I met with the water committee to discuss water surveying. I proposed the water-leveling method whereby a transparent tube is tied between two metered sticks.
Cutilio put down the money for the plastic tubing, and together we gathered bamboo to create the measuring sticks (measured in centimeters). José Guerra pitched in the use of his 50 ft. tape with which we could measure the distance between points.
Survey Sticks Ready to Use
For the trial run, we decided to survey the existing water system of Lado Oeste. At the very least, this information could serve useful for future projects. But primarily, it would ensure experience for when the time came to survey Ladera.
Things moved slowly at first as we were all new. But as time wore on and everyone got accustomed, they started to speed up. Each day, as new people took on the job, things would slow down again until people were used to their role. The primary issue was ensuring communication between the stick bearers to ensure water didn't spill from either end. If a spill was particularly bad, air would enter the tube and work would be delayed while we coaxed the air out (lest it caused errors in or measurements).
After three days, the system of Lado Oeste proper had been surveyed. What remained were the remaining three houses located a great deal away. Nevertheless, the people of Ladera were invited as a test of logistics. Prior, the people of Lado Oeste volunteered (or were volunteered, in the case of the youth) to work ad-hoc and went home to eat after the day's session. This time, it was decided that there should be volunteers to cook for the survey team.
Every household was expected to participate, but in order to incentivize people to work (and keep working), the water committee decided to offer credits. Normally, water installation costs an upfront fee, followed by a fixed water fee monthly. The credits would reduce the installation fee and/or provide credit towards the monthly fee. Such benefits were also made available to the cooks who were to provide their own ingredients.
I laid out a December Calendar for people to sign up for particular days. In the upper portion of each day, were the names of those who were volunteering to take part in the survey teams. The lower section consisted of those who were volunteering to cook and provide food.
The survey team, it was decided, ideally consisted of 1 data recorder, 2 stick bearers, and 2 measurers for a total team of 5. In certain cases, an additional person may be needed to clear a path through foliage. A team of four faced a small decrease in efficiency as the data recorder would have to take on a measurement role. A three-person team was deemed to be the minimum as any fewer would result in little progress over the span of a work-day. Work would occur for 4 hours, six days a week.
I initially imagined the 4-hour workday being completed before arriving to the home of the cooks for a meal. Instead, the cooks hauled the food (and drink) out to the survey teams which at times were a great distance away.
Female Participation
In general, people were apprehensive about signing up in the early days. The process of surveying sounds quite complicated and people were unsure if they were up to the task. Add to that, women refused to sign up for days where the role of cook was filled. This was because the work of surveying was assumed to be men's work. This remained the case until two women accidentally signed up in the wrong section.
When they showed up prepared to cook, I informed them that they had, in fact, signed up as surveyors. But rather than refuse the work, they took up the sticks and performed admirably through mud, ravines, and thick foliage. During later recruitment drives, women would begin purposefully signing up as surveyors, no doubt due to the previous example set forth. I remember while passing through Los Estados Unidos in Ladera during the final recruitment drive, the women there signed up to fully staff the remaining two days telling me "queremos ver el agua lo antes posible."
Surveyors Take Their Lunch Break
That nearly every household participated in the water surveying event was quite the feat, but that women provided nearly half the labor was an unexpected miracle. While it is the goal of Peace Corps volunteers to build capacity among all sectors of a community, gender roles can restrict participation in certain activities. But because of a happy accident, and the determination of the women of Ladera, the elevation survey was completed without any days lost to labor shortage.
I'm hopeful that the experience built during the course of the surveying will provide confidence for women in the communities to continue directly participating in technical work activities. I'll always remember the persuasive words one veteran surveyor told to her on-the-fence friend, "No es tan dificil como dicen los brares."
No comments:
Post a Comment