The Day Rotary Came To Town

There are a lot of parts to a successful project and as we began work on our 7th and biggest water project in the village of Sotzil I would like to honor some of the people behind the work. The people pictured in this photo have been working on this project for almost two years. On his knee in the white shirt is the new mayor of Sotzil and behind him the former president of the water committee. Both worked many hours as we hiked the hills and designed the system. The two “gringos” are members of Rotary International who have come back to visit this and three other water projects we have completed. Through much effort we have been able to secure a $35,000 grant that is the core finance for this project. (The other two funding sources are the Municipality of Chajul and TRE). The two Guatemalans standing in white shirts are committee members of TRE. Andres the man on the left is managing the construction of this project and Manuel in the center right is our main go to man for official meetings. I am proud and thankful of the part played by each of those pictured here.

I don’t think many donors realize that a successful project is not just a benefit for that time or year but something that the villagers are thankful for every day. They remember the hard times before the help arrived and remind their sons and daughters of the generosity that has been shared with them. Here Tom Borden of Rotary receives recognition (and a Ixil Hat) for the help they provided for the water project in Chel that we completed in 2012.

Although I have had a few visitors before this was my fist officially guided tour and I was concerned about the comfort levels and health aspects of the trip. We gave it our best 4 star travel package possible and everyone made it through fine. Here Richard gets first class transportation up the mountain to view a spring.

Fine Dining is also an important part of any international tour. Here we are waiting for a meal in one of the homes while listening to personal stories about everything from the sufferings experienced during the war to how the couple meet and fell in love. I actually think this type of a tour is priceless if you take it with an open mind and heart. After only two day of travel from the plush hotels and restaurants of Antigua these two men have arrived in the heart of the needs that they have desired to help. They are getting to listen to and see the personal side of poverty.

Well, a project cannot succeed without funding and planning but after that there is much work to be done so let’s take a look at what has been happening. For a brief description of the project- Sotzil is one of the three larger communities in this area. There are almost 500 homes pressed into a hillside ravine. The property on both sides of the community is owned by plantations and what has evolved is a type of modern serfdom. The existing water service provided water on a 8 day rotation to 60% of the homes. We are connecting three springs to two large holding tanks. Once again the system is gravity feed and has a combined flow of over 60 gallons per minute. The community is divided into 7 sectors each with its own main service line. On two sides of the community we have placed lines high upon the side of the mountain which has had an immediate result of new homes being built to take advantage of areas which previously did not have water service. This has created an unexpected result of view homes! These areas have more space between the homes and a much nicer environment. We are also building a covered washing station for the women in the center of the village.

As TRE has grown we are able to address some of the different needs of the community at the same time we develop the water project. These problems are long standing and require a long term vision to find a solution. One immediate need is to address the open sewers and trash.

To repair sewer lines is an easy mechanical fix where as to educate how to care for the environment is harder and an educational solution. We are including the school children in this education and clean-up. Here the children head out to collect trash.

But this problem was not created by them nor can it be fixed by them alone.

Every work day is an education process for the parents as well.

When I see a site like this I often think what a beautiful spot this could be yet look at the pollution. As we have developed a working plan for this project we have decided to install a central park around the women’s washing station. The school is hosting a contest on who can write the best essay about "How to care for our Community and environment". This essay will be read at dedication before the whole community. The students will also get an art project to paint a environmental theme mural on the wall of the washing station. Miracles in Action has donated backpacks and school supplies that we can include in the project. Poco a poco luchamos para un mejor futuro- little by little we can fight for a better tomorrow.

Here is where the women have washed clothes for years. On hot days they bake, on raining day they and their young children suffer and risk sickness and always they stand in the water that they are polluting.

We have collected the rocks the women have washed clothes on for years and years to make benches in front of a rock retaining walls that we are building. It is a reminder of the service of mothers for their children and family.

As the men perform the work of moving these heavy rocks I listen to them explaining to each other why. It is the history of their women they are respecting. Lessons upon lessons seem to unfold before my eyes.

Here Juan one of our masons is doing some finish work on the washing station. Every four feet there is a washing board and a well from which to dip water from. The pipe behind him is a tempory diversion of the water that flows into the tanks. It now forms a nice water fall into the central tank. This is where the children will paint their mural. In front of the Juan is space that the women are going to plant flowers in. This is truly an experiment but what will happen if we can seed enviromental beauty into this community?

All are masons are instructed to train, train , and train some more their assistants. Here Vicinte is learning how to put finish mortor on a wall. At the completion of the washing station each assisant will recieve a small project of building a simple foot bridge where they can practice their new trade. These small forms of help that we include in a project can have long lasting personal benefits.

Back to the main part of the project. Here is the team that completed the excavation of one of the holding tanks. It measures 7 meters by 7 meters square.

Sand was collected from a nearby river and loaded onto landcrusers, mules and even a school bus! By the way the warning lable in a school bus might say 66 children are the maximun load but you can load 200 one hundred pound sacks of sand in it if you want.

Pour days are pure workouts. Although we can prepare the sand and gravel before all the cement must be carried up the hill the morning of the pour. All mixing and placing of the cement is done by sheer effort of the men.

Moving some of the 40 bags we needed for the floor. This project has used 200 bags of cement and 80,000 pounds of sand and gravel so far. The miles of piping and ditching laid are above and beyond this work. All of this unskilled labor is the donation of the village. No one can convince me they do not want to work for a better future if given the chance.

The bucket brigade. The man in the green shirt had his elbow shot during the war. He is lifting the bucket with the power of only one hand.

The tank floor is almost finished.

Mixing the last wheel barrow full of the day, He might be tired but he is not defeated. As of the first of September both tanks are poured, the washing station has a roof and is being used, half of the main lines into the community are in place. We are on the final leg of this long race. Within six weeks 500 new fuacets will be turned on bring pure drinking water to this community. This will complete one big ripple and hundreds of smaller ones. I want to send a special thanks to all, especially the morning Rotary club of Gig Harbor, who have helped us make what looked impossible possible. Please help us continue this work and make a donation today. We will make sure your gift makes a impact.