Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Latrine Plans
Tomorrow I will be giving my last pre-latrine training in the community of Tuisquimak. Following that we are simply waiting for the money to arrive in accounts to begin building, but we're optimistic and very excited. The following are a few images that my friend Jim drew up for me for the latrines! It's nice to have friends who are handy like this...
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Latrines for Tuisquimak
One of the ideals of Peace Corps that sets it apart from most other development agencies and volunteer organizations is that volunteers go to their communities without a cent to execute projects. Each month we are given just what we need to pay our rent, buy food and perform our duties, nothing extra. This isn't to make our lives more difficult (though it obviously does create challenges and make us creative) but to put us on the same economic level as our neighbors so that we can truly enter into life with them.
We are put in our communities as resources, but not economic ones. We are there to learn and to teach. However, every once in a while volunteers are smacked in the face with a need in their communities that the people they are working with are struggling to resolve alone. In these cases, the volunteer is allowed to seek outside funding to help with the project but is encouraged to do it in a sustainable way in coordinated efforts with the community so that everyone learns and benefits.
This is exactly what happened when I visited a womens' group in Tuisquimak. I was giving a talk about nutrition and needed to use the bathroom. The women blushed and started to talk among themselves and then sent me to a very rudimentary latrine constructed of bits of wood and tarp. They were obviously very embarrassed about the situation. A month later my co-workers and I returned to Tuisquimak to do a community diagnostic assessing the needs of the community. The need they expressed most fervently was for latrines to improve the hygiene and sanitation of their homes and families. The group is relatively small, 41 women, and after talking with María, we decided the project was feasible and necessary and began looking for funding.
The funding was found in various places. First, I was adamant that a large percentage of the project come directly from the community. They agreed happily to do all of the manual labor for the projects, and to purchase materials and food for all of the trainings that are a necessary part of the project. Second, we wrote a grant proposal for USAID's Small Projects Assistance fund (specifically for PC volunteers) and were approved for the materials for the little houses that cover the latrines. That left the cement latrine bodies themselves. For that I wrote a letter to my home church and local newspaper explaining the project and my service. To date, about half of the money has come in (just over $1,000) and we are hopeful that the rest will soon arrive.
I'll be updating my blog as the project progresses. We hope to have the money from USAID in less than a month and will immideately begin construction so as to avoid being caught in the rainy season. Check back and see how the project moves along! If you are interested in donating to this project email me at cskeniston@gmail.com
The president and secretary of the womens' group
They gave us pumpkins from their garden!
The "latrine" mentioned above. The new ones will be built of metal and wood and have actual toilet seats!
We are put in our communities as resources, but not economic ones. We are there to learn and to teach. However, every once in a while volunteers are smacked in the face with a need in their communities that the people they are working with are struggling to resolve alone. In these cases, the volunteer is allowed to seek outside funding to help with the project but is encouraged to do it in a sustainable way in coordinated efforts with the community so that everyone learns and benefits.
This is exactly what happened when I visited a womens' group in Tuisquimak. I was giving a talk about nutrition and needed to use the bathroom. The women blushed and started to talk among themselves and then sent me to a very rudimentary latrine constructed of bits of wood and tarp. They were obviously very embarrassed about the situation. A month later my co-workers and I returned to Tuisquimak to do a community diagnostic assessing the needs of the community. The need they expressed most fervently was for latrines to improve the hygiene and sanitation of their homes and families. The group is relatively small, 41 women, and after talking with María, we decided the project was feasible and necessary and began looking for funding.
The funding was found in various places. First, I was adamant that a large percentage of the project come directly from the community. They agreed happily to do all of the manual labor for the projects, and to purchase materials and food for all of the trainings that are a necessary part of the project. Second, we wrote a grant proposal for USAID's Small Projects Assistance fund (specifically for PC volunteers) and were approved for the materials for the little houses that cover the latrines. That left the cement latrine bodies themselves. For that I wrote a letter to my home church and local newspaper explaining the project and my service. To date, about half of the money has come in (just over $1,000) and we are hopeful that the rest will soon arrive.
I'll be updating my blog as the project progresses. We hope to have the money from USAID in less than a month and will immideately begin construction so as to avoid being caught in the rainy season. Check back and see how the project moves along! If you are interested in donating to this project email me at cskeniston@gmail.com
The president and secretary of the womens' group
They gave us pumpkins from their garden!
The "latrine" mentioned above. The new ones will be built of metal and wood and have actual toilet seats!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Abloom!
One of the things I miss most about life in New England is watching everything burst into bloom during the first weeks of April. There really is nothing compared to watching buds springing up from frosty ground or the sounds of birds chirping after a long winter. Even though I haven't spent months bundled in sweaters, I've got my own bloom going on here in Guatemala: my garden! The spinach has sprung and is looking read to eat...
La Jungla
Holy week in Guatemala means traffic, noise, and excitement, so instead of hanging around to see it all (last year was enough for me) I headed into the jungles of Petén with a few good friends. The goal: El Mirador, ancient Mayan ruins that boast arguably the largest pyramid in the world, sculptures in relief, and wildlife galore. Just getting to the state of Petén took us over 20 hours on buses. From there we hired a guide who led us 2 days into the jungle, passing buried ruins all the way, to El Mirador. The hike provided us relief from the busyness of Semana Santa in other parts of Guatemala and also a much needed vacation.
Me, a teacher?
One of the interesting and often nerve-wracking things about Peace Corps is that it provides you opportunities to do jobs you aren't trained for and that you never thought you'd do, like teaching. Though I love working with people, I don't consider myself much of a teacher and after a 10 year old broke his wrist in a snowboarding lesson I was teaching, I swore off the job for good. However, in Peace Corps I've found myself doing many things that I never thought I'd do, and really having a lot of fun.
Twice a month I teach in a village high school a two hour walk from my house. The school is basically a government trial to see if putting high schools in villages will work (the current system requires high school students to come to town centers, often hours away, which obviously is prohibitive for many students). I began teaching life skills there last year. The lessons have ranged from leadership and self-esteem to basic sexuality. The kids are sometimes frustratingly shy, but I enjoy working with them and the progress I've seen in the students I worked with last year is remarkable.
In addition to the high school class, I jump at any chance given by my office to teach a womens' group. A few weeks ago another volunteer was visiting me and I gave her my camera so I would have a few pictures of me with these groups that I teach but never have the chance to take pictures with.
Twice a month I teach in a village high school a two hour walk from my house. The school is basically a government trial to see if putting high schools in villages will work (the current system requires high school students to come to town centers, often hours away, which obviously is prohibitive for many students). I began teaching life skills there last year. The lessons have ranged from leadership and self-esteem to basic sexuality. The kids are sometimes frustratingly shy, but I enjoy working with them and the progress I've seen in the students I worked with last year is remarkable.
In addition to the high school class, I jump at any chance given by my office to teach a womens' group. A few weeks ago another volunteer was visiting me and I gave her my camera so I would have a few pictures of me with these groups that I teach but never have the chance to take pictures with.
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