Another brief update, (full reports to follow)...
Both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba began their pilot projects at their respective primary schools today.
During the pilot projects all of the participants learn each of the steps involved in constructing these ferro cement cisterns.
Those that can, help, those that can't, contribute in other ways, they bring food & drinks & help mind children...
A collaborative effort.
Monday, March 22, 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Where: Vivienda de Arriba (40 mins from SMA)
When: Monday 22nd March 11am – 2.10pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Juan & Guillermo Alvarado (Trainers from Los Torres) & 7 adults (5 men & 7 women), by the time I left at 2pm.
Purpose: Pilot – construction of cistern & water collection system at the Vivienda de Arriba primary school.
Background: This pilot was “bought forward”, Juan & Guillermo liaised with the community directly to begin earlier than previously planned. As a result the order for the materials was placed hurriedly by me last Saturday. I had given a typed list of the standard materials required + a list of the variable materials (ie the piping & bricks etc, that changes depending on the location of the cistern in relation to the roof, & roof size etc).
Observations of the day
The supplier, Materiales Rivera – in San Miguel, had assured us the delivery could be made before 9.30 on Monday – it was now 11am & no sign of the materials.
There were 5 men (plus Guillermo & Juan – the trainers), all digging a hole for the pad for the cistern, with shovels & picks. The men were all grandfathers, & none had been at the assemblies, so was good to see them involved. These were all old cowboys, complete with cowboy hats & boots...
Again, they all asked if it was only me – (& my less than fluent Spanish!), & Juan broke out a few words from his English vocab in solidarity.
I met the Maestro (teacher) who was very happy for this project to be happening in his school. They have a small school of just 19 kids, in contrast to Cruz del Palmar, who have around 200 kids!!
I called Holly & asked her to call Materiales Rivera to see what was going on, she called back to say the truck drivers’ mother had died & he had not made it into work today, so they were just sending another truck now. (that was at 11am, & the drive is only 40 mins or so, so we remained hopeful).
Around 11.30 some women arrived laden with buckets, filled with plates, cups, & food.
We assumed it was for almuerzo for the kids but after 20mins the women finally told us they were waiting for us, & that it was to feed the workers...
The cowboys downed shovels & we ate delicious lunch of rice, beans, tortillas & some hot vegetable soup that was described as a hangover cure!! All very delicious & nutritious & washed down with water flavoured with guava (or coke, but the coke bottles remained closed while there was agua fresco available)...
Still we waited, & joked about the truck being lost, until I decided it was time to make another check up call, 2 hrs after the other one!
Again I called Holly, who in turn called Materiales Rivera, to be told the truck had left 15mins ago... hmmmm....
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
The cowboys finished the preparation for the pad, & began to sift the sand for the cement, & finally, with a lot of hurrah! The truck arrived at around 1.15...
By 2.10 when I left, the materials had been unloaded (those old cowboys can carry 8 bricks in one go!), & the mesh was rolled out & being crocheted... More women arrived when the materials go there, & there were 12 people working (+ Juan & Guillermo) when I left...This is a much smaller community than Cruz del Palmar, so a good turnout!
Click on this link to see Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/ViviendaDeArribaWaterProject?feat=directlink
I couldn’t help thinking those old cowboys would have some interesting stories to tell about their lives & adventures in the States, but bid them farewell & congrats on the first stage of their mission, & headed back into town.
Next event – day 4 of the pilot 25th March 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Vivienda de Arriba potential water Project
Where: Vivienda de Arriba (40 mins from SMA)
When: Monday 22nd March 11am – 2.10pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Juan & Guillermo Alvarado (Trainers from Los Torres) & 7 adults (5 men & 7 women), by the time I left at 2pm.
Purpose: Pilot – construction of cistern & water collection system at the Vivienda de Arriba primary school.
Background: This pilot was “bought forward”, Juan & Guillermo liaised with the community directly to begin earlier than previously planned. As a result the order for the materials was placed hurriedly by me last Saturday. I had given a typed list of the standard materials required + a list of the variable materials (ie the piping & bricks etc, that changes depending on the location of the cistern in relation to the roof, & roof size etc).
Observations of the day
The supplier, Materiales Rivera – in San Miguel, had assured us the delivery could be made before 9.30 on Monday – it was now 11am & no sign of the materials.
There were 5 men (plus Guillermo & Juan – the trainers), all digging a hole for the pad for the cistern, with shovels & picks. The men were all grandfathers, & none had been at the assemblies, so was good to see them involved. These were all old cowboys, complete with cowboy hats & boots...
Again, they all asked if it was only me – (& my less than fluent Spanish!), & Juan broke out a few words from his English vocab in solidarity.
I met the Maestro (teacher) who was very happy for this project to be happening in his school. They have a small school of just 19 kids, in contrast to Cruz del Palmar, who have around 200 kids!!
I called Holly & asked her to call Materiales Rivera to see what was going on, she called back to say the truck drivers’ mother had died & he had not made it into work today, so they were just sending another truck now. (that was at 11am, & the drive is only 40 mins or so, so we remained hopeful).
Around 11.30 some women arrived laden with buckets, filled with plates, cups, & food.
We assumed it was for almuerzo for the kids but after 20mins the women finally told us they were waiting for us, & that it was to feed the workers...
The cowboys downed shovels & we ate delicious lunch of rice, beans, tortillas & some hot vegetable soup that was described as a hangover cure!! All very delicious & nutritious & washed down with water flavoured with guava (or coke, but the coke bottles remained closed while there was agua fresco available)...
Still we waited, & joked about the truck being lost, until I decided it was time to make another check up call, 2 hrs after the other one!
Again I called Holly, who in turn called Materiales Rivera, to be told the truck had left 15mins ago... hmmmm....
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
The cowboys finished the preparation for the pad, & began to sift the sand for the cement, & finally, with a lot of hurrah! The truck arrived at around 1.15...
By 2.10 when I left, the materials had been unloaded (those old cowboys can carry 8 bricks in one go!), & the mesh was rolled out & being crocheted... More women arrived when the materials go there, & there were 12 people working (+ Juan & Guillermo) when I left...This is a much smaller community than Cruz del Palmar, so a good turnout!
Click on this link to see Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/ViviendaDeArribaWaterProject?feat=directlink
I couldn’t help thinking those old cowboys would have some interesting stories to tell about their lives & adventures in the States, but bid them farewell & congrats on the first stage of their mission, & headed back into town.
Next event – day 4 of the pilot 25th March 2010
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Mon 22nd March 9am-10.40
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Rafael Cruz (trainer from Los Torres) & by 9.30 29adults, approx 50/50 men/women. (7 kids, plus interested onlookers – kids from the primary school).
Purpose: 4 Day Pilot – building a cistern & collection system at the Cruz del Palmar Primary school.
Record of Event
I arrived on time at 9am to find Rafael (the trainer) & around 8 people gathering for the Pilot. By 9.30 there were 29 people, all occupied in the first steps of the construction.
They all asked where Holly, Chela or Elena were, they are nervous when it’s only me, because my Spanish is limited, but we managed to convey all we needed to.
The wire was laid out with the mesh on top & the wire on top of that, there were more people than tools, so one of the guys went to get a grinder & they cut off a strip of the mesh & made more ganchos (hooks), so that everyone could work on this task.
The “crocheting” begins at one side of the roll, by row, & ends at the other, with 4 diamonds of wire mesh “crocheted” in each square of mesh.
Everyone was in good spirit & all eager to learn.
There was a strange “bucket of water” ritual going on at the primary school, it took me a while to work out why there were kids criss-crossing the courtyard carrying buckets of water, in what seemed to be a random way. Turns out, these kids were all going to the toilet, & they needed to first take the bucket & fill it at various taps & mini tanks, then carry it to the toilet, to use to flush, then carry the water back to the mini tank, & the bucket back to the classroom.
I remembered how we as kids used to ask to be excused so we could get some time out of the classroom, & was giggling to myself that so many of these kids were doing the same, then it struck me that many of these kids probably don’t have toilets at home, & so save their “routine” for school.
I don’t know if there were more bucket carriers than usual because they were interested to see what was going on in their playground, many did decide to detour close to the action!
Rafael was very organised & had everyone occupied. I took a few photos, & bid them a successful mission, & headed off to their neighbouring community – Vivienda de Arriba, who were beginning their Pilot at their primary school today too.
One reason for the good turnout - it had been decided by the people at the previous assembly that whoever participates in the training will be on the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
I noticed Analaura had the attendance list in the records book.
Next visit will be on the last day of the Pilot, 25th March at 9am
Photos on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/CruzDelPalmarWaterProject?feat=directlink
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Mon 22nd March 9am-10.40
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Rafael Cruz (trainer from Los Torres) & by 9.30 29adults, approx 50/50 men/women. (7 kids, plus interested onlookers – kids from the primary school).
Purpose: 4 Day Pilot – building a cistern & collection system at the Cruz del Palmar Primary school.
Record of Event
I arrived on time at 9am to find Rafael (the trainer) & around 8 people gathering for the Pilot. By 9.30 there were 29 people, all occupied in the first steps of the construction.
They all asked where Holly, Chela or Elena were, they are nervous when it’s only me, because my Spanish is limited, but we managed to convey all we needed to.
The wire was laid out with the mesh on top & the wire on top of that, there were more people than tools, so one of the guys went to get a grinder & they cut off a strip of the mesh & made more ganchos (hooks), so that everyone could work on this task.
The “crocheting” begins at one side of the roll, by row, & ends at the other, with 4 diamonds of wire mesh “crocheted” in each square of mesh.
Everyone was in good spirit & all eager to learn.
There was a strange “bucket of water” ritual going on at the primary school, it took me a while to work out why there were kids criss-crossing the courtyard carrying buckets of water, in what seemed to be a random way. Turns out, these kids were all going to the toilet, & they needed to first take the bucket & fill it at various taps & mini tanks, then carry it to the toilet, to use to flush, then carry the water back to the mini tank, & the bucket back to the classroom.
I remembered how we as kids used to ask to be excused so we could get some time out of the classroom, & was giggling to myself that so many of these kids were doing the same, then it struck me that many of these kids probably don’t have toilets at home, & so save their “routine” for school.
I don’t know if there were more bucket carriers than usual because they were interested to see what was going on in their playground, many did decide to detour close to the action!
Rafael was very organised & had everyone occupied. I took a few photos, & bid them a successful mission, & headed off to their neighbouring community – Vivienda de Arriba, who were beginning their Pilot at their primary school today too.
One reason for the good turnout - it had been decided by the people at the previous assembly that whoever participates in the training will be on the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
I noticed Analaura had the attendance list in the records book.
Next visit will be on the last day of the Pilot, 25th March at 9am
Photos on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/CruzDelPalmarWaterProject?feat=directlink
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Quick update - Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba Pilots
This is a quick update to record that the materials for pilot projects (ie the demonstration & train the trainer component of the project) have been ordered.
Pilots projects are about to commence in both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba on Monday 22nd March.
In both cases the 1st cisterns are being constructed at the Primary schools.
The materials were ordered for Cruz on Wednesday, & delivered Friday.
For Vivienda de Arriba, they were delivered Saturday morning & are to be delivered Monday 22nd.
Rafael Cruz is overseeing/training in Cruz del Palmar, & Juan & Guillermo Alvarado are overseeing/training at Vivienda de Arriba.
They have been co-ordinating directly with the primary contacts in each community, & have pulled the pilots forward.
Let's see who turns up for training on Monday!!
Pilots projects are about to commence in both Cruz del Palmar & Vivienda de Arriba on Monday 22nd March.
In both cases the 1st cisterns are being constructed at the Primary schools.
The materials were ordered for Cruz on Wednesday, & delivered Friday.
For Vivienda de Arriba, they were delivered Saturday morning & are to be delivered Monday 22nd.
Rafael Cruz is overseeing/training in Cruz del Palmar, & Juan & Guillermo Alvarado are overseeing/training at Vivienda de Arriba.
They have been co-ordinating directly with the primary contacts in each community, & have pulled the pilots forward.
Let's see who turns up for training on Monday!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: Montecillo de Nieto Kindergarten
When: 17 March 2010 12-1.30
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), Hector & Leon &(woman teacher) primary school teachers, +21 community members.
Purpose: Review the Pilot project, & plan the next phase – ie individual cisterns per families.
Chela was sick today, Elena & I decided it was to crucial to postpone, so we had the assembly without her.
We arrived at 12 & most of the women were still at the Primary school, there were inoculations going on today, kids & dogs!!
We gathered back at the kinder & began the assembly approx 12.20.
We asked if they had the book to take the roll, & Margarita had left it at home, so went home to get it, while we waited we chatted.
• They finished the cistern on the 21st January.
• The next week it rained & ¾ filled the cistern!
• Kids are drinking water from the cistern already
• The kids know how precious the water is, & they don´t touch the tap. The teacher fills a garafon.
• The teachers from the primary school came to the kinder meeting too – although they have an ecology dept. model rainwater collection system, it doesn´t work & they want one of our cisterns.
• We have 26 cisterns avail, 1 constructed, a list of 24 families, so one spare for the school potentially.
Margarita was voted co-ordinator of the meeting. & Enedina as record taker, it turned out that Margarita did both…
We called for agenda items:
• Attendance
• Review of what has been done to date
• When will the materials for the next phase arrive?
• Which houses will receive the materials first (planning next phase)
• How many cisterns can be being built simultaneously?
• Unity & communication in the community
• Program the next meeting date.
Item 1. Roll was called.
Item 2. Review of pilot project
Everyone was very happy with how the cistern turned out & the timing, ie just before it rained.
The kids are drinking the water, & everyone is very keen to have their own cisterns now (especially before the rains in June).
A comment about volunteers was “some came because they had to volunteer, others came because they wanted to learn”
There was one person who didn´t attend & 1 person who is not on the list who did attend the training days.
The person not attending has been removed & the new person invited to join the list (as per the meeting consensus).
Item 3. Materials/Planning for the next steps
I explained the next steps,
1. They needed to measure the tubes & elbows etc needed at their specific location. – they have done this, & have a list per family, per group.
2. They need to co-ordinate a time for the community & Rafael Cruz (who will be technical co-ordinator on this job – from the Los Torres team of Experts)… to come to check the measurements house by house. He suggested 5th April is soonest. They have his phone number & will co-ordinate direct.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
3. When he goes to do the measurement he will also need to determine with the community where & when they wish to have the materials delivered.
4. Rafa will need to collate the order, 24 x the standard materials list, + each list of variable materials per family into one bulk order for the variables.
5. Suggest – 1 big order of the variable materials is delivered to 1 spot, & each family comes with their list & collects what they need.
6. The Standard materials (ie cement, mesh, wire etc) is delivered 2 cisterns per group at a time, until the cisterns are built & then order then next lot.
7. Rafa will need to place the order with the supplier. (NB we still need to sign the supplier contract, & negotiate best option)
There was some discussion re how to best build all the cisterns for each group. Gaston said he feels it´s better to do one cistern at a time, not 2 concurrently. Since there are only 6 families in each group this is probably a good idea.
Item 4. Unity & Communication
Elena talked about how important it is to communicate with eachother, for example the woman teacher from the primary across the road had not visited to see the cistern at the kinder…
Item 5 26th Cistern to be for the primary school
I asked the teachers why since they already have a 30,000 ltr tank supplied by Ecology, they want an additional cistern (they have 65 kids in the school). They explained it does not work, & to make it function properly more money has to be spent & the Eco. Dept wants to excavate & have a below ground tank. This project cost approx US$11k, I explained the big project providing 26 cisterns cost not much more than that.
The teachers agreed they did not want to spend more money on this other project, & really do want one of our cisterns.
The people in the meeting agreed since their kids all go to the school that the 26th cistern should go to the school. All groups will participate in the constr6ction, & only once all of the cisterns are built.
They will have keys to allow Rafa access to decide the best place to put the cistern at the school.
Item 6 important dates
Traspatio workshop at Los Torres 7th April (1st Wednesday each month)
Proposed check measurements date with Rafa 5th April
Proposed collation of order by Rafa 6th April,
Proposed place order by Rafa – to supplier – 7th April
Proposed 1st delivery of materials to community 8th April
Next Assembly in Montecillo de Nieto 21 April 12pm at Kinder
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
Where: Montecillo de Nieto Kindergarten
When: 17 March 2010 12-1.30
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), Hector & Leon &(woman teacher) primary school teachers, +21 community members.
Purpose: Review the Pilot project, & plan the next phase – ie individual cisterns per families.
Chela was sick today, Elena & I decided it was to crucial to postpone, so we had the assembly without her.
We arrived at 12 & most of the women were still at the Primary school, there were inoculations going on today, kids & dogs!!
We gathered back at the kinder & began the assembly approx 12.20.
We asked if they had the book to take the roll, & Margarita had left it at home, so went home to get it, while we waited we chatted.
• They finished the cistern on the 21st January.
• The next week it rained & ¾ filled the cistern!
• Kids are drinking water from the cistern already
• The kids know how precious the water is, & they don´t touch the tap. The teacher fills a garafon.
• The teachers from the primary school came to the kinder meeting too – although they have an ecology dept. model rainwater collection system, it doesn´t work & they want one of our cisterns.
• We have 26 cisterns avail, 1 constructed, a list of 24 families, so one spare for the school potentially.
Margarita was voted co-ordinator of the meeting. & Enedina as record taker, it turned out that Margarita did both…
We called for agenda items:
• Attendance
• Review of what has been done to date
• When will the materials for the next phase arrive?
• Which houses will receive the materials first (planning next phase)
• How many cisterns can be being built simultaneously?
• Unity & communication in the community
• Program the next meeting date.
Item 1. Roll was called.
Item 2. Review of pilot project
Everyone was very happy with how the cistern turned out & the timing, ie just before it rained.
The kids are drinking the water, & everyone is very keen to have their own cisterns now (especially before the rains in June).
A comment about volunteers was “some came because they had to volunteer, others came because they wanted to learn”
There was one person who didn´t attend & 1 person who is not on the list who did attend the training days.
The person not attending has been removed & the new person invited to join the list (as per the meeting consensus).
Item 3. Materials/Planning for the next steps
I explained the next steps,
1. They needed to measure the tubes & elbows etc needed at their specific location. – they have done this, & have a list per family, per group.
2. They need to co-ordinate a time for the community & Rafael Cruz (who will be technical co-ordinator on this job – from the Los Torres team of Experts)… to come to check the measurements house by house. He suggested 5th April is soonest. They have his phone number & will co-ordinate direct.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
6th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project
3. When he goes to do the measurement he will also need to determine with the community where & when they wish to have the materials delivered.
4. Rafa will need to collate the order, 24 x the standard materials list, + each list of variable materials per family into one bulk order for the variables.
5. Suggest – 1 big order of the variable materials is delivered to 1 spot, & each family comes with their list & collects what they need.
6. The Standard materials (ie cement, mesh, wire etc) is delivered 2 cisterns per group at a time, until the cisterns are built & then order then next lot.
7. Rafa will need to place the order with the supplier. (NB we still need to sign the supplier contract, & negotiate best option)
There was some discussion re how to best build all the cisterns for each group. Gaston said he feels it´s better to do one cistern at a time, not 2 concurrently. Since there are only 6 families in each group this is probably a good idea.
Item 4. Unity & Communication
Elena talked about how important it is to communicate with eachother, for example the woman teacher from the primary across the road had not visited to see the cistern at the kinder…
Item 5 26th Cistern to be for the primary school
I asked the teachers why since they already have a 30,000 ltr tank supplied by Ecology, they want an additional cistern (they have 65 kids in the school). They explained it does not work, & to make it function properly more money has to be spent & the Eco. Dept wants to excavate & have a below ground tank. This project cost approx US$11k, I explained the big project providing 26 cisterns cost not much more than that.
The teachers agreed they did not want to spend more money on this other project, & really do want one of our cisterns.
The people in the meeting agreed since their kids all go to the school that the 26th cistern should go to the school. All groups will participate in the constr6ction, & only once all of the cisterns are built.
They will have keys to allow Rafa access to decide the best place to put the cistern at the school.
Item 6 important dates
Traspatio workshop at Los Torres 7th April (1st Wednesday each month)
Proposed check measurements date with Rafa 5th April
Proposed collation of order by Rafa 6th April,
Proposed place order by Rafa – to supplier – 7th April
Proposed 1st delivery of materials to community 8th April
Next Assembly in Montecillo de Nieto 21 April 12pm at Kinder
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Report 2 on Vivienda de Arriba assembly, March 10, 2010
Report 2 on Vivienda de Arriba assembly, March 10, 2010
Report kindly written by Holly Yasui in Laura's absence.
We arrived at Vivienda de Arriba a Little before 3 p.m., and there was a small group of people from Tierra Blanca waiting outside the chapel, including Juana Granados and her son Fernando who attended the Water Day activities in Los Torres on March 5. They told us it was a 20-minute walk from Tierra Blanca to Vivienda de Arriba.
Ana Maria Torres, who has been our main contact in Vivienda de Arriba, arrived right on the dot at 3 p.m., saw that the gate was locked and went off to get a key. We entered the churchyard, and because it was very windy, decided to meet in a small room on the side of the chapel so that Chela could use the rotofolio without the pages flying around.
Holly passed her notebook around for a list of persons attending, and at 3:30 there were 14 people from Vivienda and 10 from Tierra Blanca. More arrived in the course of the meeting, see below the two groups formed for the training. Two weeks ago, Ana had asked us at the last Los Torres assembly if we could limit the number of people from Tierra Blanca at “their” (Vivienda’s) assemblies, and she made sure that the notebook that I passed around was signed first by people from Vivienda de Arriba, then the people from Tierra Blanca. (Note: after the meeting, in the privacy of her mother-in-law’s house, Ana told us that she felt that the people from Tierra Blanca were “troublesome” or “belligerent” - the word in Spanish is “conflictiva” - because at their water committee meetings, held in Tierra Blanca where the well is located, the Tierrablancans always steamroll over everyone else. As Chela and Holly were driving back to La Cieneguita, Chela explained that there is often conflict between large and small communities, especially as regards water for “newcomers” since the water committee is always a political football.)
Chela started the assembly off by asking the newcomers why they had come to this meeting, and then asking those who had attended the last assembly to explain the project. As in Cruz del Palmar in the morning, she discussed the difference between the government programs (only “Piso Firme” and “Oportunidades” have been promulgated in Vivienda de A) that owe the people attention, and nonprofit organizations like CEDESA and Rotary, which work with communities in solidarity. She emphasized that communities need to organize themselves in order to get the government to help them to solve their problems.
Chela also engaged the people at the meeting in a discussion of the contamination of water – whether or not it is contaminated, and why; also what they should use the water from rain-harvesting for (drinking and cooking only, not washing). She explained that there are three players in the rain-harvesting project: the community provides labor in mutual-aid groups (what they provide is: work, cooperation and participation in meetings and training), CEDESA helps the community to organize, and Rotary provides materials for the construction, and pays the trainers, who are men from Los Torres who learned how to make the cisterns during their initial project. She asked Holly to explain the training and construction process, which she did, starting with the weaving together of the two meshes, the raising of the frame, the application of cement, placing the spigot and water-level indicator tube, the door and connecting the pipes from the roof. Holly also mentioned the need for space next to their roofs for the cistern, and the number of days required to build them (4), as Laura had expressed concern that the people understand this clearly from the outset, since this was a problem at Lomas de San Josè.
Chela then focused on the people from Vivienda because, as she put it, a delegation from Vivienda has been attending the meetings at Los Torres since last October, so they have been waiting a long time for their project to begin whereas the people from Tierra Blanca have just begun the process.
The people from Vivienda decided to do their pilot project at the primary school (only 19 students there, but the kinder has only 6! It is a very small community), and split up into two groups as follows (names followed by asterisks are the team leaders):
GROUP 1
Ana Maria Torres*
Agripina Ramírez*
Lorena Vazquéz
Valentin (represented by his mother, Marcelina who lives in Cruz del Palmar)
Aurelia
Gloria*
Lorena Ramírez
Ana Isabel Ramírez
María de la Luz Ramírez
Alfredo Granados
GROUP 2
Ángela
Julia/Patricio Torres*
Maricela Granados*
Teresa Alvarado
Cristina Morales*
Irene López
Cirila Ramírez
María de Jesús
Natividad
Tomasa
The training will take place the week of April 5, concurrent with the training at Cruz del Palmar, if the Los Torres Consulting Team (equipo de asesoria) can do it then. Holly called Miguel Cruz in Los Torres to ask him to coordinate that with the other three on the team, and will call back on Friday, March 12 to confirm.
Next Assembly April 14th 3pm.
Report kindly written by Holly Yasui in Laura's absence.
We arrived at Vivienda de Arriba a Little before 3 p.m., and there was a small group of people from Tierra Blanca waiting outside the chapel, including Juana Granados and her son Fernando who attended the Water Day activities in Los Torres on March 5. They told us it was a 20-minute walk from Tierra Blanca to Vivienda de Arriba.
Ana Maria Torres, who has been our main contact in Vivienda de Arriba, arrived right on the dot at 3 p.m., saw that the gate was locked and went off to get a key. We entered the churchyard, and because it was very windy, decided to meet in a small room on the side of the chapel so that Chela could use the rotofolio without the pages flying around.
Holly passed her notebook around for a list of persons attending, and at 3:30 there were 14 people from Vivienda and 10 from Tierra Blanca. More arrived in the course of the meeting, see below the two groups formed for the training. Two weeks ago, Ana had asked us at the last Los Torres assembly if we could limit the number of people from Tierra Blanca at “their” (Vivienda’s) assemblies, and she made sure that the notebook that I passed around was signed first by people from Vivienda de Arriba, then the people from Tierra Blanca. (Note: after the meeting, in the privacy of her mother-in-law’s house, Ana told us that she felt that the people from Tierra Blanca were “troublesome” or “belligerent” - the word in Spanish is “conflictiva” - because at their water committee meetings, held in Tierra Blanca where the well is located, the Tierrablancans always steamroll over everyone else. As Chela and Holly were driving back to La Cieneguita, Chela explained that there is often conflict between large and small communities, especially as regards water for “newcomers” since the water committee is always a political football.)
Chela started the assembly off by asking the newcomers why they had come to this meeting, and then asking those who had attended the last assembly to explain the project. As in Cruz del Palmar in the morning, she discussed the difference between the government programs (only “Piso Firme” and “Oportunidades” have been promulgated in Vivienda de A) that owe the people attention, and nonprofit organizations like CEDESA and Rotary, which work with communities in solidarity. She emphasized that communities need to organize themselves in order to get the government to help them to solve their problems.
Chela also engaged the people at the meeting in a discussion of the contamination of water – whether or not it is contaminated, and why; also what they should use the water from rain-harvesting for (drinking and cooking only, not washing). She explained that there are three players in the rain-harvesting project: the community provides labor in mutual-aid groups (what they provide is: work, cooperation and participation in meetings and training), CEDESA helps the community to organize, and Rotary provides materials for the construction, and pays the trainers, who are men from Los Torres who learned how to make the cisterns during their initial project. She asked Holly to explain the training and construction process, which she did, starting with the weaving together of the two meshes, the raising of the frame, the application of cement, placing the spigot and water-level indicator tube, the door and connecting the pipes from the roof. Holly also mentioned the need for space next to their roofs for the cistern, and the number of days required to build them (4), as Laura had expressed concern that the people understand this clearly from the outset, since this was a problem at Lomas de San Josè.
Chela then focused on the people from Vivienda because, as she put it, a delegation from Vivienda has been attending the meetings at Los Torres since last October, so they have been waiting a long time for their project to begin whereas the people from Tierra Blanca have just begun the process.
The people from Vivienda decided to do their pilot project at the primary school (only 19 students there, but the kinder has only 6! It is a very small community), and split up into two groups as follows (names followed by asterisks are the team leaders):
GROUP 1
Ana Maria Torres*
Agripina Ramírez*
Lorena Vazquéz
Valentin (represented by his mother, Marcelina who lives in Cruz del Palmar)
Aurelia
Gloria*
Lorena Ramírez
Ana Isabel Ramírez
María de la Luz Ramírez
Alfredo Granados
GROUP 2
Ángela
Julia/Patricio Torres*
Maricela Granados*
Teresa Alvarado
Cristina Morales*
Irene López
Cirila Ramírez
María de Jesús
Natividad
Tomasa
The training will take place the week of April 5, concurrent with the training at Cruz del Palmar, if the Los Torres Consulting Team (equipo de asesoria) can do it then. Holly called Miguel Cruz in Los Torres to ask him to coordinate that with the other three on the team, and will call back on Friday, March 12 to confirm.
Next Assembly April 14th 3pm.
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 4
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Wed 10th March 11am – 1.30pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Holly Yasui & Chela Martinez (for Cedesa) 32 adults (incl. 2 men), + 15 kids.
Purpose: Planning for the next stage of the water project
Update: As a result of the change of Scope of the MG received for the community of Lomas de San Jose, (who recently declined our project for lack of numbers). we now have immediate funding for this community,
With this MG we have sufficient funding for 19 cisterns, 1 pilot & 18 individual family cisterns. Vivienda de Arriba (neighbouring community) will receive the other 19 cisterns.
Record of Event
We managed to arrive on time this time, after getting lost last time!
When we arrived Yolande had already created a circular seating arrangement out of planks & bricks.
The people slowly filtered in, & we began the assembly at 11.30.
Item 1 – Welcome
Chela welcomed everyone & asked how long they thought the meeting should be – everyone looked a bit blank, so Holly responded – ideally 1 hour.
Chela explained it’s important to meet & get to know eachother & to relate, & in the process of relating establish a relationship of trust between “you & us”...
Everyone was asked to introduce themselves – first names only to make it easier. There was some giggling as people are embarrassed to speak, one young woman introduced her mother instead, until we insisted she say her own name.
Chela invited everyone to call her Chela, not Senorita, she said she’s over that, & asked them to feel confident to speak.
They were asked for a show of hands as to who was here today, but not the previous meeting. (approx 10 people).
Chela said she would co-ordinate the meeting this time, but in future meetings they will will elect a co-ordinator & record taker each time.
Item 2 – explanation & background
Chela “why are you here today?”
Responses –
I have come to hear what the program is about,
To hear about the cisternas, I’m interested because we need water.
I live in the top part of CdP & we have a lot of problems with water, we suffer a lot.
I want to know if I’m on the list, if I’m not I’ll leave the meeting, I want to know more about it.
I live here & I went to Los Torres to ask what they have & how they got it, & to see “what you gave to them”...
Record of Event pg 2 of 4
I’m attending to get more info, 3rd hand is not so good, you have to find out for yourself, that’s why I’m here.
Chela “what is the objective of this meeting/reunion?”
Chela invited Laura (through Holly) to talk a little about our history working with Cedesa in Los Torres. (I gave a brief history).
Chela talked about Cedesa, it’s not a program, it’s a school to train people on organising. Chela also explained that Rotary was a large organisation with more than 30,000 clubs worldwide, a service organisation, voluntary. Without everyone on the team we can’t resolve this, we’re a team, with integral development being the goal or objective.
Rotary can not resolve all the issues, but with Cedesa training you can take control of your own issues & resolve them, by finding necessary resources.
We wish to collaborate with people in the region to resolve the issue of lack of safe drinking water.
Chela “what water problems do you have?”
- Contaminated water
- Can’t drink the water
- Often water is not there when we turn on the taps
- Water from the taps (if it is there) is not drinkable.
We are offering to assist with the construction of cisterns to catch water for drinking & cooking.
Chela “If you buy water, who get’s the $$$?”
- Santorini, Ciel, Bonafont, & these are owned by Coca Cola & Pepsi & Nestle – foreign ownership.
“how much do you spend on water weekly?”
- 80pesos, $100 pesos, $120 pesos (depending on family sizes)
A garafon is 20 litres so each litre is 1 peso.
52 wks x 80pesos = 4140 pesos per year, money they don’t have!
Cisterna is 12,000 litres & costs approx $8000 pesos, once, & then water is free from then on.
In 2 years you could have bought your own cistern!
This is the significance of water & cost in your household. Water is life, the subterranean water does not represent life for you guys, since it is contaminated in this region, rain water is life.
Chela”how is this affecting your family economy?”
Response – with giggles – we’re getting poorer & the companies are getting richer.
We – Cedesa & Rotary, come out of solidarity, the govt has a responsibility to respond to your issue. The govt. Administers $$$ but where do those $$$ come from? “us, Taxes”
They have a responsibility to help you with resources to resolve your drinking water issue – yes or no? “YES”.
Record of Event pg 3 of 4
Item 3 – planning phase
How many families are there in CdP? – 300
We can’t help 300 families but we can train people, & have an impact. We can train one group & they can train others & after you can ask Govt. For help with financial resources to purchase materials.
The first phase is training for you:
33 families on the list.
Community provides participation, labour to build.
Cedesa provides the training
Rotary provides $$$ for the materials.
The list needs to be divided into groups to learn the full process of construction.
If you can’t help with construction, you can contribute by bringing food & drink to the workers.
The training phase consists of a pilot of 4 days to build the cistern. The work involves
1. Crochet the wire
2. Mix concrete
3. Apply concrete
All things most people can do easily. The final application of the concrete is a little more specialist but there are people in your community who do this easily.
Whoever participates in the training will be the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
Item 4 Pilot project plans
Where would you like to build the first cistern?
Primary 200 kids
Secondaria 900 kids
Kinder 50 kids
They decided the primary school, since they provide breakfast at school & it has the longest school day. They use 2 garafons of water per meal. One cistern will not be sufficient water for drinking for all the kids, but will help with the meal preparation.
The smallest kids are the most prone to health issues.
In CdP all the schools buy water, they ask the parents for donations for this.
There are 33 people here today, we need to work in groups, it was decided to have 3 groups of 11. Those in bold are the chosen leaders.
Record of Event pg 4 of 4
Group 1.
Lucia
Sonia
Maria
Teresa
Imelda
Jose Luis
Ester Maya
Juana
Irene
Marta
Martin
Group 2
Laura
Yola
Diana
Celia
Julia
Soledad
Elizabeth
Leticia
Olivia
Estela
Wencilada Group 3
Cristina
Nicolasa
Benita
Marcelina
Eva
Leticia N
Esther
Herminia
Maricela
Luisa
Domitilia
All the leaders need to take info re their groups, & ensure they all have sufficient space (2.5m) for the cistern.
The head of the PTA (Sonia) will check with the Teachers (since confirmed yes).
We arranged materials will be delivered on the 5th April, but since then Rafael (from Los Torres) who will be doing the training, went to visit & co-ordinate directly with the community & changed the date until 22nd March. (Materials to be delivered before then – Laura placed the order on the 17th March & made payment).
Proposed demo days are now 22, 23,24,25th March. 10am to 5pm.
Leaders are responsible for co-ordinating their groups, ie attendance, food & drink
They will need to bring tools
Wheel barrow, wire cutters, ganchos/hooks, trowels, shovels, ladder, buckets.
More than 2 people from each group will need to learn the entire process, ideally 4. So that for the individual cistern construction there are more experts.
The next assembly is planned for 14th April at 11am –
The community thanked us & departed, & Yolande invited us in for some lunch.
Delicious, beans with chorizo, nopal & tomato, torillas, beans & a guava drink.
We headed out full & happy at 2pm, Laura headed back to town to attend her son’s birthday dinner, & Chela & Holly went on to the 2nd assembly in Vivienda de Arriba.
2nd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Cruz del Palmar potential water Project
Where: Cruz del Palmar Community (40 mins from SMA)
When: Wed 10th March 11am – 1.30pm
Who: Laura Stewart (Rotary), Holly Yasui & Chela Martinez (for Cedesa) 32 adults (incl. 2 men), + 15 kids.
Purpose: Planning for the next stage of the water project
Update: As a result of the change of Scope of the MG received for the community of Lomas de San Jose, (who recently declined our project for lack of numbers). we now have immediate funding for this community,
With this MG we have sufficient funding for 19 cisterns, 1 pilot & 18 individual family cisterns. Vivienda de Arriba (neighbouring community) will receive the other 19 cisterns.
Record of Event
We managed to arrive on time this time, after getting lost last time!
When we arrived Yolande had already created a circular seating arrangement out of planks & bricks.
The people slowly filtered in, & we began the assembly at 11.30.
Item 1 – Welcome
Chela welcomed everyone & asked how long they thought the meeting should be – everyone looked a bit blank, so Holly responded – ideally 1 hour.
Chela explained it’s important to meet & get to know eachother & to relate, & in the process of relating establish a relationship of trust between “you & us”...
Everyone was asked to introduce themselves – first names only to make it easier. There was some giggling as people are embarrassed to speak, one young woman introduced her mother instead, until we insisted she say her own name.
Chela invited everyone to call her Chela, not Senorita, she said she’s over that, & asked them to feel confident to speak.
They were asked for a show of hands as to who was here today, but not the previous meeting. (approx 10 people).
Chela said she would co-ordinate the meeting this time, but in future meetings they will will elect a co-ordinator & record taker each time.
Item 2 – explanation & background
Chela “why are you here today?”
Responses –
I have come to hear what the program is about,
To hear about the cisternas, I’m interested because we need water.
I live in the top part of CdP & we have a lot of problems with water, we suffer a lot.
I want to know if I’m on the list, if I’m not I’ll leave the meeting, I want to know more about it.
I live here & I went to Los Torres to ask what they have & how they got it, & to see “what you gave to them”...
Record of Event pg 2 of 4
I’m attending to get more info, 3rd hand is not so good, you have to find out for yourself, that’s why I’m here.
Chela “what is the objective of this meeting/reunion?”
Chela invited Laura (through Holly) to talk a little about our history working with Cedesa in Los Torres. (I gave a brief history).
Chela talked about Cedesa, it’s not a program, it’s a school to train people on organising. Chela also explained that Rotary was a large organisation with more than 30,000 clubs worldwide, a service organisation, voluntary. Without everyone on the team we can’t resolve this, we’re a team, with integral development being the goal or objective.
Rotary can not resolve all the issues, but with Cedesa training you can take control of your own issues & resolve them, by finding necessary resources.
We wish to collaborate with people in the region to resolve the issue of lack of safe drinking water.
Chela “what water problems do you have?”
- Contaminated water
- Can’t drink the water
- Often water is not there when we turn on the taps
- Water from the taps (if it is there) is not drinkable.
We are offering to assist with the construction of cisterns to catch water for drinking & cooking.
Chela “If you buy water, who get’s the $$$?”
- Santorini, Ciel, Bonafont, & these are owned by Coca Cola & Pepsi & Nestle – foreign ownership.
“how much do you spend on water weekly?”
- 80pesos, $100 pesos, $120 pesos (depending on family sizes)
A garafon is 20 litres so each litre is 1 peso.
52 wks x 80pesos = 4140 pesos per year, money they don’t have!
Cisterna is 12,000 litres & costs approx $8000 pesos, once, & then water is free from then on.
In 2 years you could have bought your own cistern!
This is the significance of water & cost in your household. Water is life, the subterranean water does not represent life for you guys, since it is contaminated in this region, rain water is life.
Chela”how is this affecting your family economy?”
Response – with giggles – we’re getting poorer & the companies are getting richer.
We – Cedesa & Rotary, come out of solidarity, the govt has a responsibility to respond to your issue. The govt. Administers $$$ but where do those $$$ come from? “us, Taxes”
They have a responsibility to help you with resources to resolve your drinking water issue – yes or no? “YES”.
Record of Event pg 3 of 4
Item 3 – planning phase
How many families are there in CdP? – 300
We can’t help 300 families but we can train people, & have an impact. We can train one group & they can train others & after you can ask Govt. For help with financial resources to purchase materials.
The first phase is training for you:
33 families on the list.
Community provides participation, labour to build.
Cedesa provides the training
Rotary provides $$$ for the materials.
The list needs to be divided into groups to learn the full process of construction.
If you can’t help with construction, you can contribute by bringing food & drink to the workers.
The training phase consists of a pilot of 4 days to build the cistern. The work involves
1. Crochet the wire
2. Mix concrete
3. Apply concrete
All things most people can do easily. The final application of the concrete is a little more specialist but there are people in your community who do this easily.
Whoever participates in the training will be the list of the people to receive their cisterns first.
Item 4 Pilot project plans
Where would you like to build the first cistern?
Primary 200 kids
Secondaria 900 kids
Kinder 50 kids
They decided the primary school, since they provide breakfast at school & it has the longest school day. They use 2 garafons of water per meal. One cistern will not be sufficient water for drinking for all the kids, but will help with the meal preparation.
The smallest kids are the most prone to health issues.
In CdP all the schools buy water, they ask the parents for donations for this.
There are 33 people here today, we need to work in groups, it was decided to have 3 groups of 11. Those in bold are the chosen leaders.
Record of Event pg 4 of 4
Group 1.
Lucia
Sonia
Maria
Teresa
Imelda
Jose Luis
Ester Maya
Juana
Irene
Marta
Martin
Group 2
Laura
Yola
Diana
Celia
Julia
Soledad
Elizabeth
Leticia
Olivia
Estela
Wencilada Group 3
Cristina
Nicolasa
Benita
Marcelina
Eva
Leticia N
Esther
Herminia
Maricela
Luisa
Domitilia
All the leaders need to take info re their groups, & ensure they all have sufficient space (2.5m) for the cistern.
The head of the PTA (Sonia) will check with the Teachers (since confirmed yes).
We arranged materials will be delivered on the 5th April, but since then Rafael (from Los Torres) who will be doing the training, went to visit & co-ordinate directly with the community & changed the date until 22nd March. (Materials to be delivered before then – Laura placed the order on the 17th March & made payment).
Proposed demo days are now 22, 23,24,25th March. 10am to 5pm.
Leaders are responsible for co-ordinating their groups, ie attendance, food & drink
They will need to bring tools
Wheel barrow, wire cutters, ganchos/hooks, trowels, shovels, ladder, buckets.
More than 2 people from each group will need to learn the entire process, ideally 4. So that for the individual cistern construction there are more experts.
The next assembly is planned for 14th April at 11am –
The community thanked us & departed, & Yolande invited us in for some lunch.
Delicious, beans with chorizo, nopal & tomato, torillas, beans & a guava drink.
We headed out full & happy at 2pm, Laura headed back to town to attend her son’s birthday dinner, & Chela & Holly went on to the 2nd assembly in Vivienda de Arriba.
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