Our visit started at the home of Senora Lilia,
whose initiative led to the current project at Los Magueyes and La Palma.
Our
group consisted of Rotarians from San Miguel and Connecticut in the US, as well
as Unitarian-Universalists from San Miguel.
We were warmly greeted, in spite of the fact that we were interrupting
an active phase of the cistern construction at Senora Lilia’s house.
One work group was busy putting concrete on
the inner and outer walls of the cistern there, while another group was doing
the same around the corner. Nearby we
saw a cistern which was completed except for the final sealing with a mixture
of lime and nopal extract, an extremely effective and low cost method we
learned.
Saul and Holly from CEDESA,
along with Senora Lilia, gave us a very comprehensive summary of the process of
a water harvesting project, from the initial community meetings to the
maintenance carried out by the families in the years following
construction.
We were very impressed by
the central role played by the local residents themselves, who are responsible
for every key decision along the way, for the construction itself, and for the
ongoing maintenance.
The pride of ownership and the certainty of sustainability were very evident.
What was also evident was that this was likely to be just one step in a much larger process of this community working together to better itself.
The pride of ownership and the certainty of sustainability were very evident.
What was also evident was that this was likely to be just one step in a much larger process of this community working together to better itself.
The first part of our visit ended with a
delicious meal prepared by Senora Lilia and her helpers, and enjoyed by
everybody, including those of us visiting and the adults and children of the
families involved in this incredibly worthwhile project.
After lunch we crossed the highway to visit
the completed pilot cistern at the home of Dona Beatriz. There we learned a lot more about the water
problems in the state of Guanajuato, where the depletion of the aquifer has led
to increased concentrations of fluoride and other harmful chemicals. We learned about the potential health effects
of these chemical concentrations, especially for children, and we saw in Senora
Lilia how increased awareness is being translated into community action.
The cistern at Dona Beatriz’s house was ready
to be filled by the summer rains, which we learned will support a family of 14
until the next rainy season.
As we left we could not help but to be amazed by how much good will come from such a modest level of financial support.
Howard Reid, Rotary Club of Middletown CT. Saturday, March 16, 2013
Howard & Melanie (Middletown Rotary), Senora Lilia & Lee (SMA Midday Rotary)
