Nicaragua Projects' Status - January 2008

Following is a status of projects that we are involved with:

Nuevo Amanecer Water Project
Water is flowing but an additional $4000 may be required to replace piping to the 20's and add an additional holding tank and 2 towers. Latest news is that everyone is paying their water bill albeit some are 2 to 3 months behind.

Nuevo Amanecer Water - Solar Power
We are looking into the possibility of replacing the generator with solar panels. We need to establish a schedule to test for arsenic testing.

Biointensive Gardening - Introduction
Contact has been made with Jerry Arguello of Managua who apprenticed with Ecology Action in California for 6 months. He is very interested in establishing the method both in Chacraseca and Nuevo Amanecer. Biointensive produces 4 to 6 times conventional methods and at the same time builds up the soil instead of depleting it. No plan or schedule as yet is available.

Biontensive Farm - Nuevo Amanercer
The idea would be to create a biointensive farm that would provide for 100 % of the food needs of Nuevo Amanecer and enough additional food to sell and derive an income. The author has asked to be advised if any land is for sale but a calculation needs to be done on how much land is required and what is the initial investment required. The structure of the endeavor would also need to be discussed with the villagers and agreed upon.

Solidarity Bracelets
Pete White wants to market, through SF60K, bracelets made by Nuevo Amanecer(NA) women with the twist of "buy a bracelet, feed a child". The idea was proposed to the village and was well received.

Hammock Project
The offered to NA to market their hammocks over the internet as a part time business. It was well received by the village but hammock making instructor was not able to make it to the village so another instuctor has been contacted and NA is waiting to firm up a training date to begin making hammocks.

Solar Cookers
Dick Wiltamuth has contacted a Nicaraguan group that makes solar cookers. FSF60K or SF60K plans to purchase 10 for distribution in NA or Chacraseca. Recipients have not been identified.

Solar Lighting for Casa Comunal at Nuevo Amanecer
Bob Skypala is working on specifications for solar powered lighting for the NA Casa Comunal.

Solar Kits for Houses
John O'Brian a SF60K alumni has access to a company that fabricates very inexpensive LED 2 bulb solar light kits for houses. We need to confirm price and delivery and determine if we should purchase and distribute some.

Water for Amatitan
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs is looking to expand their water project in Amatitan. Kate Shreck approached this author on any ideas that would help. We are going contact CHICA Group in Nicaragua to determine how much a study would cost to detrmine the best way to approach water for the entire "comarca" (county). This would be a project on a completely diffent scale than we are used to but it may prove to be a very effective way to create positive sustainable change.

Cooking Fuel from Corn Cobs
A professor at MIT claims to be able to use corn cobbs as cooking fuel. She specializes in low tech solutions to third world problems. Someone is needed to follow up to find out specifics. This author has contact information.

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Most of our projects center on Nuevo Amanecer as we already have a relationship with that village and we have not yet attained our goal of economic sustainability for them, but we are looking to spread our efforts to other needy villages or perhaps adopt larger scale projects like water for Amatitan. As time goes by we will realize these goals and determine if we want to concentrate on a particular type of project or if a village by village approach is what we feel most comfortable with.