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Trip Start Jan 10, 2005 Previous
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  San Isidro, Nicaragua
Thursday, September 28, 2006

A HUGE thank you goes to all of you who donated to San Isidro's stove project to benefit 20 women and their families. I know many more had intentions of making a monetary contribution but because of the quick response of so many of you the grant's goal was met in just 3 days! Incredible! I can not say thank you enough.

This project has been a long road. All of the leg work involved to arrive at ¨building phase¨ has taken, in the words of Hilary Clinton "a village." However, I quite mean it, literally. I've been so caught up in writing reports, buying materials, transporting materials, visiting the women, scheduling meetings, begging my friend to lead the training sessions that I was beginning to lose site of the goal of the project: building stoves. Well, this past Friday, we got underway. Everything worked like clockwork and we built 3 stoves, but most importantly we trained 12 women how to build them. Now, they are in charge of building their own and helping with the building of their fellow neighbor. This approach, of "teaching of teachers" promotes sustainability, community cohesion, and new skills, but often only looks good in theory (or in my case, to get the grant approved!) However, (I don't want to toot my own horn too early but...) after our first training session, the women were really motivated and truly began to feel that they could build their own stove. They informed me they were going to get started tomorrow and would be by my house to pick up the other necessary materials they were lacking. I thought, "Okay, great I like this optimism, but we'll see." To my surprise, various women showed up ready to haul their materials home. I was elated, but skeptical.

The following day, we lead another training session and after it was done, I thought I'd go check on the women who had planned to make their stove in the morning. Around 2 o'clock I headed over expecting nothing: either to see them in the thick of the building process or to see them holding bricks thoroughly confused. However, I walked into a kitchen with a brand new stove and my eyes started to fill with tears. I couldn't believe it. The project was working. The woman was elated! Elated because it was built, she did it, and because I was so proud. It was a beautiful moment and I want to thank you for making it a reality and for being apart of it.

We have a ways to go before all 20 are built, but we are on our way. I just wanted to share the good news!

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2. Easing the women into getting their hands dirty	3Hannah mixing up some poop, dirt, sand and cement	4. Jason teaching the women to make the walls.	5. Making it strong
6. Can´t stop the buiness to build a stove!!!!	7. Filling in the stove	8. Taking a much needed rest!	9. Tired but trained women
A finished stove, without chimney or door

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