easy to remove (using www.Sodis.ch) but the chemical/minerals are not easy to remove – for this reason we are using rainwater as our alternative – storing in cisterns.
Who has a cistern & can explain the function?
“principally for drinking & cooking & use the other water sources – if there are any – for domestic use”. The objective of cisterns is to capture rain water in tanks from the roof for drinking & cooking.
Dry toilets – primary objective – to have a method of disposing of excreta without use of water because a) there is a shortage of water b) the drainage of sewage is majorly polluting, c) to provide excellent fertilizer for production of plants.
One woman explained the use of dry toilets as a relative has one, & Chela asked if everyone was now clear on the purpose of cisterns & dry toilets – to which the response was “SI…”
2. Cisterns :
Saul explained that the cisterns projects were the beginning of the organisation process, as a result of the many communities working on cistern projects, they joined together to form a Consejo (citizen’s council) to work on common issues. It has involved many meetings, working on common issues, writing solicituds to the govt. informing Rotary of our priorities.
Holly – who knows how the cisterns are made?
“all of us build them, we form groups & construct together”
“we first learn during the pilots & hands on training, then build the cisterns together”
Saul – It is much more than just building a cistern or a dry toilet, there is a lot of participation involved, the value of organisation & co-operation is learned. The value of learning you have the ability to resolve your own issues by working in solidarity to achieve & accomplish your goals, it’s not a gift, you are organising & working hard to achieve this , including learning what the purpose of the Consejo is & how it functions. For me it is important you understand the whole process & purpose of organisation, not just to obtain cisterns.
3. Dry Toilets
The Consejo & Cedesa (apart from Rotary) have been working to obtain funds to provide dry toilets to those who have continued participating to achieve them. Chela explained the process of obtaining the resources for the dry toilets so far… starting from the 1st meeting of the Consejo with the Presidencia at Cedecom approx. 1 year ago, to the point where they were awarded $4,250,000 pesos for the solicitud, which came with unfavourable conditions. It involves a bid process, ie has to be paid to outside contractors & can not be done by mutual aid groups, the price of one toilet has been quoted at mxn$32,000 which will mean far fewer than the 400+ toilets can be awarded. & toilets can only be awarded to those on the list who have NO form of toilet (functioning or not)…Work continues on this project.
4. Consejo –
A brief summary was given, this Consejo was originally formed in Oct 2010 with representatives elected from each of the communities who joined. For example Cata & Letty are reps. From Cruz del Palmar, as are Adelina (husband attending for her today) & Josefina (absent).
There is a board, made up of some reps the communities, President Cata, Secretary Roberto & 5 other “directors”
All are working/meeting on common issues like dry toilets & cisterns.
It is to give the communities a bigger voice.
For example, the Consejo insisted the design used for the dry toilets be one with 2 chambers…
On 26th Nov 11am – in Juan Gonzalez there will be an Encuentro & anniversary Fiesta of the Consejo – everyone is invited.
5. Workshop at Cedesa – 19th Nov 9am-5pm
A workshop at Cedesa will be held on the 19th, 3 people are invited to attend from each community, there will be 3 separate “work tables” 1 on Nopal tunnel construction, 1 on backyard production & 1 on medicinal plants.
The crops this year are particularly bad, since there has been insufficient rain, this year we need to come up with alternatives to just beans & maize, we need to start producing in our backyard, for example tomatoes & onions, 1 of the work tables will teach this.
Each of the representatives is expected to then teach the assembly in their own communities – to spread the information – train the trainer style.
Some people mentioned they were interested but lack water to grow a garden – this is obviously a major issue!
The meeting finished at 3.15 pm, & we were treated to a banquet of tortillas, rice, beans & chicheron casserole.
When: Wed 19.10.11
Who: Chela, Saul & Holly (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), 54 adults incl 8 men, + 13kids, 2 dogs,
Purpose: General Community assembly & pre-planning meeting re forthcoming water & dry toilet projects being administered by Rotary, Cedesa & the Consejo (in different
combinations)
We arrived at 12.30 thinking the meeting was to begin at 12, running a little late, but were advised some thought the meeting was to start at 11am, so apologies were made to these people for waiting so long…
The attendance roll was called, 10 were present for Sanitarios Secos only, 22 were present for cisterns only & 12 were present for both, 5 were absent from cisterns list.
(39 on the list but 5 absent – a govt program was also scheduled for today, re the elderly, possibly some were at this event.
Chela asked if there were any in the crowd that didn’t know us (the water project team), a couple of people raised their hands so we gave introductions of ourselves & Holly explained if she & I were talking it was because she was translating for me.
Chela introduced herself & gave a brief history of the project including a little re the separate roles & also about the Consejo (citizen’s council).
In the first phase we were working in the close region, as the projects have continued we have extended to more communities in this region & formed a citizen’s council, Cata – a member of Cruz del Palmar community – is president of this Consejo & has been reporting back to all of you - correct? “si!!”
“Let’s go ahead & create the agenda for today’s meeting”
Saul explained each meeting we have in communities follows the same basic format, elect a co-ordinator & record taker, he explained the roles of each & the need to have a specific “minutes” book as an archive of each meeting & agreements made.
“It’s important for the people n the community to not be afraid & step up to take the roles, who do you propose?”
No-one immediately responded, Saul laughed & said this was the easy bit, ie to propose someone – this elicited a response with 3 people proposed. Juana will be co-ordinator & Letty records taker.
“what is the role of the co-ordinator?” To keep order, the way to do this - ask people to raise their hands & be appointed to speak, for the respect of all & to create a harmonious meeting, everyone is encouraged to speak in turn to increase the “rain of ideas”.
The record taker records all agreements made & details we might need to refer to in future.
We need to suggest points for discussion & work for today’s agenda
Agenda
Cisterns
Dry Toilets
Introduction re Cisterns & Dry toilets
Backyard production
Doubts & questions
The Consejo, purpose & function
1. Introduction – why do you want cisterns? Dry toilets?
“almost no water” “contaminated water” “upper part of community have no water” “we don’t have water & are looking for a form of obtaining water” “water is life” “the contaminated water is damaging to the health of our kids”
Discussion ensued, who has toilets, some people do, but mostly latrines (just holes). What are the contaminants of the water in this region “fluoride, arsenic & manganese”.
Bacterial contaminants are a different question & are very easy to remove (using www.Sodis.ch) but the chemical/minerals are not easy to remove – for this reason we are using rainwater as our alternative – storing in cisterns.
Who has a cistern & can explain the function?
“principally for drinking & cooking & use the other water sources – if there are any – for domestic use”. The objective of cisterns is to capture rain water in tanks from the roof for drinking & cooking.
Dry toilets – primary objective – to have a method of disposing of excreta without use of water because a) there is a shortage of water b) the drainage of sewage is majorly polluting, c) to provide excellent fertilizer for production of plants.
One woman explained the use of dry toilets as a relative has one, & Chela asked if everyone was now clear on the purpose of cisterns & dry toilets – to which the response was “SI…”
2. Cisterns :
Saul explained that the cisterns projects were the beginning of the organisation process, as a result of the many communities working on cistern projects, they joined together to form a Consejo (citizen’s council) to work on common issues. It has involved many meetings, working on common issues, writing solicituds to the govt. informing Rotary of our priorities.
Holly – who knows how the cisterns are made?
“all of us build them, we form groups & construct together”
“we first learn during the pilots & hands on training, then build the cisterns together”
Saul – It is much more than just building a cistern or a dry toilet, there is a lot of participation involved, the value of organisation & co-operation is learned. The value of learning you have the ability to resolve your own issues by working in solidarity to achieve & accomplish your goals, it’s not a gift, you are organising & working hard to achieve this , including learning what the purpose of the Consejo is & how it functions. For me it is important you understand the whole process & purpose of organisation, not just to obtain cisterns.
3. Dry Toilets
The Consejo & Cedesa (apart from Rotary) have been working to obtain funds to provide dry toilets to those who have continued participating to achieve them. Chela explained the process of obtaining the resources for the dry toilets so far… starting from the 1st meeting of the Consejo with the Presidencia at Cedecom approx. 1 year ago, to the point where they were awarded $4,250,000 pesos for the solicitud, which came with unfavourable conditions. It involves a bid process, ie has to be paid to outside contractors & can not be done by mutual aid groups, the price of one toilet has been quoted at mxn$32,000 which will mean far fewer than the 400+ toilets can be awarded. & toilets can only be awarded to those on the list who have NO form of toilet (functioning or not)…Work continues on this project.
4. Consejo –
A brief summary was given, this Consejo was originally formed in Oct 2010 with representatives elected from each of the communities who joined. For example Cata & Letty are reps. From Cruz del Palmar, as are Adelina (husband attending for her today) & Josefina (absent).
There is a board, made up of some reps the communities, President Cata, Secretary Roberto & 5 other “directors”
All are working/meeting on common issues like dry toilets & cisterns.
It is to give the communities a bigger voice.
For example, the Consejo insisted the design used for the dry toilets be one with 2 chambers…
On 26th Nov 11am – in Juan Gonzalez there will be an Encuentro & anniversary Fiesta of the Consejo – everyone is invited.
5. Workshop at Cedesa – 19th Nov 9am-5pm
A workshop at Cedesa will be held on the 19th, 3 people are invited to attend from each community, there will be 3 separate “work tables” 1 on Nopal tunnel construction, 1 on backyard production & 1 on medicinal plants.
The crops this year are particularly bad, since there has been insufficient rain, this year we need to come up with alternatives to just beans & maize, we need to start producing in our backyard, for example tomatoes & onions, 1 of the work tables will teach this.
Each of the representatives is expected to then teach the assembly in their own communities – to spread the information – train the trainer style.
Some people mentioned they were interested but lack water to grow a garden – this is obviously a major issue!
The meeting finished at 3.15 pm, & we were treated to a banquet of tortillas, rice, beans & chicheron casserole.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Mini Regional Consejo Meeting 13.10.11
Who: Saul, Holly (Cedesa), Waldo, Alva (Sapasma)
Absent (Laura, Chela)
Communities represented:......
A mini Regional meeting was held at Cienegita on Thurs 13th Oct. to determine the priority for the receipt of resources for water cisterns.
It was decided Cienega would receive the 19 cisterns available from the Sapasma Funding Grant II...
****The next priorities are Juan Gonzales, La Palmita II and Correlejos.****
Communities of Cinco Señores, Villa de Guadalupe didn't show up at today's meeting, (nor La Tinaja, but Saul didn't advise them - they are difficult to reach since there is no cel phone signal there).
Absent (Laura, Chela)
Communities represented:......
A mini Regional meeting was held at Cienegita on Thurs 13th Oct. to determine the priority for the receipt of resources for water cisterns.
It was decided Cienega would receive the 19 cisterns available from the Sapasma Funding Grant II...
****The next priorities are Juan Gonzales, La Palmita II and Correlejos.****
Communities of Cinco Señores, Villa de Guadalupe didn't show up at today's meeting, (nor La Tinaja, but Saul didn't advise them - they are difficult to reach since there is no cel phone signal there).
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
2nd Mtg of the Presita de Santa Rosa Potential Water Project
Where: Presita de Santa Rosa, off the GTO hwy, on the right just past Cienegita Bridge (approx. 40 mins from SMA)
When: Wed Oct 12th 2011
Who: Saul, Holly, Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), delegado Jose Luz Ramirez Vazquez, 20 adults incl 6 men, + 4 kids
Purpose: 1st Planning meeting for Sapasma funded water project. (from Sapasma Grant II)
Saul opened the meeting, describing why we’re here, & the history of our collaboration with Presita, including previous meetings & visitors to other assemblies from Presita. Presita also sent a mini commission to visit Cedesa approx. 1 yr ago.
Roberto, one of the members of the PSR community is also the secretary of the Consejo formed as a result of the water projects in the region.
The Roll was called, there were 20 on the list & 3 absent from that list.
Saul called for a co-ordinator & records taker & explained the reason & process (as we do at each meeting), Mayra was proposed & Mayra proposed Erica. A vote was taken & Mayra was appointed. Roberto was appointed records taker.
Mayra called for points for today’s agenda:
1. Cisternas
2. Contamination of Pozos
3. The process of construction of cisterns
4. Dry toilets
5. Roberto would like a mini commission to attend the Consejo, not just him
6. Organisation of groups
7. Taller at Cedesa changed to November
Chela re-iterated the involvement of their community in the process to date & reinforced that this is the reason they are now about to receive resources to construct cisterns.
She asked who knew the process of the construction of the cisterns, one young guy said he understood it was done in working groups, families banded together to build all cisterns for all families in the group. Another said they had heard they were going to be at the same time as Cruz del Palmar, & were now starting earlier?
Item 1 – contamination of water
There was general discussion about contamination, causes, symptoms etc. PSR have had water from the Banda Sapasma well for 5 yrs. Before that they had only small family wells & water from an irrigation well. They observed they have what seems like high concentration of sodium in the water as there is a lot of white build up on taps…
Saul explained that we had done a study & taken water samples of many wells including Banda, as a way to establish a baseline re our continuing study with Tierra Blanca to determine the cause of the high cancer rates they have there. The testing had been done by Unam & the Consejo on the Banda well & it was discovered to have very high level of fluoride, 3.47 (highest max safe level is 1.5mg/l).
This is a serious problem in this community but also in this region in general, causing damage to your health & that of your children, which is one of the main reasons we began this project in 2008.
There are more than 300 families currently using this well in Banda, & many are unaware of the situation with the contamination, you need to tell the communities (your neighbours) this information – one of the women joked “we don’t drink much coke, sometimes wks go by, but now we cant drink the water either – what can we drink?”. We all laughed & said, exactly, that’s why we are catching the rain water to drink.
At this point Chela took the floor to discuss junk food & it’s damage to health, & the benefits of eating healthily v the strain we put on our bodies having to process the chemicals & food colouring in junk food. Saul pointed out that initially there will be resistance by their families to eating healthy food, but once everyone is used to eating healthy food it becomes very difficult to tolerate junk food anymore… & just need to break the habit.
Item 2 Cisterns/project planning.
Apparently there are approx. 44 families in Presita & so only approx. ½ have stepped forward to participate (we have found this to be common in the communities, there is always an initial group of motivated early adopters & later the others “get” the idea & we have to do a phase II)…
It was decided the pilot training session will be carried out at the primary school.
There are approx. 30 children at the school.
The list of participants was transcribed for all to see.
There were 18 firm participants at that point. There was one other woman, not here today (since her kids are sick) who has been participating & it was voted to add her – Isabel.
Another woman was visiting for the first time & asked to be included, there was a lot of discussion about people’s ongoing work for over a year, & she had been invited but not participated previously & was just showing up today to get on the list.
“if you’re not part of the meetings you shouldn’t expect to get rewarded with a cistern”. “We’re not just working on cisterns, she should be involved in the other meetings too like the regional meeting in La Tinaja – there’s lots of work going on”
Eventually it was agreed she could join the group, there was a talk about possibility of her having to pay a fine, but nothing was agreed.
Groups were formed as follows: A= Abanile, C= Co-ordinator
Group 1 7 families Group 2 7 families Group 3 6 families
20 Families + 1 pilot = 21
It was confirmed that water would have to be carried to the school for the pilot.
(approx. 3000 litres per day)
Community Co-ordinator was appointed – Hortencia + backup Roberto
PVC & Gravel will be delivered to one central location & collected from there to the house of Rosalia
No date has been set for the pilot, until we know when the $$ will be received, which is reliant on deciding the 3rd community (Currently Los Torres 19, PSR 21, 3 solo cisterns + 19 ??? – this is being decided at the Consejo meeting tomorrow)
Chela reminded everyone they need to work hard to make this project as success as future project funding is riding on this.
She explained that the process of building the cisterns is carried out to ensure that all cisterns advance at the same rate, ie all wire weaving done first, then the next step, applying cement etc, so they all finish at the same time.
They need to meet as groups to decide their hours of work & rules, ie fines if no work, Saul suggested the person breaking the rule might have to provide carnitas for everyone!
Tools – Saul listed the tools needed on the first day of the pilot, including grinder to make the small hooks needed to weave the wire & mesh together… scissors for cutting the wire, cutters for the maya etc, & also suggested they bring something to rest their knees on while they are kneeling to do the weaving of the wires.
Item 3 – Sanitarios Secos (dry toilets)
This community along with most of the consejo communities, was part of the solicitud to govt to construct 400+ cisterns in 18 communities. Chela gave an update of the situation with the resources Lucy had given them, that the $4million + pesos comes with a requisite to have outside contractors (& a bid process), which excludes them from being able to build them themselves, which was what they were hoping for to be able to stretch the $$ to provide more toilets for more families.
The Promoters from Desarollo Social have been visiting the communities to create a list of recipients (once they check they have no form of toilet – functioning or not – to be able to be eligible)… They have not visited Presita yet.
Item 4 Representation at Regional Meetings
Roberto is feeling like it is a lot of work to be secretary of the Consejo as well as to have to advise his community of “goings on”. He has also not received any contribution to his costs from his community, whereas other communities have supported their representatives. There are at least 4 people who are on the list of reps. of the Consejo, but have not been attending as they have not been informed, lack of communication is a common issue in the communities, as no-one has phones & they live a long way from eachother. It was agreed that advice of meetings will be given to Roberto & he will in turn inform the other reps. to ensure all know when the meetings are on, & they will begin to share costs of transport.
Item 5 Taller – Workshop at Cedesa
Saul explained that training & ongoing improvement is a way to increase people’s standard of living. Cedesa & the Consejo are committed to the process of integral development & ongoing work (not just completing the projects & that’s it!)… Part of this process is to continue to share information & learn new & better ways of doing things. As part of this process Cedesa holds regular workshops for campesinos on various techniques & information. There is an upcoming Workshop planned for 19th November 9am-5pm at Cedesa
The topic of this workshop is Food, & Alternative Medicines, Saul asked if anyone could define what Alternative medicines meant, one young man responded “ there are plants with curative properties, it’s about learning these”.
Saul explained - included in the Food topic will be how to construct a nopal tunnel – why Nopal? Because it’s one of the most noble plants in our region, it provides so much & is such a healthy option so if we take care of these we can ensure better production.
A commission of 3 can come from Presita (& all other communities) & report back & organise groups to learn at people’s houses, ie to interchange the information.
Chela reiterated the objective is to learn to produce food, since grains & beans will be a big issue this year, with failing crops & lack of rain. Change in climate has been a big issue & we need to adapt & ensure we work hard on alternative food production.
At this point the meeting was declared closed, one of the older women had left the meeting early to prepare food for us (visitors), she came back in struggling to carry hot pots of lentils & pasta soup with calabasa… & THE most delicious tortillas I’ve eaten!
There was no date set for the next meeting/pilot (this will be done by phone once we know the date of the receipt of funds).
When: Wed Oct 12th 2011
Who: Saul, Holly, Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), delegado Jose Luz Ramirez Vazquez, 20 adults incl 6 men, + 4 kids
Purpose: 1st Planning meeting for Sapasma funded water project. (from Sapasma Grant II)
Saul opened the meeting, describing why we’re here, & the history of our collaboration with Presita, including previous meetings & visitors to other assemblies from Presita. Presita also sent a mini commission to visit Cedesa approx. 1 yr ago.
Roberto, one of the members of the PSR community is also the secretary of the Consejo formed as a result of the water projects in the region.
The Roll was called, there were 20 on the list & 3 absent from that list.
Saul called for a co-ordinator & records taker & explained the reason & process (as we do at each meeting), Mayra was proposed & Mayra proposed Erica. A vote was taken & Mayra was appointed. Roberto was appointed records taker.
Mayra called for points for today’s agenda:
1. Cisternas
2. Contamination of Pozos
3. The process of construction of cisterns
4. Dry toilets
5. Roberto would like a mini commission to attend the Consejo, not just him
6. Organisation of groups
7. Taller at Cedesa changed to November
Chela re-iterated the involvement of their community in the process to date & reinforced that this is the reason they are now about to receive resources to construct cisterns.
She asked who knew the process of the construction of the cisterns, one young guy said he understood it was done in working groups, families banded together to build all cisterns for all families in the group. Another said they had heard they were going to be at the same time as Cruz del Palmar, & were now starting earlier?
Item 1 – contamination of water
There was general discussion about contamination, causes, symptoms etc. PSR have had water from the Banda Sapasma well for 5 yrs. Before that they had only small family wells & water from an irrigation well. They observed they have what seems like high concentration of sodium in the water as there is a lot of white build up on taps…
Saul explained that we had done a study & taken water samples of many wells including Banda, as a way to establish a baseline re our continuing study with Tierra Blanca to determine the cause of the high cancer rates they have there. The testing had been done by Unam & the Consejo on the Banda well & it was discovered to have very high level of fluoride, 3.47 (highest max safe level is 1.5mg/l).
This is a serious problem in this community but also in this region in general, causing damage to your health & that of your children, which is one of the main reasons we began this project in 2008.
There are more than 300 families currently using this well in Banda, & many are unaware of the situation with the contamination, you need to tell the communities (your neighbours) this information – one of the women joked “we don’t drink much coke, sometimes wks go by, but now we cant drink the water either – what can we drink?”. We all laughed & said, exactly, that’s why we are catching the rain water to drink.
At this point Chela took the floor to discuss junk food & it’s damage to health, & the benefits of eating healthily v the strain we put on our bodies having to process the chemicals & food colouring in junk food. Saul pointed out that initially there will be resistance by their families to eating healthy food, but once everyone is used to eating healthy food it becomes very difficult to tolerate junk food anymore… & just need to break the habit.
Item 2 Cisterns/project planning.
Apparently there are approx. 44 families in Presita & so only approx. ½ have stepped forward to participate (we have found this to be common in the communities, there is always an initial group of motivated early adopters & later the others “get” the idea & we have to do a phase II)…
It was decided the pilot training session will be carried out at the primary school.
There are approx. 30 children at the school.
The list of participants was transcribed for all to see.
There were 18 firm participants at that point. There was one other woman, not here today (since her kids are sick) who has been participating & it was voted to add her – Isabel.
Another woman was visiting for the first time & asked to be included, there was a lot of discussion about people’s ongoing work for over a year, & she had been invited but not participated previously & was just showing up today to get on the list.
“if you’re not part of the meetings you shouldn’t expect to get rewarded with a cistern”. “We’re not just working on cisterns, she should be involved in the other meetings too like the regional meeting in La Tinaja – there’s lots of work going on”
Eventually it was agreed she could join the group, there was a talk about possibility of her having to pay a fine, but nothing was agreed.
Groups were formed as follows: A= Abanile, C= Co-ordinator
Group 1 7 families Group 2 7 families Group 3 6 families
20 Families + 1 pilot = 21
It was confirmed that water would have to be carried to the school for the pilot.
(approx. 3000 litres per day)
Community Co-ordinator was appointed – Hortencia + backup Roberto
PVC & Gravel will be delivered to one central location & collected from there to the house of Rosalia
No date has been set for the pilot, until we know when the $$ will be received, which is reliant on deciding the 3rd community (Currently Los Torres 19, PSR 21, 3 solo cisterns + 19 ??? – this is being decided at the Consejo meeting tomorrow)
Chela reminded everyone they need to work hard to make this project as success as future project funding is riding on this.
She explained that the process of building the cisterns is carried out to ensure that all cisterns advance at the same rate, ie all wire weaving done first, then the next step, applying cement etc, so they all finish at the same time.
They need to meet as groups to decide their hours of work & rules, ie fines if no work, Saul suggested the person breaking the rule might have to provide carnitas for everyone!
Tools – Saul listed the tools needed on the first day of the pilot, including grinder to make the small hooks needed to weave the wire & mesh together… scissors for cutting the wire, cutters for the maya etc, & also suggested they bring something to rest their knees on while they are kneeling to do the weaving of the wires.
Item 3 – Sanitarios Secos (dry toilets)
This community along with most of the consejo communities, was part of the solicitud to govt to construct 400+ cisterns in 18 communities. Chela gave an update of the situation with the resources Lucy had given them, that the $4million + pesos comes with a requisite to have outside contractors (& a bid process), which excludes them from being able to build them themselves, which was what they were hoping for to be able to stretch the $$ to provide more toilets for more families.
The Promoters from Desarollo Social have been visiting the communities to create a list of recipients (once they check they have no form of toilet – functioning or not – to be able to be eligible)… They have not visited Presita yet.
Item 4 Representation at Regional Meetings
Roberto is feeling like it is a lot of work to be secretary of the Consejo as well as to have to advise his community of “goings on”. He has also not received any contribution to his costs from his community, whereas other communities have supported their representatives. There are at least 4 people who are on the list of reps. of the Consejo, but have not been attending as they have not been informed, lack of communication is a common issue in the communities, as no-one has phones & they live a long way from eachother. It was agreed that advice of meetings will be given to Roberto & he will in turn inform the other reps. to ensure all know when the meetings are on, & they will begin to share costs of transport.
Item 5 Taller – Workshop at Cedesa
Saul explained that training & ongoing improvement is a way to increase people’s standard of living. Cedesa & the Consejo are committed to the process of integral development & ongoing work (not just completing the projects & that’s it!)… Part of this process is to continue to share information & learn new & better ways of doing things. As part of this process Cedesa holds regular workshops for campesinos on various techniques & information. There is an upcoming Workshop planned for 19th November 9am-5pm at Cedesa
The topic of this workshop is Food, & Alternative Medicines, Saul asked if anyone could define what Alternative medicines meant, one young man responded “ there are plants with curative properties, it’s about learning these”.
Saul explained - included in the Food topic will be how to construct a nopal tunnel – why Nopal? Because it’s one of the most noble plants in our region, it provides so much & is such a healthy option so if we take care of these we can ensure better production.
A commission of 3 can come from Presita (& all other communities) & report back & organise groups to learn at people’s houses, ie to interchange the information.
Chela reiterated the objective is to learn to produce food, since grains & beans will be a big issue this year, with failing crops & lack of rain. Change in climate has been a big issue & we need to adapt & ensure we work hard on alternative food production.
At this point the meeting was declared closed, one of the older women had left the meeting early to prepare food for us (visitors), she came back in struggling to carry hot pots of lentils & pasta soup with calabasa… & THE most delicious tortillas I’ve eaten!
There was no date set for the next meeting/pilot (this will be done by phone once we know the date of the receipt of funds).
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