Rainwater Catchment System

What is the best way to get potable water in the jungle.....let it fall from the sky.

In the tropics there are only 2 seasons - rainy and dry.  In Panamá, there are 9 months of rainy season (April - December) and 3 months of dry season (January - March).  According to ETESA, the Darién has an annual rainfall of 190.1mm (this seems low to me, however!).  With an adequate zinc roof, a good size tank, and a small amount of PVC, rainwater could provide potable water needs for people in my community.

People do already utilize rainwater, just not in the best way.  All the houses keep their tanks on the ground outside their house (sometimes without a cover - making a convenient bath tank for roosters), and cross contaminate their rainwater by scooping out of tank.  Women still have to spend time carrying water in an out of the house (even though it is closer than the river).  Taking a look at their household practices, I saw room for improvement.

Tank on elevated platform connected to a zinc sheet

I built an example system for myself that would deliver piped rain water connected to a faucet in my kitchen.  The materials required are many that they already have, or can easily buy.  The system needs, at least 1 zinc sheet, a tank, various PVC accessories, and wood.  Along with some friends in the community, they helped me build an elevated platform for the tank.  Since I have a penca, or thatched roof, I built fixed a zinc sheet on the platform.  I connected the PVC between the zinc and the tank to collect the rainwater, and then connected the tank to a faucet in my house.  The system provides me with...RUNNING POTABLE WATER!

Liquid Gold.

Piping up the shower with Mele

My rain water pluma!

My rain water bath!

Continuing this Blog!

Dear Distinguished Reader:

I know that you have not received an update on this blog since May 2012.  It is now October 2012 and I have no excuse for being tardy, and I apologize.

I have retro-actively gone back and written everything that has happened in my site since May through my Close of Service in October.  

I hope that you will enjoy reading the continuation and end of my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Thank you!

Moiz Kapadia

Sinai Composting Latrines

A former Peace Corps Volunteer has boldy returned to the Darién to work as a missionary with a church in Yaviza.  He is passionate about EH work and has the funds to execute some projects.  Alan approached me about building some composting latrines throughout the Comarca Emberá-Wounaan.  Similar to what I want to do, he is promoting starting with pilot latrines.

He asked me to go to the community of Sinai, a Wounaan community, which is about 3.5 hours up river from Alto Playón.  I had been to Sinai with IOM and given talks about composting latrines, and I told Alan I would be happy to go.  He mentioned that he also had the funds to pay a ‘tecnico,’ someone to lead the build.  I mentioned that my Health Committee President Atilio is a great construction worker, and passionate about composting latrines.  Alan and I both saw the value of someone from the Comarca going to a neighboring community and leading the build.  Atilio was hired for $20/day.

As we were waiting for transport at the port, Atilio was chatting with some people who were asking him where he was going.  He told them he was going to Sinai to build composting latrines, and they were intrigued.  Within a second Atilio starts explaining to fellow Emberá folks in his language, what composting latrines are, how to maintain them, and why they are important to one’s health and lifestyle.  It was great because he started speaking with 2 people, and as he got more passionate and showing them pictures, he suddenly had 10 people crowded around him.  I had to sit back and revel in the moment, and even pat myself on the back.

The build went great.  The community members were motivated to work.  I do believe more capacity building is needed however.  Some of the beneficiaries weren’t sure how to use the latrines.  Atilio was able to explain to them how to maintain the latrine, and the composting process.

Wounaan culture is very similar to Emberá culture, however the language is very different.  One thing you can be sure to find in the Comarca Emberá-Wounaan however, is fun loving humble people.  We were fed delicious food and shared many laughs.  The community sits on sandy soil which is perfect for growing avacado and we had our fair share.  Not to mention that further in the Comarca, the jungle gets prettier and the river water becomes crystal clear.  

On the way down river, I saw the most howler monkeys I had ever seen.

Project Number 11-931

Our Health Committee and I solicited 2 government agencies for our Composting Latrine project.  With my President Atilio Guainora, we went into the regional offices of PAN (Social Funds Program) and MINSA (Ministry of Health) in Metetí.  It was great because Atilio and I went to the office together to present the project, and he was excited to be presenting. 

The people at the regional offices know me because early on in service I went and introduced myself.  I also gave them a copy of my Community Environmental Health Development Plan, merging my Community Analysis and a plan for my 2 years of service.

The idea of the Composting Latrine project stuck well with the PAN regional Sub-Director.  She was at first taken aback by the fact we only wanted to start with 4 latrines, and quipped:  “What about the rest of the community?”  We explained to her that composting latrines are a bit more complicated to build, use, and maintain than your average pit latrine.  I also told her that the best way to change sanitation behavior in the community wouldn’t be by soliciting 50 latrines, but by starting small.  She seemed to understand, and was also very receptive to Atilio, appreciating that he was invested in the idea.  The Sub-Director leveled with us and said that the regional offices don’t have any say in which projects get approved.  All projects have to be approved by the Executive Director in Panamá City – a reality of the centralized power in Panamá.  She told us that in order to speed this up we should go to 3 local hardware stores, get the cost of the materials, and take it to Panamá City.

The PAN National Office is in Casco Viejo in an old colonial building, and it was neat to be inside.  Needless to say, trying to get an appointment with the Executive Director was impossible.  After haranguing the secretaries at the office I was able to speak with a higher up in the Finance office.  Recognizing the value of starting with pilot latrines, he passed it onto the Executive Director and eventually to the engineers.  After constant phone calls and 1 more office visit, the engineers told me that they approved the project, and it had been passed back down to the regional office in Metetí.  Alto Playón’s Pilot Composting Latrine Project number is 11-931.

PAN Darién Director Miguel Marin & Health Committee

I set up a meeting with the technical assistant in the office to come to Alto Playón and meet with the Health Committee and take a look at the composting latrine we built with OIM.  She came with the new Director of the Darién – the old Director was fired because he wouldn’t switch to the current political party.  Atilio explained to them how the latrine works, and they were unaware of the model we have.  Composting latrines have been done wrong in other parts of the Darién, leaving the people and government with a bad impression.

Peace Corps was facilitating a meeting between the community and the government.  All parties were excited about the fact that this would be the beginning of a long-term investment on the part of the community and of PAN.  If the community could show that the latrines work well, they could solicit another round of latrines with PAN.  Slowly but surely, other community members would catch on and the Health Committee can continue to manage the project in the same way.  Furthermore,  Proving that these latrines work to PAN also proves to them that Composting Latrines are a viable sanitation option available to them in other communities in the Comarca Emberá-Wounaan and the Darién.  Peace Corps would continue to provide the technical assistance and community organization that is needed. 

We are still a long way from seeing appropriate latrine usage in Alto Playón.  PAN could flake, as if they have known to do in the past.  Projects and agency Directors change in Panamá as quickly as a thunderstorm crashes over your head in the rainy season.  I ask myself, “It’s only four latrines, why don’t you just get the funding yourself?”  After starting the Health Committee, I could have done this 4 months ago.  But I then also ask, “Shouldn’t the Panamanian government be providing basic services to its people?”  If I wanted to do a project in the United States, would I ask an NGO in Panamá to fund it for me?  Not to say that international aid is wrong at all, I believe that the Peace Corps model is ideal for making a longer lasting change.  A change that I might not see in my service, but maybe Atilio’s grandkids will see.

Kids

I love the kids in my community.  They are fun, respectful, and best of all...amazed by everything I do!  

My kids have been a huge factor in my understanding of Emberá culture and the development issues of Alto Playón.  Early on, the best way to become friendly with the parents was through their kids.  However, I found that playing and getting to know the kids helps me understand their parents, just as much as talking to them.  

For example, I go fishing with the kids.  They are great fishers and spear fishers!  It's in their genes and they learn from their parents. When they grow up they are masters at fishing, hunting, and farming because of everything that they have learned in their youth.

Similarly, growing up as a farmer in a rural community in the Comarca leaves you with a different interpretation of society.  I grew up in a different system than these kids, one with roads, stores, schools, public health, law enforcement. For all these reasons, I can understand concepts like organization and groups, more so than the kids can when they grow up.  

Furthermore, water and sanitation behavior is also intrenched from the start.  Changing a lifestyle is a huge responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly.  At no point would I want to come into my community and tell my community members what their needs are.  It's my responsibility, and more sustainable, to make sure that this is something they want and then proceed.  That's why Community Integration and Health Promotion have been the cornerstone of my service.

The challenge of the Peace Corps' Capacity Building approach is working with a way of life that has existed for a long time since before you got there. Spending time with the kids in my community has helped to give me an idea of life in the community. It allows me to ask questions about what the implications for the future about the change I'm trying to make. Understanding the kids is the best way to make development work in the community...and have fun at the same time.

Fishing

In the summer the river is very dry and makes it ideal for fishing and spear fishing.  It has become one of my favorite activities and has made this summer tons of fun.  If you are going to fish you usually leave during the mid morning, armed with your roll of fishing line, hook, and sinker.  The Chucunaque River is huge and has a ton of fish.  Almost every time you go out, you are guaranteed to catch something. 

For bait, you can dig out worms, net small sardines from the river, or look for river shrimp on the banks.  The river shrimp dig holes into the bank and you can use a spear to pull them out, or if you are a badass like Atilio, you use your hands.  I love the simplicity of using nothing but a hook, line, sinker, and fresh bait.  No fiberglass rod, rubber worms, or fancy metallic hooks.

One day I went down river with my friend Chicheme (nick-name which means corn drink) and his two sons.  As we floated down river, we would stop and fish.  He pulled out tons of river shrimp that we used for bait.  I am so amazed by how well they can do it; every time he went down he came back with one. I tried and caught nothing!  After a long day of fishing we found a place to camp on the riverbank.  We salted cooked the fish over an open fire and it was absolutely delicious!  No doubt, the act of fishing and working for the meal, made it that much more savory and satisfying. 

Another day, a group of about 15 of us went up river to spear fish.  The water is much clearer up river and makes it ideal for spear fishing.  However it also gets drier as you go further up, and at points we had to get out and push the boat.  It was so cool to see all the guys jump out with their spears and face masks, dive down for 1.5 minutes, and come back up with a fish.  Of course, even the 9 year olds come back up with fish.  They were specifically looking for a fish called Savalo, which could also be caught with a net.  As they caught the fish, the women cooked, and I was again treated to a delicious meal of fish and boiled plantain.  The day started at 8:30AM and we got back at 7:30PM.

These two trips made me think a lot about how humans learn to survive in their environment and the importance of its preservation.  The Emberá and other rural communities in Panamá (and across the world) live so close to the environment, and that relationship becomes clearer as you are sitting on the riverbank watching them dive.  Coming from a world where I bought all my food, I would live a harsh subsistence lifestyle until I reorient my relationship with food.  It’s so unfortunate to see Plastics and Styrofoam floating down the river.  It is so important that we educate and create infrastructure to allow ourselves to keep living off the land.

Composting Latrine with IOM

In January, myself, Health Committee President Atilio, and his brother Javier built a Composting Latrine through funds from a project with the International Organization for Migration.  The IOM is a UN Organization that has a 2-year project in the Comarca Emberá-Wounaan, Cemaco funded 100% by USAID.  The latrine was built as part of the Casa de Congreso Local, an office/meeting space.  Originally the IOM was going to build a Pit Latrine, but after my Health Promotion seminars the Dirigente (community leader) asked for a Composting Latrine.

At first, I wasn’t thrilled about the way the latrine was being introduced to the community.  In reality, this latrine won’t be used by any of the community members.  It is meant to be used by visitors when they come to the community.  The community and IOM were fine with this, but the idea bothered me.  Should we be prioritizing the sanitation needs of visitors to the community, or those who live there?

I stopped pressing for the latrine to go to a household, because that was simply not going to happen.  I realized that this could be turned into a useful step in terms of the community’s sanitation practice:

• The Dirigente asked IOM for a Composting Latrine, and would be able to do that with other organizations in the future.
•  I can train Atilio on how to build the latrine, who as Health Committee President can then train others.
•  People can see how the latrine is built, used, and maintained – even if only from observation

Atilio worked construction in Panamá City for 10 years, and is a very skilled worker.  Once I gave him the idea of what we wanted to build, he built it.  I only had to guide him on the basic design.  It was a lot of fun building together, and I learned a lot from him.  It also showed the community what they could do with the Peace Corps, if we work together.

Peace Corps Visit Alto Playón

In mid-December I had 3 office staff visit Alto Playón:  Heather Zissler, the Programming and Training Specialist (PTS) of the Inter-America & Pacific region from Washington D.C., Kristen Kaper, the new Panamá PTS, and Antonella Finis our EH Program Specialist.  I was happy to host them and share with them my experience living and working in the Comarca Emberá-Wounaan.

The day started off a bit late with the group getting a flat tire coming into my community, but what else is new?  I asked my good friend Fernando to pick them up at the port and they had the pleasure of a nice boat ride down the Chucunaque River.  We got to my house and settled in, exchanging stories about our experiences.  Heather volunteered in Paraguay working as an agriculture extensionist.  She enjoyed her experience very much, learned to speak Guaraní, and seemed to have taken in Paraguay as most PCVs take in their host countries.

Heather was on a work visit to Panamá and scheduled a day to come out to the field.  Kristen is new to the office and wants to get a feel for Volunteer’s lifestyles and experiences.  It’s never hard for a PCV to sit down and talk to someone about their work, since you are living it and thinking about it on a daily basis.  I took them through the struggles and triumphs of organizing a Health Committee and getting our Composting Latrine project off the ground.  One of my main points I wanted to convey to Heather & Kristen was the importance of Peace Corps establishing further relationships with Host Country Partners.  We do such great work, that we should be able to sell it back to Government Agencies to cooperate with us more.  They were appreciative of the idea, but noting that it is a huge task.

I told all the women from the community that I would be having visitors interested in buying their artisan work.  Of course they were all excited that gringos were coming to visit $ $ $.  We held a small community meeting where they displayed their work, where Heather and Kristen were able to pick up some goods.  We also exchanged some words thanking the community to work with Peace Corps, and the community was also thankful for us being there.

We all had a great time.  I was appreciative that office staff, especially from Washington D.C., were taking the time to visit Volunteers.  I know they wish they had more time for field visits.  It was also fun to share experiences with an RPCV. Even though she served in another time and country, there is an understanding between PCVs about their service that allows you to appreciate where they are coming from.  I look forward to meeting more RPCVs in the future, and constantly putting my service into perspective.