Yesterday we left Santa Lucia where we been looking at the composting latrine project and Alcance's work in new communities. We arrived at Alcance's offices in Masaya around 11 am. They gave me an update on their work on the composting latrines in La Prussia and El Tunel and their Initiatives with new communities. After lunch together, the Santa Lucia group went back. I went with Ricardo Rivera and Adriana Cruz to Comejen, one of the new communities they're working in. We met with two families to discuss their experience with the pilot project for ecostoves. These ecostoves are so … [Read more...] about Ecostoves in Comejen Nicaragua
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Belize Open Source Sustainable Development
I'll be traveling to Belize, Wednesday 5/31 and be there till mid-day 6/3/17. Since I've been in Nicaragua for the composting latrine project, makes sense to stop in on my way home. Here are photos from my last stop in December 2016, after our Engineers Without Borders assessment trip for the water supply project in El Llanito, Nicaragua. These selected ones show me with one of the improved cashews in our orchard, the caretaker's residence, and our "tiny house," where I usually stay.In the background can see our shed which covers our 40' shipping container and part of our corrals. I've also … [Read more...] about Belize Open Source Sustainable Development
Microloan programs: In El Llanito and Los Alvarez Nicaragua and worldwide via Kiva
Yesterday, while visiting composting latrines under construction in Los Alvarez, Luz Dania, from our NGO partner Alcance Nicaragua, told me about a local community microloan program. It started as pilot program in El Llanito using the eco-stoves project repayments to their own community based organization. Then they were able to get $5000 from Outreach International to expand the program. Loans are up to a maximum of $200 US, but many are much smaller. Loans are intended to address various problems and opportunities. Applicants submit requests for review by a committee. They've made 39 … [Read more...] about Microloan programs: In El Llanito and Los Alvarez Nicaragua and worldwide via Kiva
Construction progress: composting latrines in El Llanito and Los Alvares
I missed a morning flight in Houston. My Alcance Nicaragua NGO partners picked me up at the airport in Managua and we drove to Santa Lucia. Got in after 11 pm. I'm staying in the Alcance office in Santa Lucia. Today we visited homes in El Llanito and Los Alvarez to view progress on construction of composting latrines. We talked with beneficiaries and the builders. I noted their suggestions for improvement and documented changes so we can "as-build" these units and incorporate improvements in the design for future deployments. … [Read more...] about Construction progress: composting latrines in El Llanito and Los Alvares
CWC TVW meeting
Jordan Bernal reported on recent successful conference with over 80 in attendance. Connie Hanstedt updated on the High School writing contest awards set for tomorrow. Plus more. Judy Melinek, MD, and T.J. Mitchell presented program, “Working Stiff: The Real CSI.” For us writers they showed slide with biggest errors: They then read from, Working Stiff. … [Read more...] about CWC TVW meeting