|
Here is a run down on the projects we did in Comitancillo this
year. Many
of you contributed so thanks very much. 80 families
received 10 chickens
each including one rooster, some materials so that they could
build a hen
house and some training to be able to vaccinate the animals
against common
diseases and to teach the women how to feed the animals. These
families
were all connected to the artisan project. Isabel said
that there were
all kinds of combinations of what happened with the chickens.
Some families
bred more and used them for meat and eggs and sold the excess.
Some bred
some and then sold the eggs and meat and bought a pig. Another
benefit from
the project was that the women learned how to care for all the
chickens and
how to use the fertilizer in their gardens. Before, any
chickens they had
just wandered around and weren't taken care of. They
said the project was
highly successful.
The second project that is still being implemented is the pig
project. 10
communities each got 2 pigs. The installations of the pens
are done and this
month the training of the people and the purchase of the pigs
and feed will
happen. By Dec. the project will be complete.
The third project was the water tank. They were able to
do 46 tanks of
which we sponsored 10. This again was a learning process.
One of the
problems was that the tanks that were installed were for 7,000
liters.
Several of the families thought they would make them bigger
which caused a
problem since the design was only for 7,000 liters. This
caused leaks in
the tanks but they have now gone through and fixed them.
It is always
interesting to hear about the process and the problems that go
along with
the projects. They are always very honest about this.
The total for these projects was a little over $10,000.00
After the run down on last years projects they gave us some
proposals for
projects they would like to see implemented this year. Here
they are if
anyone has ideas of how to help.
A weaving centre for Chamaque.. This is a group that has
their looms
outside under a metal roof with no sides. I saw this
when I was there
several years ago and the looms are being ruined because of the
weather.
They use foot looms which are quite large and would not fit in
their homes.
The cost of this project is $8000.00.
A bakery in the community of San Isidro. The
money would provide for
the equipment, rent and training for the women. This
would provide and
income for 14 to 18 women. The cost of this would be about
$1500.00.
More training for the agronomist working at Ammid.
This would be a 2
day event for 20 workers. The cost is $540.00.
10 drinking water tanks. This community has
water but only from 1 to 5
AM so they need a place to store the water. For all 10 of the
water tanks it
is $540.00. This would be $54.00 each to supply a family
with drinking
water. This would be a nice alternative Christmas present
for someone.
10 more irrigation water tanks for irrigation. They
have worked out all
the kinks in this project so we would like to do 10 more.
The cost for
these are $250.00 each.
Seed bank for potatoes. They would like to build a large
room where the
best potatoes of the community can be saved in a dark room with
good
climatic conditions. The cost for the room is $670. This
would provide a
storage place for potatoes for 80 families.
Microloans for 20 people. AMMID has set up a
process for lending money
to people for small businesses, crafts, crops and forestry
projects. Each
loan will cost $67.50. Another good alternative gift.
The rest of the day was spent in meetings. We did more
planning with
Virginia and Diana. Later in the day Deborah and Julio
from Mayan Hands
came. Mayan Hands, Maya Traditions, and Sharing the Dream
are all partners
in an organization called ATUKA. Deborah is the director
of Mayan Hands
and Julio does all the accounting for Mayan Hands and ATUKA.
It was a busy day but very productive. It was good not to
be on the road.
go to Oct 25
|
