Honduran Education Project

Filters - Up and Running

2012-01-23T14:03:00.000-08:00

The water filters are nearing completion. Two were given a test drive this afternoon and are working fairly well. It will take a few days for the last of the small particles to settle and things to get functioning. Then it will take a couple of weeks for the population of good bacterial levels to get started growing.

Since talking to you last.

a. The championship happened. A small village team beat the city team so great celebration. The lights were dimmed before the game for an encouraging display of fireworks. The switch to do the dimming was a young man on a tall ladder with insulated gloves who just disconnected the power. Then, after the fireworks were done, he reconnected everything and all was well.

b. Carlin made the return trip without incident. Now she is an old hand at public transport. This week she will prepare English lessons for presenting to students next week. Lots of activities with friends have made the evenings fly by. A trip to the ocean on Sunday gave the 'winter-white' Albertan some super glow.

c. We met with people in the Education office in San Pedro Sula on Friday. Things are much more positive after that meeting and tomorrow we have a meeting to get the needed paperwork to form a separate school which will be under the local Principal rather than an office in Tegucigulpa. It means less paperwork for us, an opportunity to enhance our program even more and a better certificate for our students. As always, I am very cautiously optimistic. Two weeks will tell.

Inside of the filters - More photos later this week

Tela Beach Bums - 2 Latinas and 1 Wannabe

d. Manuel has been using the 'hay basket' technology faithfully in his home. It has made a noticeable difference in gas consumption. A tank which usually lasted for four weeks has lasted for more than six. That is exciting.

e. Still more students coming in to register. A couple of church and community centres are getting organized to start as well so that is encouraging.

f. It is so nice to be on the receiving end of seeds and seedlings. A friend of Manuel's has been bringing different seeds and plants. Last week he brought in the leaves of one plant (a shrub from the Chaya family) and made a wonderful drink. It did not last very long in the office. We have one of the plants now growing in the school grounds. It is only about 15 cm tall right now but is putting out new leaves so that is a good sign. Today he brought two tiny, tiny hot pepper seedlings (my house help's daughters thought the seeds I was drying looked too much like garbage and so threw them out - gnash) and another new plant. He went away with Malabar spinach and mint. So - we both won. We shall see how the seedlings take root in their seed bags.

On a visit to the orphanage, we got some branches of a curry leaf tree. Carlin and I planted the cuttings in bags and, two weeks later, we have over twelve which are pushing out buds. Will see if a few more of the smaller cuttings follow suit.

Thanks for following along.

TTYL

Following "Santa"

2012-01-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

This morning I feel a little like it is Christmas Eve again. When my children were little, we used to track Santa on the radar and internet. Today I am tracking Carlin as she heads to visit an orphanage on the other side of El Progresso.

The trip is only about sixty kilometres but it involves four different buses. We went over the trip carefully and, thanks to cell phone technology, she can phone at each stage. As I write, the third stage is underway. So far, the connections have been quick and straight forward. The next one is the tricky one.

Beginning stages of the tournament - Uniforms optional

A home and party hall made from scrap metal and buses - The truly eccentric welder at work.

Fortunately, people in the transport industry are generally just as interested in getting you there as you are. And, it is in their best interests to keep travellers safe as well. Because each bus or rapidito has a very specific route, the conductor, driver and regular passengers get to know each other. Happily, there is almost always someone who is able to give assistance in one way or another - especially when you ask for help ahead of time.

The last two weeks has seen a steady stream of new students coming in to register. That is encouraging. Yesterday, a vice-principal from a primary school came in to see if we would be able to use the computers in his school for some of the children who have graduated and need to continue studying. Of course we were delighted with the opportunity. It is so good to see community leaders taking initiative.

January brings with it the usual 'almost-back-to-work-from-December-holidays' scenarios in Government offices. So, we begin the process of getting our names back on 'new' agendas and arranging meetings to renew the different projects we had in the works in early December. Manuel is busy each day writing and phoning people to arrange meetings. Chepe has visited a number of offices in Tegucigulpa and will revisit them again this week to move things along. There is a constant struggle to be persistent but not rude - to be knocking without disturbing unduly.

Pulhanpanzak Water Falls - say it three times after a spoonful of peanut butter

The street in front of my house.

The local Catholic school built a new cement court in their playground. To inaugurate the court, the priest organized an area wide soccer tournament. Teams from every parish around are competing for a cash prize. The tournament is stretching out over a number of weeks but is providing some lovely evening entertainment. The teams play with a small ball and with five a side. The action is lightning fast on the small court and the intensity level is often rather high (don't you love polite euphemisms?).

Tonight may actually be the final. The final was supposed to be two Fridays ago so ... who knows. Will have to phone later to find out if it is still on. Fortunately, I have a soup already cooked so supper won't take long to prepare.

Yeni, one of our staff, just had a baby. Her maternity leave is over and she is back to work. As with so many young women in Honduras, her case is becoming very typical. Once she was pregnant, the young man began looking elsewhere. So, she is left with a baby and no partner. There are, of course, many more twists to the tale and we do our best to be supportive. It is so difficult to have to watch from the sidelines so to speak.

I won't close this until "Santa arrives". On the bus for the last stage. So ... to get off at the right spot is the last hurdle. Phew - last phone call - adventure is over. Will hear the play by play on Thursday.

As I mentioned last time, having a visitor allows me to see Honduras through their 'lens'. So, a few more photos from Carlin's camera (she is graciously allowing me to get a copy of all her shots - I am hopeless with a camera).

TTYL

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Carlin, a young High School graduate, arrived for a six week visit. She is going to help out with a variety of things and, hopefully, learn some Spanish and enjoy a little of Honduras as well.

Nativity Scene - many homes set up these elaborate villages with a nativity scene.

Putting the final firecrackers inside the head.

Final good by to 2011

Our New Year’s Eve was spent with friends and their extended family. During the day, Carlin and I had bought a bag of firecrackers to bring in the New Year. Of course, they are illegal ... supposedly but are available on every corner and along the highway. For a neophyte to firecrackers, Carlin caught on quickly and by midnight was throwing out firecrackers with gusto.

The family we were visiting had made a stuffed figure to represent the old year. With the help of our additional fireworks, this figure was well stuffed with explosives before midnight came. Then, at midnight, the poor scarecrow man was set afire and amid many bangs, the old was forgotten and the new welcomed.

Each time a new person comes to visit, I get to see familiar surroundings with a new set of eyes. That is always refreshing.

CPI begins the year with hopes for an expanded student body and for many other communities to be involved. Representatives from two new communities have contacted me in the last two days. So, there is hope in that area.

Hike in a nearby rain forest on New Year's Day

Google translate - it is still funny - sign in a restaurant (not sure what you do in restaurants)

Soy cheese - a trial run - will see what people think of the idea

I would like to thank all of you who have followed along with our program in the past two years. It has been rewarding in many ways. The challenges are, as they are for everyone, often daunting.

Happy New Year to all of you.

TTYL

Wow – Finally Time To Talk

2011-12-26T07:49:00.000-08:00

The graduation held on the thirteenth went well. A few minor glitches but ... that is to be expected. The final number of students finishing a grade was 91. Over 200 grade levels have been completed since we started two years ago.

Grade 8's


Grade 9

What is exciting is to see the interest among parents and communities growing. There were many family members at the ceremony to demonstrate the pride and sense of accomplishment they felt at seeing their children have this opportunity.

The same week, we had Fernando Cienfuegos, a video photographer, spend a few days interviewing and filming our various projects. Since he hails from Mexico originally, he was able to carry on his work without a great deal of help. I was the designated driver and Santiago the equipment man. We are looking forward to seeing the footage and will let you know where to view it when it becomes available.

Las Delicias Students

At the end of the week, I set out by bus to Costa Rica. The government policy of having expatriates leave every 90 days is tedious at best. Our efforts to get a residency permit have been moving at a snail’s pace so that adds to the frustration.

Two fifteen hour days on the bus and I was in Costa Rica. I stayed with a couple I knew from years back and it was wonderful catching up on their lives.

Highlights of the trip. At the Honduran – Nicaraguan border we watched a string of men on horseback carrying bulging bags of high value goods clatter by. Obviously, they were smuggling the goods but the enforcement agencies weren’t all that concerned. The difficulties for truckers was also brought home as I happened to look inside one of the offices that was being renovated and saw huge piles of documents stuffed into gunny sacks. Obviously the paperwork is of little value and simply consumes time and energy.

At the Nicaraguan – Costa Rican border the Christmas travel rush became apparent. There were never less than fourteen big passenger buses in the parking area. Needless to say we spent well over an hour at each border.

The bus company made sure that the air conditioning worked on the bus. I spent the second day in toque and jacket to try and keep warm enough. Other passengers had heard about the temperature before hand and came equipped with blankets and sleeping bags. Lesson – travel with a friend.

I flew back to Honduras. That trip was less eventful but still interesting. At first the clerk was hesitant to give me a boarding pass because I did not have an ongoing ticket out of Honduras. As I went through security check, I realized I had my leatherman on my belt. So ... back to the check in desk I went. Fortunately, I had not checked in my sparse luggage so was able to check that in and return to security. After a twenty minute delay, we taxied out to the end of the runway. Then, after the engines had revved up and down, the pilot came on to say we were returning to get more fuel – one might have thought that checking the fuel gauge might be on the list of “To Check” before starting – it isn’t like you can park by the side of the road and walk to the nearest gas station.

Yeni's new baby - Yeni was okay with seeing the 'football' hold

The decorations - who says it isn't a big deal?

Christmas Eve I went in to San Pedro Sula to the Cathedral for mass. The trip home was accompanied by fireworks and firecrackers going off in every village that I passed. Today, they are still sounding all around – they did wait until 7.00 a.m. today so that was nice.

Thank you to all who have travelled along with me this year. I trust that the coming year will be one of interest and opportunity for you.

TTYL

Manuel Tries the Cooking Box

2011-12-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

Just an update from yesterday. Manuel took one of the boxes we made home last night and tried with spaghetti and vegetables. The pot was too big for the box so the top part of the cooker was replaced with towels. Still, it worked wonderfully. It saved over 50% of the cooking with fuel time. When you buy gas to cook with, that is significant.

Wrapped Up and Cooking

Graciella, Manuel's Wife

Cooked

Testing - Gabriella

Yesterday afternoon, I packed up my laptop and the bucket and found a seamstress to sew me some pillows and packing rings for the bucket cooker. Between pictures on my computer and my fumbling Spanish the point was made. One of the amazing things about this concept is that, so far, everyone who sees it grasps the idea and, even better, begins to verbalize how they can use it, expand upon it and so forth. I have had very few ideas where the value of the project was so quickly grasped. Let us see if it continues.

TTYL

More Projects

2011-12-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

This morning a number of students went to fill small bags with soil for planting trees. They filled over 1100 bags so that will be a significant contribution to planting trees somewhere. If even 20% of the trees grow it is a well spent day.

Three other boys stayed to plant Arachis pintoi and to help make two box cookers. We used styrofoam, cardboard, tinfoil and some plastic to make panels that would line two plastic boxes. These boxes will allow someone to cook two or three different pots at one time. Manuel is going to take one home tonight to give it a trial. I will try the smaller one at my house.

That is today's projects.

TTYL

Student Project Time - Again

2011-11-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

As students finish their course work, it is time for them to do a small community project. This week is a bustle of activity as each student is assigned a task. With over seventy students finishing a grade, that is a lot of bustle. Fortunately, many of them are studying in other communities so that relieves some of the happy confusion.

Today we have about twenty primary students reading stories for the first time in their lives. As you can see from the pictures, these little children dressed up to come to the school. Tooooo cute. Right now, they are busy taking turns reading aloud. Each computer has three to four students sharing a story. What is neat about this digital library, is that each computer can be 'tuned' to the same page and the same story so that larger groups can participate. The size of the font is adjusted so that all those who need glasses can read without problems. There is not a lot of running around - everyone is glued to the stories.

Dressed Up To Read A Story

Reading A Story - First Time

Drawing A Picture Of The Story

Other projects include, as always, planting more trees, grasses and ground cover. A group of four boys harvested a bag of Arachis pintoi for ground cover. They got very enthusiastic and the bag was about the size of Santa's. We needed about 200 plants - we got 2,000 ... or more. Fortunately, I have places for all of them and by this evening, they should all be taking root somewhere. In June we planted some Vetiver grass. As we separated slips from the clumps we tossed some 'dead' roots and pieces aside. A month later, Santiago and I noticed these 'garbage' pieces were actually sprouting. We planted them and, yesterday, we harvested eighty more slips to plant.

Santa's Sack of Arachis on the Left

The last three days, three girls have been learning about hay basket (retained heat) cooking. I have wanted to try this for some time but thought I needed more things to do the insulating with. Finally I just used a pile of polypropylene gunny sacks we had and a plastic bucket. Our first try was rice. We boiled it for one minute and then popped it in the bucket surrounded by sacks. One hour later we opened it up and, presto, the rice was cooked perfectly. Yesterday we tried two things: rice with vegetables and pork stew. The rice with vegetables only took an hour and was, again, perfect. The pork stew was boiled for fifteen minutes and then covered with towels and blankets for five hours. Perfect. We all enjoyed trying out the food. The next project is to make one or two 'hay basket' cookers that are a bit more permanent. (If you want information about hay baskets, send me an email and I will send you what I have.)

Rice and Vegetables

Pork Stew and Rice and Vegetables

Three other girls are working on a sprouting experiment. We are trying to sprout maize and three kinds of beans. We will then cook the sprouts and see what the results are. The cooler weather is not helping the sprouting process but it is not causing them to spoil either.

Yesterday I went to Ada's house to help her and Eduardo, her brother, begin laying out their yard for planting. We set up a water level and made some contour lines. They have a lot of work now to dig the lines and plant the several hundred plants that I took them. I do so hope that the plants grow. Ada has already planted some of the seeds I took her a week ago and they are sprouting so that is encouraging.

It is cold this week - down to 16' C at night. Most people are bundled up (including me). I stopped at the hot springs in Santa Rita last night to enjoy being toasty warm and to watch the steam rising into the night air.

Will stop for now, put in some pictures and post this.

Ada Recording the Different Plant Species

Making Sprouting Containers

TTYL