INAUGURATION OF A NEW WATER PIPELINE AND BASKETBALL COURT

On April 29 we celebrated the inauguration of two new infrastructures in our parish in the Dominican Republic: a water pipeline for the rural community called Km. 8 and a basketball court in the neighboring village Km. 7.

With the completion of these two infrastructures a project that lasted for three years reached its final goals. It has been an integral project for the development of five rural communities, carried out by the Community of Saint Paul, FUNDASEP (the development agency of the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana, DR), Manos Unidas and Nuevos Caminos (these two organizations are from Spain).

The project benefits over 2,000 people and it touches on education, health, income generating initiatives and, specially,infrastructures—such as the basketball court and two community water pipelines, one in Cañada de Piedra/Altagracia, that was already completed last year, and this one we just finished in Km. 8.

For these rural communities the endemic lack of water is over, as is the harsh task of having to carry water in five gallon cans, weighing over 40 pounds, for long distances under the scorching hotsun. Now the water reaches each and every home thanks to many people’s efforts, particularly that of the beneficiaries of this project.

The inauguration ceremony included music and songs, dancing, a blessing by the bishop, food and much joy. Thanks to all who worked in this endeavor, now the lives of many families have significantly improved.

A BIG PARTY: WATER FOR CAÑADA DE PIEDRA AND ALTAGRACIA (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)

It has been eleven years since Florinda Ramírez and Bienvenido Mancebo (who everyone affectionately calls El Ciego, “the blind man,” because of his droopy eyelids), set about to realize a dream to bring water to their communities. These villages, two little settlements called Cañada de Piedra and Altagracia, are located within the territory of La Sagrada Familia parish. Five hundred people live there. These people have never had accessible potable water for drinking, cooking and washing. Instead, while the men work in the nearby fields as day laborers, the women walk up to four miles round trip to get water from a well. In the process they must cross a main highway, with the danger of accidents and injuries, which they have suffered on multiple occasions. They carry 5 gallons buckets of water which, when full, weigh over 40 pounds.  At home, they carefully preserve the water because they know that the faster they use it, the sooner they will have to walk again under the Caribbean sun.

Today the dream has been made a reality. After years of visits to institutions and authorities, letters, commission trips and meetings, the communities have achieved their goal. A few years ago the Foundation for Development of the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana (FUNDASEP), together with Manos Unidas and Nuevos Caminos, two development agencies from Spain, and La Sagrada Familia parish in Sabana Yegua established a comprehensive development plan in which accessibility to water was an essential component. The Cañada de Piedra-Altagracia aqueduct was identified as the most pressing necessity.

It has been 18 months of hard work for brigades of volunteers building protection for the existing well, laying foundations, installing pipes, and building the elevated water tank of 50,000 gallons. 18 months of technical supervision by FUNDASEP and parish personnel and 18 months of much struggle.

Now both communities, totaling 123 families, have a sink and faucet at each home. They know the effort and money that the aqueduct has cost and have organized a system to assure its prudent operation, such as the distribution of water only every two days for limited hours. Everyone will fill all of their pitchers, pails and containers to make use of this precious resource and not let the water run uselessly. The water will change their lives and those of future generations.

We thank Florida, “El Ciego” and all of the community members for their tireless effort and faithful dedication to this beautiful project. And so today we are celebrating, with songs, dances, skits, and joy, the blessing of God who wants a dignified life for all. A great party to celebrate this wonderful achievement.

CONSTRUCTION OF THREE EARTH-DAMS IN THE ALTIPLANO OF COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA

The Community of Saint Paul has begun a new project in the Ayopaya Province in the department of Cochabamba, in Bolivia.  The project entails the construction of three earth-dams, each with a capacity of 300 cubic meters (79,251 gallons).  The water will be channeled through a distribution network ending in a sprinkler irrigation system that will cover an area of 70 hectares (173 acres) of cultivable lands.  40 families in the community of Totorani will benefit from the project.  The families are very eager and ready to work during the two months that are programmed to construct the necessary infrastructures.  Once the construction is finalized, they will be able to grow alternative products like vegetables, fruits and grains that will help to generate food stuffs and economic resources and thus lower their level of poverty, which is principally due the low productivity of their lands.