Composting Toilets

In the highland communities of Chiapas, using the toilet can be a bit tricky.
First, because usually there is no toilet. Second, because many latrines are holes in the cornfield with a couple of boards for your feet. Because the latrines are so unhygienic, the chickens, dogs and cats walk through the area and bring fecal material in the house. There is no sink for handwashing, so meals prepared are also easily contaminated. Many intestinal diseases result and it is not uncommon for babies and children to die of diarrhea.

When the cooperative sent us a proposal at the beginning of 2012 requesting funding for 'dry latrines', I personally was very excited about it. 28 families, divided among 3 municipalities, would receive the innovative double chambered, high off the ground latrines. The toilets are high so as not to contaminate groundwater. Urine and fecal waste are separated for further use as fertilizer. One chamber is in use while the other composts.

These families were selected by virtue of need/urgency. Each family agreed to shoulder the cost of the exterior walls. The project includes at least two workshops which address the benefits of the latrines, construction information, and maintenance. Also included are the materials, expert construction help and maintenance checks every 6 months for 2 years to insure that proper care is being taken.

This project should have the construction of the toilets completed within a year. The cost is $8900 ($318 per toilet). An anonymous donor has given us half that amount, and the project is starting this fall. If you are interested in helping fund this worthwhile project, please contact us at mujeres@olypen.com or use the Donate button on our website.

These toilets, in harmony with the environment, may save lives and prevent illnesses. We hope that they will also be 'role models' for neighbors and inspire others to 'upgrade'.

Judith

REPORT: AUGUST 2012 CHIAPAS TRIP

Linda and I just returned home from our annual summer visit to Chiapas. This is the time where we re-connect with the women of the cooperative by attending their 3 day reunion in August  in San Cristóbal.  We also had business meetings with our coordinator, Carmen, and updated our information.

On the first day of the reunion, we awarded four new scholarships to Cristina (Zinacantán), Ceydi (Yajalón), Alicia (Las Ollas) and Angelina (Crucero.) This brings our total of girls and women on scholarship to 19 for the coming year. More news and photos of the girls can be seen on our Scholarship Recipient page.

Carmen distributing toothbrushes

We then turned over the toothbrush and toothpaste donation from Soroptimist International of Sequim and Carmen distributed it to the representatives from the various communities.

Workshop attendees

Over the three days, there were several workshops. The first, a presentation on current events, also reminded the women about the dangers and the politics of genetically modified seed, usually corn, in this area. A second workshop presented by a local woman attorney dealt with the issue of violence toward women, with an emphasis on domestic violence. She discussed the fact that many women take the blame if their husbands beat them and are afraid to report it. The women were given detailed information on what measures could be taken if they themselves were victims or if they knew of women that were.  A third workshop was given by an indigenous man who had just earned his masters degree in Community Organizing. He discussed "Administration" and how to best organize for effective results. 

A major discussion was held on the purchase of a city plot of land. After the house purchase fell through 18 months ago due to the discovery of water in the walls, the women have continued looking for an affordable building which could be used as their center, or for a lot where a building could be constructed as money allowed. Two possibilities had been identified: the first a small, but adequate sized, lot near the city center; the second a house of several rooms that could be added on to. We saw both, but we could only see the house at night. After much discussion the women concluded that the lot would be best. We were all enthused, talking about building with recycled materials, having work parties, etc.  However, after arriving home, we heard that the owner of the lot was trying to raise  the price. We will keep you posted as to what happens with this.

Antonia tries on her new glasses

Linda and I accompanied 15 girls and women to the optometrist. Three were there to update their prescriptions on glasses we had purchased for them a few years ago. 10 pairs of glasses were delivered to the girls the following day.  Linda and I noticed that there were 9 women wearing glasses during one of the workshops.  Just 7 years ago, not one cooperative member had glasses or had ever had her eyes examined.  Culturally, indigenous people didn't wear glasses. And our first glasses wearers were embarrassed to wear them.  This is indeed changing. Older women are recognizing the need to have them for close embroidery work. Younger girls need them for computer work.

The youngest member of the Saturday Children´s Program  

We went out to Zinacantán for two reasons. First we had the opportunity to look in on the highly successful Saturday Children´s Program there.  Attendance was only about 20, but we know that it drops off from the usual 35 during the school vacations.  As part of the proposal for this program this year, four additional workshops were added that would target the mothers of the participating children. We sat in on the second of these workshops, given by a social worker. It dealt with the difference between "sex" and "gender."  With some embarrassment, the women first identified the physical differences between men and women, and then took a look at the gender roles that they experienced in their Maya culture. This opened up the discussion as to why the roles were the way they were, and possible options (such as the man cooking, or caring for the children once in a while).

Another day we did the 2 1/2 hour commute to Las Margaritas, a community outside of Comitan.  There we learned that Juana, the president of that community and one of our former adult scholarship recipients, had received a national award for social leadership. More on this in our upcoming newsletter. We had the opportunity to meet with three current scholarship girls and they updated us on how they were doing, etc.

It was an extremely busy visit, and Linda and I enjoyed our ever deepening relationship with the women of the cooperative. We shared many laughs and hugs. 

Be on the lookout for our annual newsletter coming up in October.  Also, save the date November 3, for our 7th annual Día de Muertos dinner and auction at Sequim Prairie Grange. 

Without all of YOU, Mujeres wouldn´t be the success that it is. Thank you.

Judith