COS (close of service) conference was held last month, the moment when those who intend to extend for a third year declare their offical COS date and those who are finishing their service begin the process of leaving the country and their communities. This has given me ample time for reflection on the work I have done here over the past two years, and my reasons for staying on for a third year. I will share with you some of those reflections and details on current projects so that you might get a better idea of what is happening in site today, and the typical work of a volunteer.
At the moment I am busy with a rabbit rearing project intending to teach community members the basic methods in raising rabbits for either consumption or sale, and the many benefits it provides: a means of secondary/domestic income where unemployment and underemployment are high, white meat with a low fat/high protein content, excellent nigtrogen/carbon rich excriment usefull as an organic fertilizer, rapid sexual reproduction (1 1/2 mths btwn litters), and low mantinance animals (2oz. food feed once daily, virtually soundless, clean animals when reared in cages raised from the ground.)
Aside from the rabbits project, my focus has been drawn to collection of funds for amplification of the current potable water system in the community and construction of composting latrines.
Currently, 16 of the 30 homes in la Joya are without a fixed potable waterline to their homes. Beginning in December 2009, after aquiring $500 for a small projects initiative through clearwaters.org, we constructed 30 "water boxes" in front of each home, water valves housed within reinforced cement boxes and locking tops such that service to each home can be shut off or turned on, depending on whether or not they pay a monthñy usage fee which goes towards the systems maintenance. This phase, phase one, will be completed at the end of February. The second phase, beginning in early April, concerns the formation and training of a Water Committee and repairs to all existing components of the system. The committee will be responsible for collection money for the monthly fees, maintenance of the system, and clorination/filtration of the water. Phase three, the final stage of the potable water project (dependent on the aquisition of funds amounting to $3k) will be the extension of the existing systems to the majority of the communtiy still without service anf thus left to draw from potentially contaminated water springs and creeks/rivers. The $3000 budgeted for this project is being solicited through the Peace Corps Partnership Program, which can be accessed through the organizations main web page. Posted in mid-February, this water porject can be found through a simple crossreferenced search using my name and country of service. The advantage of this is its transparancy, accessability and tax exempt status for all donations.
The latrines project is an effort to counter the problems inheirent with the existing pit latrines with are prone to flooding each rainy season when the water tables rise. Only 4 homes currently have composting latrines, which offer a number of advantages over pit latrines: perennial units (as opposed to pit latrines needing to be reconstruced every 7-10 yrs once filled), no threat of contaminant leaching into the soil or water table, and production of an extremely fertile compost soil. However, for many it is prohibitively expensive because of materials costs, often three times the price of a pit latrine. To build the remaining 26 latrines in the community, I have budgeted approximately $7000, solicited via the internet and friends and family through a 14 page project proposal. At the moment we have succeeded in collecting $4200, and are awaiting the final $2800 to start construction, preparing community members with trainings on proper use and maintenance of composting latrines in the interm.
It is for these projects, and other pipe dream projects, that I decided to extend for a third year. All the same, I have been at pains to remain motivated in light of all my friends leaving to begin the next chapter of their lives while I put my own plans on hold. I´m certain I´ll be happy with my decision in the future, but it is at the moment difficult to see in light of all that´s happening presently; and of course, thoughts of the future never seem to leave me with a moments respite...
3 comments:
Dude! So glad to hear from you!
(Are you kidding me? After checking *weekly* for more than a year and after 14 months of silence I happen to check *on the day* you do post again? what are the odds! ;-)
In response to your post:
"I can't imagine..."
is what struck me. I can't imagine the hardship of the peoples you're helping and have trouble imagining the love you have for them, willing to try and help for another year. It's sterling it's stirring, it's admirable.
On the other hand, are you crazy? Are you going to declare / apply for your El Salvadoran citizenship soon? I mean, are you ever going to come back? Visiting you in NC is difficult but I (like a typical Norte Americano perhaps) don't even have a (current) passport. I mean, I'm only an uncle, but.... ;-)
About your projects: You've got the knowledge, the willingness, have convinced some of the village to go along and all it lacks is money? Which we US-ers seem to toss away on stupid stuff (Starbucks! Imagine!) while others suffer. Suffer so much.
Is there no justice in this world?
Lots to think about. As there always is.
Do come back. Some time, at least. ;-)
(Sorry--I see now that it was on 2/26 you posted and this is 3/2. I was wrong.)
hooper's hooch, what up, dude? glad to hear you're hanging on for another year, that's inspiring and an extension of time that might allow me to actually come visit you. anyway, hermano, i'm really impressed by all the initiative you've taken, and I can imagine the impact you're having in La Joya.
(a little irony in that the Blogger word verification for this comment is "expati.")
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