For Christmas 2010 For One Another Foundation teamed up with Globalize This to bring a water filtration system to a village of 300 people in the desert of Northern Mexico.
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| Driving through the desert loaded with buckets, filters and luggage. |
The mission was to implement the system, teach proper maintenance, and perform about 75 tests to see the bacteria count before and after filtration.
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| The road to Estanque De Leon is long, bumpy and dusty. We slept out in the desert the first night, Christmas eve. |
The village of Estanque De Leon is a day’s drive from the bustling northern Mexican city of Monterrey and about two hours off the paved road down some winding dirt tracks through a never-ending desert. Just when one would think that, besides the occasional roadrunner, rabbit or coyote, no signs of life would ever be seen again, the quiet little dusty town appears. The people are warm, friendly and very close. They live simple and without much of what we consider necessities such as electricity, decent transportation and running water. Amazingly, they seem happy and do not complain.
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| Cruz, a long time Candelilla worker, lives with his wife and two sons in Estanque De Leon. Photo credit: Jeremy Bell |
The men collect a wax from a Candelilla shrub native to the desert of northern Mexico. The wax is boiled off and sold per liter to a local company that comes and picks it up to bring it to the city. The women make food for the family, take care the simple one or two room houses and of the children who usually attend a very small centrally located school, but happened to be on Christmas break for the week we were there. If they want, the boys can start working with their fathers in the Canelilla plants at about 12 years old.
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| A few men collect water from the reservoir, their only water source. Photo credit: Jeremy Bell |
The water for the village comes from reservoirs of runoff water from the surrounding hills. It collects in the rainy season and slowly evaporates. It gets used by the villagers and drank by the animals, condensing until its dark brown and very contaminated with parasites and bacteria. Although an obvious health hazard even to them, it is their only option for everything need, including drinking water.
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| This is Enrique. He was very helpful. |
With the help of Enrique, a seven year old self-proclaimed guide, we managed to call a town-wide meeting by going door to door. This kid would shout “Buenos dIIIIAAAASSss!!!!” at the top of his healthy lungs. I felt that his good morning screeches really meant to open the front door and pronto. I don’t think any of the villagers would have disagreed with me. He was a machine and he took his job of informing everyone that we were there seriously.
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| Jamie of Globalize This and Stephanie of For One Another Foundation explain the filters to the women of Estanque De Leon on 12/26/10. Photo credit: Jeremy Bell |
At the meeting we explained the use, assembly, maintenance and cleaning process of the Sawyer filter systems to the women of the town. They were skeptical at first but after some demonstrations with before and after water bottles and a few whispers between friends most of them were convinced to try something new. We watched them all walk of to their homes, a bit more hopeful, filters in hand.
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| Jaime tests the filtered water as we walk door to door through the town. |
We spent the next few days testing the water. We went door to door again through powdery ankle deep dust, asking to see the filters. Most of the filters were set up, some of them we helped to assemble. We asked questions about the use of the filters while using syringes and test strips to take samples to check bacteria count later. One woman told us “We just can’t imagine what would drive you to think of us, to come all the way out here out of a preoccupation for our health. We don't know how we could ever pay you back. We don't have a way. God bless all of you, wherever you may go.”
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| Some of the women with their new filters, ready to go try them out at home! Photo credit: Jeremy Bell |
What a wonderful way to spend Christmas. It was a fresh perspective on the Holidays for me, and a much needed blessing for our friends in Estanque De Leon!
Everyone should spend Christmas doing something like this. We all need that "fresh perspective!"
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!!! And beautiful. Keep on with the good projects
ReplyDeleteThat has been accomplished
That is amazing. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete