MicroAid International – Blog

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5-22-13

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It’s a good thing the first week was so pleasant in Cusco, because I forgot how hard it is to build houses in foreign countries.

Here at the second MicroAid project site in Urubamba (2 hours away from Cusco), I’m getting very inflated budget numbers for the house.

Ormachea-Hermoza house since floods of 2010

Also, Urubamba is dry and dusty and a bit depressing. I will be staying here much of the time as well as shuttling back to Cusco to oversee the other project, 45 minutes away, in Huacarpay.

MicroAid will help more than 12 members of the family live in a decent home

I also got sick as a dog last week—chills, body aches, wracking cough.

I think I was lulled into a false sense of security here because there is first-world infrastructure in Cusco.  As opposed to Samoa and Sri Lanka where the harsh environment gives me cues to be on guard.

the Choco Museo is on this bucolic plaza in Cusco

Feeling better now, after a few days in bed.  Using the time to give myself a crash course on pouring concrete foundations.  (Thank goodness for the Internet and Bob Villa.)

Funny how I never really paid close attention to that part when we built all those houses at Habitat.  Granted, I usually started after the slab was poured, because they subcontract that, but still, it is critical to know what it’s all about here.

Also, went to the South American Explorers Club in Cusco for a class in “survival” Spanish.  I wondered if the teacher would go over terms like “rebar,” “3/4-inch gravel,” “footers,” “anchor bolts,” and “Portland cement”?

She did not.

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5-21-13

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I got to see the Torrechayoq festival in Urubamba on Sunday.

A day-long parade of dancers and musicians—dozens of crews in different amazing costumes—snaking through the town from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m.

Like the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, except this one goes on all day.

A test of endurance for Jesus.

But also Quechwa celebration and fun.

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5-13-13

Things are good here.  Projects are moving forward—slowly, but surely.

our site in urubamba backs up against another structure

While waiting for plans to be drawn up for the MicroAid homes…

Here are a few pics from an adventure I was taken on over the weekend by some archeologists: a little-visited Inca site about two hours from Cusco.

curved and perfectly matched stones indicate a ceremonial site

We all piled into combis and taxis to get to the ruins near the town of Anta and a half-hour hike up the mountain from a nondescript spot along the road.

Plenty of ancient mojo—with caves with Inca walls inside, sun dials, and alters perfectly aligned with astronomical features.

The site had that “Raiders of the Lost Ark” feel, and one of the archeologists was definitely channeling Indiana Jones.

nobody really knows how the Inca used this "sundial"

We didn’t find any golden idols though, but the potential is still there, I am told, if you know where to look.

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A sad note from Huacarpay: the wife, Manuela, of the older couple for whom we are building a house, passed away a few weeks ago from cancer.  Her husband, Valentin, is OK, but obviously heartbroken. MicroAid will still build a decent home for him.  Also, so that others will benefit from the project after he passes away, Valentin has willed the building to the community—it will be administered by the church for the benefit of the people.  The pastor of the church is already facilitating the project and I am confident that this is the best course of action: give someone a decent home, which will then benefit the community in perpetuity.  Plans for the house are being drawn up and budgets and timelines developed.

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As we were leaving a pre-construction meeting, well after dark, with the sky glittering with stars, feeling so near at 12,000 feet, and the Southern Cross hanging majestically above the dark mountains, a shooting star blazed across the Milky Way.  A good omen for the projects.

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Thank you for all the support.  We are truly making a huge difference in peoples’ lives—directly, efficiently, and completely.

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All the best from Peru.

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Jon

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A quick post to say that our good work has been recognized by my alma mater, Columbia University.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19

Destruction, Death, and Exile in the Village

Coming over the mountains to the south side of the island is like entering a different world.  Whereas the rest of Samoa is waterlogged and covered by five inches of mud, this side looks like an atom bomb has gone off.  All the trees have been shredded, and many of them lay uprooted and broken and tangled on the hillsides… but there is an orientation to the mess—you can tell they were all blow down from the same direction… the same relentless wind.  They look like palm-tree dominoes.

Matafa’a itself was hit hard with many roofs blown off and some houses completely destroyed.  The villagers have done a good job of rebuilding some, already, and have taken in those without a home.

It seems that that everyone is happy that I have come back to help; the biggest assistance, so far, are the solar chargers.  Since the people have been without power for a month, we can now charge their cell phones and they can contact friends and family around the island… if they have credit.  We have yet to distribute the donated clothing, but I’m sure that will be a huge hit, as well.

Many people I have talked with have mentioned the passing of one of the other high chiefs, Unaasa Asa.  I remember him as the quiet, gentle elder who patiently taught the boys the finer details of canoe-making.  He would sit for hours showing them how to mend a crack with jungle resins and how to deftly and securely attach the outriggers.

The big news, though, is that my dear friend Tuilagi has been banished from the village.  In fact, he cannot even come into the district; so severe was his crime that the surrounding villages are honoring the sentence.  As you may recall, Tuilagi was my erstwhile interpreter, an aspiring pastor, and his family took care of me.  I got very close with his kids, his wife, mother, and extended family.  And now he is gone—living on the other side of the island until the chiefs see fit to bring him back.  In fact, there is a chiefs’ meeting next week—which I will attend—to decide his fate.  His crime: adultery!

Hard to believe, but I guess it’s true: he strayed with one of the young parishioners.  After confessing his sins to the Rev. Fepai, Tuilagi was officially forgiven by the church (although he‘s been stripped of his church title), but the chief council of the village imposed the exile.

Such is life and justice in traditional Samoan culture.

I met with Tuilagi in Apia, where he told me most of the story in his broken English, but I got the details from Rev. Fepai once I got to Matafa’a.

Continuing  my work in the South Pacific.

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With so much tragedy in the news last week, you may not have seen that a category 3 cyclone (“sustained hurricane winds of 120 mph and extreme destruction”) devastated Samoa—including our little canoe village of Matafa’a.

cyclone evan (pacific ocean hurricane) sitting on top of samoa

I finally was able to contact them yesterday.  Nobody was hurt and the canoes survived, but most of the houses and gardens were destroyed and the villagers lost most of their possessions and clothing.  Ten families are living in the church.  The entire island will be without electricity for months.

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Happy Holidays.

I am back from setting up the next MicroAid projects in Peru. (A special thanks to Nick Nelson, Melissa Burns, Chelsey Marsing, and the Pepperdine consultants for their research.)

As you know, more than 25,000 people lost their homes to the floods in 2010.

town of huacarpay flooded in 2010

This situation is especially poignant in light of our own recent disaster in the Northeast.  Unlike the U.S., though, where we have a reasonable disaster response—with many organizations funded, staffed, and able to help—in the Sacred Valley in Peru, the survivors have no recourse whatsoever.  Years later, many families are still in need—living in makeshift houses or relief tents.

living in a tent since 2010

In a few months, after the rainy season, MicroAid will rebuild houses for two families and prepare two others against future floods.  In the upcoming months, I will be coordinating with the local builders, and raising the money to complete the constructions.

It will cost about $12,500 to build each simple house, and another $10,000 to prepare the others against future disaster.  All in all, with  $35,0000 we can help four families—more than 50 people—get back to living productive and dignified lives.  The adults can spend their time working to support their families and the kids can have a decent place to sleep and do their homework.

So please, in this season of sharing, make a donation to MicroAid part of your year-end charitable giving.  Any amount will help.

http://www.microaidinternational.org/donate.php

Through MicroAid, we are truly having a positive impact on people’s lives—directly, responsibly, and efficiently.  Thank you for your support and encouragement.

Wishing you a happy holiday season, and all the best in the new year.

Cheers,

Jon

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I hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving.

Here in the Sacred Valley of Peru, I was treated to a wonderful feast with many expats and locals.

As you know, I am here doing project assessments for survivors of the devastating floods of 2010.  As usual, after the emergency response and the relief organizations have left, MicroAid steps in to help people get back into permanent housing and return to self-sufficiency.

Already, I have identified situations where we can help.  Many families are still without homes after theirs were washed away in the floods.

In the town of Huacarpay, there is a particularly sad situation where an older couple has been living in a wooden box since they lost their adobe home two years ago.

town of huacarpay - devastated by the floods of 2010

They have no chance of rebuilding on their own and no other options.

the rich neighbors rebuilt a fancy palace

This is a situation where we can build them a modest home and they can return to a relatively dignified and comfortable existence.  Other situations in Ollantaytambo and Urumbamba are equally desperate.  It looks like we can help some families there as well.

some families have been living in tents since 2010

In a couple of weeks, I will return to the U.S. to wait out the rainy season. I will come back here in the Spring of 2013 to do the construction.  Between now and then, I will be coordinating with the local NGOs and builders I have met here and planning the work.

no all the survivors want to move to a temporary disaster recovery village - in backgound

Of course, the board and I will be raising the money to complete these construction projects for these worthy disaster survivors.  So please don’t forget to make a donation as part of your year-end charitable giving.

We have so much to be thankful for in the U.S., even in the wake of our own disasters, that we have resources and organizations that are there to help.  The people here have no such options.

I am happy that we created MicroAid to help them live better lives.

Thanks you for your encouragement and support.

All the best,

Jon

Jon Ross

Founder/Program Manager

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Dear friends:

2012 was a good year for MicroAid, we completed the projects in Samoa (canoes and fishing kits), helped hundreds of people, and garnered quite a bit of good press.

Currently, I am preparing a November site-assessment trip to Peru—they have had devastating floods and mudslides the past few years, and hundreds of people have lost their homes.  Hopefully, I can identify a few families that we can help return to self-sufficiency—we’ll repair or rebuild their homes or replace their tools of livelihood.  The project will take place in Spring 2013, after the rainy season.  Of course, when we go to do the work, we will stay until it is complete.

On the fundraising front, since MicroAid is now three years old, and has a impressive track record of completed projects, we are starting to approach foundations for grant money.  It is a tough economic environment, but I am confident that we will receive some grants.  Until then, we still rely solely on your generosity and that of the board of directors.  As you know, 100% of all donations go toward programs, while the board covers our overhead expenses.

Thank you for all your support.

Please follow this blog for updates from the field.

All the best,

Jon