Hello! We finally started the stove project (constructing the actual stoves) and the last week has flown by! In the past 4 days we were able to construct 7 of the 40 stoves. Not to say the work is easy—we wake up at 6am to start construction in the distant community of La Jagua and construct all day until we finish at 6pm. Then, back to my house to eat dinner and construct chimneys (which we need to make in advance). Then, we start the cycle over the next morning at 6am. The work is grueling and I have more cuts on my fingers and toes from the zinc sheets and cement blocks we use! But, I can proudly say I have acquired basic masonry skills and know how to use a hacksaw, pickaxe and can work with cement. My masons are awesome (Rafelito and his brother-in-law, Gilberto) and they are hardworkers who don’t stop until the stoves are perfect. They have learned a lot in the past week as well and are gaining valuable construction skills they can use after the project.
What do my masons make in 1 day working 11 hours? Only 15 dollars. Yes, it may seem like a paltry sum but the going rate for day laborers is only about $7.50/day here. So the pay is semi-reasonable (although I wish I could pay them more!).
The stove project has been consuming all my time but I am off to the capital tomorrow for some meetings and some needed R&R. I also recently decorated the cement walkway we made outside my house, plastering small pieces of ceramic tile on the edges. It’s cute.
I am eagerly awaiting March for the ASB group and my parent’s visit!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I’m pretty slow at these blog updates. I’ve barely been to the city in the past month. Why? The one truck driver who stops in Guayabo to take people to the city recently raised his prices from 100 pesos (3$) roundtrip to 150 pesos (4.50$) roundtrip!! Everyone is up in arms because this is really a large increase. I agree. My trips to the city will also be less frequent because my other source of transportation, my boyfriend, is starting school again and will be a bit more MIA.
I have been very busy the last month which has been great—time is flying by (Less than 9 months until I’m back in the states permanently)! I finished my filter project (that comprised over 80 visits to community members’ houses) which took way more time than expected. Luckily, Rafelito was a huge help in accompanying me to all the installations, helping me install, and giving me transportation. People are very satisfied with their filters (except one lady who got her water “tested” at a lab and said it contained pig parasites (which is basically impossible due to the composition of the filter)). I am looking into this matter with filter professionals. It is interesting that now I have completed the project how many people have come to me and asked me.. “can I get a filter?” Firstly, no, because I have no more, and secondly, you didn’t participate in any of my community meetings! Hopefully this will motivate more people in the community to participate in my meetings.
Last weekend was my first ever health fair! It was a success!! Basically, some of my health promoters and I (along with kids in my sex ed class) held a “sexual health fair” with tables focusing on: Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS, the use of the Condom, and cancer of reproductive organs (cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer). We held the fair in Jobo, which is the town next door that holds the general store, health clinic, school and police station, from 9am – 11:30am on a Saturday. I spent all last week making signs, charts, games and demonstrations for the fair. The objective of the fair was to target the Jobo population, who are a bit more “caliente” (hot), and who don’t have a health promoter. All the visitors to the health fair were directed to the four tables to participate in an activity or lecture—if they completed the four tables they could then be entered in the raffle! We raffled off two baskets each worth about $20. One basket was filled with food goodies, and the other was a “house hygiene” basket containing toothbrushes, bleach, sponge, soaps, detergent, etc. We had over 40 community members participate at the four tables (this is good because Jobo was a bit deserted that Saturday and only has about 50 homes). We gave out over 200 condoms and had youth and the elderly attend. There was something for everyone! I think this fair was one of my biggest accomplishments yet. I hope to do something similar in another 4 months.. maybe on chronic diseases.
Also exciting is my sex-ed youth group. I have 10 high-school “multipliers” who completed my sex-ed course last spring, and another training course this fall. Currently, they are leading their own sex-ed group in Jobo. They design all the lectures and activities! We had our first class yesterday and 12 kids from Jobo showed up! This is a definite success! I am so proud of the kids for their dedication to the cause (especially because they spend about 2 hours a week planning their lectures, and another 2 hours during class days—walking an hour just to teach the class!). I hope the rest of the course flows as smoothly.
Coming up is the dreaded stove project. Why do I dread this? Because this is the biggest project yet that entails many details and lots of money (over 3,000$). I currently have 40 homes that will be receiving the stoves, which are made out of cement block, cement, rebar, brick and tin. We have to order and deliver about 45 different materials to each house that will be receiving the stoves—which means lots of work for us (and lots of coordination with the hardwares stores, delivery trucks and beneficiaries). The 40 beneficiaries are women who participated in my nutrition class last year (those who participate win!!), but I already have other people haggling me for a stove. Its just annoying, frankly.
While I have already started complaining about the stove project (mainly just because the other health volunteers who have done the project complained a lot), the stoves are definitely important. The stoves use chimneys which reduce smoke inhalation in the house and also are more fuel-efficient, burning less wood. We hope to order materials in the next two weeks and start construction in three weeks!!
Other exciting, important news is that I AM HOSTING AN ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (ASB) GROUP! It was a last-minute arrangement due to another site falling through, but I couldn’t be more happy to share my site with such an amazing organization! They are coming for a week in March and will be working mainly in the school. We will see how they like the rural DR!
Those are all the exciting updates I have for now. Rafelito has fully recovered from his motorcycle accident and I am eagerly awaiting my parents’ arrival in March!
Hope the winter weather isn’t getting you down—its already so hot here!
I have been very busy the last month which has been great—time is flying by (Less than 9 months until I’m back in the states permanently)! I finished my filter project (that comprised over 80 visits to community members’ houses) which took way more time than expected. Luckily, Rafelito was a huge help in accompanying me to all the installations, helping me install, and giving me transportation. People are very satisfied with their filters (except one lady who got her water “tested” at a lab and said it contained pig parasites (which is basically impossible due to the composition of the filter)). I am looking into this matter with filter professionals. It is interesting that now I have completed the project how many people have come to me and asked me.. “can I get a filter?” Firstly, no, because I have no more, and secondly, you didn’t participate in any of my community meetings! Hopefully this will motivate more people in the community to participate in my meetings.
Last weekend was my first ever health fair! It was a success!! Basically, some of my health promoters and I (along with kids in my sex ed class) held a “sexual health fair” with tables focusing on: Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS, the use of the Condom, and cancer of reproductive organs (cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer). We held the fair in Jobo, which is the town next door that holds the general store, health clinic, school and police station, from 9am – 11:30am on a Saturday. I spent all last week making signs, charts, games and demonstrations for the fair. The objective of the fair was to target the Jobo population, who are a bit more “caliente” (hot), and who don’t have a health promoter. All the visitors to the health fair were directed to the four tables to participate in an activity or lecture—if they completed the four tables they could then be entered in the raffle! We raffled off two baskets each worth about $20. One basket was filled with food goodies, and the other was a “house hygiene” basket containing toothbrushes, bleach, sponge, soaps, detergent, etc. We had over 40 community members participate at the four tables (this is good because Jobo was a bit deserted that Saturday and only has about 50 homes). We gave out over 200 condoms and had youth and the elderly attend. There was something for everyone! I think this fair was one of my biggest accomplishments yet. I hope to do something similar in another 4 months.. maybe on chronic diseases.
Also exciting is my sex-ed youth group. I have 10 high-school “multipliers” who completed my sex-ed course last spring, and another training course this fall. Currently, they are leading their own sex-ed group in Jobo. They design all the lectures and activities! We had our first class yesterday and 12 kids from Jobo showed up! This is a definite success! I am so proud of the kids for their dedication to the cause (especially because they spend about 2 hours a week planning their lectures, and another 2 hours during class days—walking an hour just to teach the class!). I hope the rest of the course flows as smoothly.
Coming up is the dreaded stove project. Why do I dread this? Because this is the biggest project yet that entails many details and lots of money (over 3,000$). I currently have 40 homes that will be receiving the stoves, which are made out of cement block, cement, rebar, brick and tin. We have to order and deliver about 45 different materials to each house that will be receiving the stoves—which means lots of work for us (and lots of coordination with the hardwares stores, delivery trucks and beneficiaries). The 40 beneficiaries are women who participated in my nutrition class last year (those who participate win!!), but I already have other people haggling me for a stove. Its just annoying, frankly.
While I have already started complaining about the stove project (mainly just because the other health volunteers who have done the project complained a lot), the stoves are definitely important. The stoves use chimneys which reduce smoke inhalation in the house and also are more fuel-efficient, burning less wood. We hope to order materials in the next two weeks and start construction in three weeks!!
Other exciting, important news is that I AM HOSTING AN ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (ASB) GROUP! It was a last-minute arrangement due to another site falling through, but I couldn’t be more happy to share my site with such an amazing organization! They are coming for a week in March and will be working mainly in the school. We will see how they like the rural DR!
Those are all the exciting updates I have for now. Rafelito has fully recovered from his motorcycle accident and I am eagerly awaiting my parents’ arrival in March!
Hope the winter weather isn’t getting you down—its already so hot here!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I GOT A BABY GOAT FOR CHRISTMAS!
His name is Ignacio and he is about 4 months old. He will be raised and then sold (money-making!)
In other news, Rafelito had a serious motorcycle accident before Christmas. He crashed with a cow loose on the highway and has multiple injuries. Hopefully he will heal completely! Keep him in your thoughts.
His name is Ignacio and he is about 4 months old. He will be raised and then sold (money-making!)
In other news, Rafelito had a serious motorcycle accident before Christmas. He crashed with a cow loose on the highway and has multiple injuries. Hopefully he will heal completely! Keep him in your thoughts.
I am currently in the capital with good news and updates.
1. My three grants came in!
2. I finally bought plastic jars to make Vicks Vaporub with my community women!!
3. I am having a health fair in my community Jan. 29th with the help of my health promoters and youth health promoters!!
4. I have installed 20 of the 40 water filters!!
The stove project will be coming this February/March
Stay tuned.
1. My three grants came in!
2. I finally bought plastic jars to make Vicks Vaporub with my community women!!
3. I am having a health fair in my community Jan. 29th with the help of my health promoters and youth health promoters!!
4. I have installed 20 of the 40 water filters!!
The stove project will be coming this February/March
Stay tuned.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Since my arrival back to my campo, I have been very busy! Between a national youth conference, International AIDS Day activities, picking up my water filters, health promoter meetings and writing grants for our future aqueduct, I have had little free time.
Our local water committee has decided to continue with the long-awaited aqueduct project. Our multiple solicitations to various local politicians for financial help in the past year have been in vain; no help has been granted. So, with my help, we are currently grant writing and pricing necessary materials in hopes that we will raise enough money to redo the aqueduct this spring/summer. As I have mentioned previously, the aqueduct project consists mainly of taking up the rotting tubes (that we currently have) and put in new tubing underground. The new aqueduct would not break frequently (as it currently does) and will be a stable water source for the community. The project should cost approximately 3,000 USD.
Also, the water filters came in! I rode in a large truck to Santiago and picked up the 40 filters last Monday. The whole process was much easier than thought. The daunting task now is to install them, which may be a bit more difficult do to the large size of the filters and the weight of the sand (and lack of transportation within my community). Unfortunately, it has been raining non-stop for the past 3 days which has put a damper on the speed of installation. The filters will definitely not be able to be installed in all houses by Christmas.
I’m still waiting for 3 grants—where are they?!!
This December I will hopefully be executing a small income generation project with the women’s group. We are making Vapor-Rub from scratch and are selling small jars of it for about 75 cents in neighboring communities. Vapor-Rub is a huge cure-all here and I hope our project will be successful!! If all goes well, we should make about a 15$ profit!
Nothing too new around the house. There has been a large teachers strike in the province and the kids have missed 2+ weeks of school.
Christmas should be fun around here. A few dances lined up and lots of communities ginegbres (ginger tea nights)!
Hope to get in another blog before Christmas!
Our local water committee has decided to continue with the long-awaited aqueduct project. Our multiple solicitations to various local politicians for financial help in the past year have been in vain; no help has been granted. So, with my help, we are currently grant writing and pricing necessary materials in hopes that we will raise enough money to redo the aqueduct this spring/summer. As I have mentioned previously, the aqueduct project consists mainly of taking up the rotting tubes (that we currently have) and put in new tubing underground. The new aqueduct would not break frequently (as it currently does) and will be a stable water source for the community. The project should cost approximately 3,000 USD.
Also, the water filters came in! I rode in a large truck to Santiago and picked up the 40 filters last Monday. The whole process was much easier than thought. The daunting task now is to install them, which may be a bit more difficult do to the large size of the filters and the weight of the sand (and lack of transportation within my community). Unfortunately, it has been raining non-stop for the past 3 days which has put a damper on the speed of installation. The filters will definitely not be able to be installed in all houses by Christmas.
I’m still waiting for 3 grants—where are they?!!
This December I will hopefully be executing a small income generation project with the women’s group. We are making Vapor-Rub from scratch and are selling small jars of it for about 75 cents in neighboring communities. Vapor-Rub is a huge cure-all here and I hope our project will be successful!! If all goes well, we should make about a 15$ profit!
Nothing too new around the house. There has been a large teachers strike in the province and the kids have missed 2+ weeks of school.
Christmas should be fun around here. A few dances lined up and lots of communities ginegbres (ginger tea nights)!
Hope to get in another blog before Christmas!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
So what am I up to now?
Well, this fall was somewhat disappointing in that many of my promised projects did not happen (due to delayed funding). My stove project money has not arrived, and my filters are in the country, but are not in my community (hopefully I will be able to pick them up this coming week). I am also waiting for 2 grants to be funded for more youth sex-ed classes.
But, that is not to say I have not been busy! October-November was filled with conferences, meetings and exchanges. In October we had an emergency Cholera training in the capital to learn about the disease and prevention. As I am sure you know, Cholera has made its way to the DR, but not nearly in the numbers as Haiti. I also had a health promoters conference, 1 year heath volunteers in-service training (basically look back on the year and reflect about what we can do in the coming year as volunteers) and 5 days of consolidation in a hotel due to the hurricane (that conveniently missed us!).
I have also been designing the curriculum for the health promotion project that I am implementing. Basically, I train 1 women in a community, have them create a local health committee that uses home visits and monthly activities to spread awareness, and manage about 10 communities at a time. It seems to be working for the most part, but we need to train the health committee members better and have more monitoring of the groups.
Next steps?
December is a time of christmas and family, so probably very little will be accomplished this month. However, I am going to try to be superwoman and install 40 bio-sand filters in 3 communities before christmas! I will let you know how it all goes.
Well, this fall was somewhat disappointing in that many of my promised projects did not happen (due to delayed funding). My stove project money has not arrived, and my filters are in the country, but are not in my community (hopefully I will be able to pick them up this coming week). I am also waiting for 2 grants to be funded for more youth sex-ed classes.
But, that is not to say I have not been busy! October-November was filled with conferences, meetings and exchanges. In October we had an emergency Cholera training in the capital to learn about the disease and prevention. As I am sure you know, Cholera has made its way to the DR, but not nearly in the numbers as Haiti. I also had a health promoters conference, 1 year heath volunteers in-service training (basically look back on the year and reflect about what we can do in the coming year as volunteers) and 5 days of consolidation in a hotel due to the hurricane (that conveniently missed us!).
I have also been designing the curriculum for the health promotion project that I am implementing. Basically, I train 1 women in a community, have them create a local health committee that uses home visits and monthly activities to spread awareness, and manage about 10 communities at a time. It seems to be working for the most part, but we need to train the health committee members better and have more monitoring of the groups.
Next steps?
December is a time of christmas and family, so probably very little will be accomplished this month. However, I am going to try to be superwoman and install 40 bio-sand filters in 3 communities before christmas! I will let you know how it all goes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)