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Articles:
Introduction
Continuing Education for Mayan Health Workers in 2001
Press Release: Lakota Indians Defing DEA
Kids to the Country
From Sept. 29 through Oct. 7, Ed Eaton, Project Coordinator for Solar Energy International (SEI), and Thomas Heikkala, longtime Plenty volunteer and alternative energy systems trainee, were in the Toledo District of southern Belize investigating potential alternative energy projects. SEI is a non profit educational organization focusing on renewable energy education and sustainable development. Its mission is to help others use renewable energy resources and environmental building technologies through education and technical assistance.
In his report Ed writes, "Thomas and I covered an extensive amount of territory and interviewed a number of people during our weeklong stay. I feel extremely well informed on the region and its diverse economical, social and political issues. Mainly in part to the valuable help from Doug Stevenson and Deborah Flowers of Plenty. It was from many hours of conversation that we shared while staying in their apartment in Punta Gorda. The four of us went over time and time and again the social implications of these types of projects. It was a wonderful exercise and has contributed to my decision of what projects are viable at this time. Part of my own reasoning for working with Plenty is the fact that Plenty has been “on the ground” in Belize for some time now and understands the local people and their needs."
Ed Eaton (left) of SEI with Pablo Cal (right) and son and neighboring farmer measuring height from spring on Pablo's farm.
(Photo by Thomas Heikkala)
"SEI has learned many lessons regarding these social issues as well. Between the two organizations I know that a strong project can be developed and implemented"
Ed and Thomas visited and interviewed members of the Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA), the Toledo Cacao Growers Association (TCGA), and a teacher at the elementary school in Aguacate Village.
The TEA is a Maya/Garifuna-run organization that maintains 10 guesthouses in 9 Maya and 1 Garifuna village. The TEA operates a rotation system sharing visitors among the villages in turn, and donating some of their proceeds toward health, education, or environmental projects in the villages. Besides the guesthouses, the TEA offers guided tours through the rainforest, exploring rivers, caves, ancient archeological sites, and other local wonders. Plenty has been providing financial and technical assistance to the TEA since 1990 when the organization began with four villages. TEA members talked with Ed and Thomas about the need for solar-powered lighting to upgrade the guesthouses (now lit with kerosene lamps), but other members cautioned that it might create envy in the village if the guesthouses had too many amenities unavailable to the rest of the village. A compromise was suggested to install solar lighting in the “multi-purpose building” adjacent to each guesthouse. The multipurpose buildings can be used by the whole community for meetings at night, and they might set up libraries in these as well that would be open for anyone. TEA members are continuing to discuss various options.
They also met with members of the Toledo Cacao Growers Association (TCGA) which has as members 159 farmers growing organic cacao in the Toledo District. The cacao is exported to the UK where it is used to make chocolate bars (“Maya Gold”). First they met with Chris Nesbit and Cresencio Cho at the TCGA office in Punta Gorda. Chris is an old friend of Plenty Belize who has a small farm near the Mayan village of San Pedro Columbia where he grows cacao and has a photovoltaic system that was featured in an issue of Home Power magazine last year. Chris is the liaison for TCGA with Green and Black, the UK company that buys the cacao. Cresencio is the Administrative Officer. Cresencio told them that none of the TCGA members has electricity for their farms or homes. One idea discussed was to set up a loan fund whereby a farmer could install a photovoltaic system for home lighting and water pumping and pay it off with small monthly payments.
They also met with TCGA members like Pablo Cal. Pablo lives in Toledo’s largest village, San Antonio. Pablo is the Secretary of TCGA and also the Chairman of the Toledo South Farmers and Beekeepers, an association Plenty has been working with for several years.
Ed writes in his report, “Pablo’s farm is both beautiful and productive. It is situated in a hilly area, as are most of the farms. On the property there is natural spring. The spring is the source of drinking water for the family and would be used for farming in the dry season. We decided to measure the vertical distance of the spring to the field and up to the house. Pablo immediately had his son go and invite a young neighbor farmer who also has water pumping needs. They all watched us measure the distance with two sticks and a level. Interest in what we were doing was very high. (All three feel that they can do this measuring on their own now).
"After careful analysis we determined that the vertical distance is approx. 115 — 120 ft below his house. If water was pumped up to his house from the spring he would be able to use it for the family’s domestic needs and gravity feed it back down to his field. A spring box would have to be constructed to house a volume of water, and a storage tank would need to be constructed. Both of these could be made using concrete blocks sealed with beeswax.
"This would dramatically improve his methods of farming, freeing him and his children from hauling water. This additional time could be used for school work or farm chores. A water pump system and light system for the home equates into a more productive farm and a healthier atmosphere in the house.
Ed and Thomas also visited the elementary school at Aguacate village where they spoke with a teacher, Julio Cal. There is a definite need for photovoltaics to power lighting for the school and the newly constructed library, but the teacher, Julio cautioned that there would need to be a process of educating the village about solar power before anything could happen.
In the conclusions of his report Ed writes, "It is my opinion that education is the key. I must say that the strongest opportunity/project that I did recognize is the need for renewable energy education in the district schools. Those we talked to had very little knowledge of renewables and their potentials. This component might offer up the most practical approach to initiating or instigating larger scale projects. "
"A solar curriculum in the village schools (as well as Punta Gorda) would be a winner. This might represent the strongest foundation we could build for continued energy work in Toledo. A solar curriculum could be administered and presented by both SEI and Plenty staff for students and teachers as well. This could be presented both academically and vocationally with a strong hands-on component for each. It would cover all grade levels. It would address the needs of the district’s people for solar drying, solar cooking, solar electricity, water pumping, water purification, wind power, micro-hydro, etc."
"Demonstration projects could be installed by high school level vocational classes. The end result would be two-fold. Providing solar power for those in need while training youth for potential careers in renewable energy. Hopefully, taking this approach would also help instigate a “solar industry” in the district. A cultural exchange program for students could be formulated. Youth from the US interested in working with developing countries and their people could travel to Toledo and install systems with local youth. Youth from Toledo could travel to the states and learn more at SEI or The Farm, for example."
"This educational program could create a model for other NGOs and communities. Considering the fact that 50% of the Belize population is under 15 years of age this would represent a valuable environmental education for the future decision-makers and energy consumers of the Toledo District."
"It was a pleasure to work with Thomas, Doug and Deborah. I feel confident that this is just the beginning of a long-term relationship between SEI and Plenty."