AsoFenix inaugurated a micro-hydro project in the community of El Roblar. The mayor is cutting the ribbon. After the ribbon cutting a women sat down to sew using the electricity. The community provided food for all that came and had quite the party to inaugurate their hard work.
We spent time with a group in the community of Candelaria, where AsoFenix did a water project in 2004. We have done several follow up projects there (pig project, small gardens). We constructed 7 cement wash boards, so the people can use the water from the wash (gray water) to water their gardens.
We have been apart of a couple of community meetings doing base lines. More or less we are gathering information from the community before we do projects in order to have data to compare to after the project is completed and know how the project has changed their lives.
We have also been working with the AsoFenix interns doing projects. We made three improved cook stoves in the community of Potreritos and installed solar panels in individual houses in Poza de la Piedra. An improved cook stove is designed to use less wood because the heat does not escape as easily and there is also a chimney, so the smoke no longer lingers in the kitchen. The stoves are made out of a clay dirt, horse manure and sand mixture. You place the mixture into the mold and pack it down and then add more of the mixture and so on. Once it is drier you cut 4 holes to fit the size of their pots and one for the chimney. The families then need to let it sit 3 days before adding a clay sealant.
In between these projects we have also helped plan for future groups and/or interns, visited communities to help maintain relationships, and helped in planning for future projects with Jaime (our AsoFenix boss). We may not always be doing the things we know the most about, but we do enjoy our partner and the work we are doing here.
