Yesterday I received an order of 200 water filters from Rotary International! These filters will be distributed through ANADESA to needy families in the community. We'll be keeping busy with seminars on use and care of the filters, and following up after several weeks, and again after several months. The hospital, and local public clinic will also be referring people to ANADESA to receive the filters. We've been using a filter here at the house for about 3 months now and it's all I drink so I can tell the people that I know it's safe. ANADESA will also be able to sell the replacement filters after 1 year, and can accept beadwork or cloth (which they then sell) as payment. I was told that the Rotary had not heard of an organization that accepted 'in kind' payments and they were anxious to see how it works.
2 comments:
I’ve been in the loop on the Guatemala water filter project. I have been doing Rotarian water projects in Nicaragua and Kenya these last 7 – 8 years. I abandoned Nicaragua because I don’t speak Spanish. It was just too difficult as you can imagine. While in Nicaragua I met Ron Rivera of Potters for Peace. http://www.pottersforpeace.org/ . This organization teaches locals how to manufacture their own water treatment devices. More can be learned by visiting their site. Ron Rivera called these devices “weapons of biological mass destruction”.
You may want to consider this effective device when the filters recently installed need replacing. I doubt if the villagers will be able to come up with replacement funds. Has there been any hygiene and sanitation training?
Thanks for the Potters link! The replacement filters will be available for purchase, or the cost can be 'worked off' through making beadwork, or weaving. Before receiving the filters each family will go through a class on use, care, and general hygiene and sanitation. Thanks for your input!
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