Spring 2020 Update on what we’ve been doing San Juan del Sur

Despite political turmoil and COVID-19 (NO cases anywhere in Nicaragua as of March 16) our work has been going forward. In terms of Appropriate Technology, our focus has turned solely to the EcoStove project (efficient smoke-free cooking). In January and February families in the village of Cebadilla worked with us to build and install 16 of these stoves, the bodies of which are made entirely of clay-rich earth mixed with dried horse manure. (There’s a little imbedded rebar frame to support the two “burners” and the chimney uses a little cement and sheet metal.) The mothers (and grandmothers) who have started to use these stoves are delighted to be able to cook without breathing smoke all day. They also had a lovely time working with their neighbors to make the components for the stoves. See photos of the Cebadilla project at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gringopinolero/albums/72157712809973683

To continue this fine project we need your support.  Go to the Contribute page (see above) to make an easy tax-deductible online contribution.

We’ve also begun a series of garden projects using drip irrigation, one at the Free High School for Adults, and another planned for the new Gaspar García Laviana Hospital not far from the Mayor’s office. The focus of this second garden with be on medicinal plants.

The Free High School itself is going gangbusters, with plenty of students coming to the beautiful new campus, and plans afoot to buy a second yellow school bus to bring them from rural communities to the new campus. Photos of the opening day ceremonies at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gringopinolero/albums/72157713037141997

If you like, you can earmark your online contribution to the Free High School.

Please stand by us as we continue our work in the San Juan del Sur region.

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