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Sustainable Use of Environmental Resources

Environment, Water and Sanitation Program uses an ecological design for the construction of comprehensive household water and sanitation units. This design incorporates: rainwater harvesting which provides sufficient potable water for the family throughout the rainy season and with careful administration, potable water into the dry season, and, eliminates fetching water from a well as well as payments for pumped water; the removal of soap and detergent grease from greywater to permit water recycling into the garden or to trees; a dry toilet with separation of feces and urine, which when correctly treated with a basic pH and dryness, allows feces to turn into fertilizer for fields.   The Atzin Centre which houses several programs in Tlamacazapa is close to self-sufficient in all but electricity with rainwater harvesting, a slow sand water filter, a dry toilet, greywater recycling, and recently added, a composting bin and recycling of metal, paper, glass and plastic.

Assessment

In quantitative terms, each program collects simple basic data that is pertinent to ongoing assessment of achievement and financial status. See the example statistics in the boxes above, with increasing numbers indicating program advances in numerical terms. More time consuming and difficult to assess are the qualitative advances -- what do villagers and promoters think, feel and say about themselves, their work and their quality of life. Each Saturday Atzin promoters, midwives, trainees and volunteers convene a one hour circle meeting to discuss program plans, visitors and problems; to do exercises related to personal and group growth and teambuilding; and to celebrate progress and special events. This meeting acts as an ongoing barometer of people’s levels of satisfaction and their abilities to express their opinions and desires, no small feat among an oppressed population, especially for the women. One key achievement is a growing funding base for program operations and administration. Funding is derived from private individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and a network of supporters holding regular fundraising events.

Benefits to Community and Environment

Atzin identified harmful environment poisons that are contributing to ill-health, continues to distribute this information to villagers and government officials at all levels, and to implement actions for resolution of these problems. At the same time, services and programs that are closely tied to the needs and reality of the village are offered. The tangible changes include: many families now have a functioning and appropriate toileting facility with water catchment and storage; children are now learning in a self-paced and small group educational program; instead of giving birth alone in small dark huts, women are now assisted to deliver by trained midwives who are equipped with lamps and clean equipment and able to detect complications indicating hospital transfer; disabled children and adults are receiving therapy, special aids and accompaniment to appointments; children and youth have new role models in local women who are working in their own businesses and as promoters and midwives, and also in local men who are working in construction in the village, studying and not drinking. It is these incremental social and physical changes – all occurring very close to home – that constitute a hopeful beacon for people who are emerging from negative cycles of fearfulness and despair. "From a global community perspective, 35+ full-time international volunteers have worked hard in the Atzin programs on site, starting in 1999". Their time commitment has ranged from four to twenty eight months. Since 2006, the minimum time commitment for a fulltime volunteer is a one year self-funded stay. Additionally, many individuals contribute expert technical assistance or support specific activities by helping on a short-term basis. This has kept overhead and personnel costs to a minimum. International volunteers have a hands-on experience of a lifetime, one that brings them face-to-face with poverty, human trauma and themselves. In late 2004, Atzin brought four artists, two Canadian and two Mexican, to Tlamacazapa to collaborate closely with nine women weavers. The resulting art exhibition entitled, "Reweaving a Life: Art of Women Weavers of Palm - Their Struggle with Poverty, Water and Pride," features the daily reality of women living in poverty, environmental toxicity and water shortage. Thirty five works of art and more than seventy finely woven baskets – “the art in palm” -- have been on tour in Mexico and in Canada since September 2006. The exhibition completed its tour at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary on September 28, 2008. The corporate community in the private sector in Canada and USA has provided significant technical and/or financial support since 2006 (Algoma Orchards – Ontario; Terralog Technologies Inc. – Alberta; Riddell Kurczaba Architecture – Alberta; IMS Infrastructure Management Services - Arizona). Also in Canada, CBC’s national television program, “The National,” produced and ran a 14 minute feature on Tlamacazapa and the work of Atzin (CJ) in April 2006.

Summary

Atzin uses an integrated approach to community development and human wellness. This approach takes compassion, time and strategic effort. After a long initial period of gaining trust and becoming familiar with the village context and power dynamics, the Atzin team decided to concentrate in this one setting because of the complexity of the poverty, the violence and the environmental conditions. Tlamacazapa, meaning “people who are fearful” in Nahuatl, is a microcosm of our global situation.

Atzin now continuously provides needed information and services; prepares local people to take program responsibilities and to obtain paid work; and investigates and takes action on the poverty and environmental toxicity that drastically diminishes the health of this vulnerable and malnourished population.

The compelling stories of village women portray an inspirational, gradual movement from oppression to the freeing of spirit. As one weaver and quilter said, The women in Tlamacazapa tolerate and are silent. We need to speak in order to solve our problems. If I remain fearful, I will never advance. I want to be courageous and speak. The participating villagers are transforming this silence -- a crippling vacuum that permits physical and spiritual toxicity -- into a lessening of fear and a growth in confidence and capabilities. Atzin is an external presence that is stimulating a process for personal and social change in rhythm with a troubled community, helping people to re-cover their cultural identity and to re-create a meaningful way of life