Having their voices heard_ Community design experience

Cilia, Canchaque, Piura

Team: Regional Govt, Peace Corps, and Progreso (local NGO)

For the past two years, Progreso, a local agricultural NGO has been giving bamboo capacity building workshops in Cilia, a small town of 350 people. In the past five years the towns traditional cash crop (coffee) is being decimated by various effects of climate change and Progreso is hoping to diversify their economy by teaching them how to manage their abundant supply of bamboo, which is more resilient than the coffee plants.

The residents of Cilia have learned how to correctly cultivate, harvest and treat bamboo. A few carpenters had been building bamboo furniture, which the women then covered with beautiful colored textile-covered cushions.

In an effort to promote the community's new products, Progreso wanted to build a large public structure made out of bamboo that would act as a showcase of sorts. The NGO's Project Manager approached me with the opportunity to lead a participatory design workshop and ultimately manage a design/build project. It was too great of a chance to turn down.

Starting in April 2013, we formed a multi-institutional project team consisting of representatives from the Regional Government, Peace Corps and the NGO. Throughout a series of meetings, we gathered input from mothers, fathers and children. More than anything, the people wanted a large area to celebrate their town's anniversary, surrounded by flowers and benches.





I found that technical drawings (plan, section, elevation) was not going to be a good medium to present the design because most people have a hard time visualizing 3D space from 2D drawings. Solution: Models!

After each design iteration, we held a community meeting to receive feedback on the changes. The elected area of the pavilion has a dirt road running straight through the site.

One meeting, as we brainstormed how to create a buffer between the road and the public space, one older gentleman created a group huddle and started whispering with emotion. After a few moments, he stood up and proposed relocating the road so that the space would not be cut in half with passing traffic. I had not even considered this an option, and as a result of this man's feetback, the entire design changed for the better.

Throughout the process, I found that the men and women, who had never heard of figure/ground relationships or massing models had just as much to bring to the table as the engineers from the Regional Government.

Design prior to structural engineers makeover

As we arrived at a polished design, it was time to ask for help. The Project Manager of the NGO had many contacts throughout the country who have been working very hard promoting bamboo as a sustainable building material. We brought our design to the architects and engineers at The University of Ricardo Palma, the most renown architectural university of Peru.








One week later, the structural engineers had transformed our design into a structurally safe and legal pavilion.

When everyone comes together, helping out in whatever way they can, a lot can be accomplished. While this structure is programmatically and geometrically simple, it represents my first community design/build project. Unfortunately I will not be around for the construction, but I am leaving the country knowing that the project is in good hands.

Left: Axon view of pavilion in site. Right: view from stage level

Bamboo provided by each family of the town

The double-edged sword of Eco-Tourism

Basic sanitation projects are skipped with tourism as the towns priority

Eco- tourism, a budding field in my community, is the idea of developing “off the beaten path” tourist destinations in areas that are breathtakingly beautiful, remote and relatively undeveloped. These areas are often designed to create minimal impact on the environment, making them ECOlogically friendly. Not only is it a great way to revitalize a community, but it is a platform which the community can spring from. How else can we make our lives better? What new habits can we form to create an inviting community?

Canchaque (left) and bamboo structure housing tourist shops (right)

 With that in mind, I was recently asked by my municipality to help them develop an eco-tourist destination in Aguas Blancas, a small community 2.5 hours hike up the mountain from Canchaque. The project has money budgeted to build a camping area, BBQ picnic zone, bathrooms, changing rooms and possibly a fishing pond.

At first, I was thrilled at the opportunity to expand my design skills in such a variety of new program types. Better yet, they want most of it to have a natural aesthetic, using locally grown bamboo.

Rustic latrine

But then I started asking a few more questions about the project. It’s great that they are going to develop this community to attract tourists. The area is in desperate need of economic stimulus. Being so remote from Canchaque, they lack almost all of the essential infrastructure: bathrooms, sewage system, improved cook-stoves, pavement/roads, health post. Some homes do not even have electricity or running water.

An hour hike through mud with a teacher

I almost assumed that there was a social portion of the project, but when I inquired about how the community was going to be improved, I was told that a few selected houses were going to be polished up, just in case people didn’t feel like camping.

I understand that the creation of a tourist destination demands various services (shade, seating, bathrooms), but when I saw the budget, and saw the need of the community, I was frustrated that almost nothing was earmarked for the community itself. Shouldn’t basic sanitation, water and ventilated cooking be prioritized over a fishing pond and picnic tables?

Tune in next time to see how we are fixing this problem!

"The United States is my alcoholic brother". An expats thoughts on his homeland and a volunteers review

 “10 Things Most Americans Don’t Know About America” 

It’s a little long, but please give it a read! And if you really have some time to kill, read the comments, which are just as informative as the article. This weeks post is a response/ reflection of the article above. Disclaimer: I do not agree with all of what he says (I especially disagree with #5)

This is a great article that I think many Peace Corps Volunteers and expats can sympathize with. The author is reacting to his introspective assessment of his motherland, where he discovers that his rose colored glasses of patriotism and “We’re number 1!” mentality were tainted by the inundation of our own self-loving, fear mongering media. He realizes that we have become narrow-minded because we are so isolated from outside viewpoints (media, language, ideas).  He states “…we don’t really get perspective on what’s close to us until we spend time away from it.”

To me, this is the real meaning of the Peace Corp’s Goal #3: To share with your fellow Americans what you have seen and learned about the world outside of the 50 states; to bring back AND SHARE your changed perspective. Sharing the food, dance, music and photos from vacation hot spots are great, but any tourist can do that.

From my one-week back home last August, I was able to glimpse the oncoming frustration of reverse-culture shock. I’m not talking about strangers not staring at you anymore (wait, you don’t want to take a photo with me?), or old women not giving you a bag full of bananas or avocado just because you visited their house.  I’m talking about how tough it is to get people to understand your new world view, because they haven't had the chance to step outside of the bubble themselves. Sometimes you just want to shake someone saying WHY DONT YOU APPRECIATE DRINKING FOUNTAINS AND TOILET SEATS LIKE I DO! Haha, well those examples aren't exactly my point, but they dance around the topic.

Jamie was a GREAT listener!

I don’t pretend to be a very articulate writer, but luckily, I found other people who are! I was really impressed by the caliber of comments that this article provoked. Here are a few comments that express some of my issues with his opinions:

Recovering Hipster writes

“When you are a foreigner, people are either more forgiving of your “weirdness” because they expect it, or they’re just not thinking about how you conform to norms.

My guess is that this guy experienced the enhanced niceness that everyone expresses to foreigners – especially toward Americans, who have been saturating them with media and are therefore more fascinating than other foreigners – and perceived it as a sign of their culture.

Whenever I’ve traveled abroad, I’ve noticed that I get very, very comfortable with being a foreigner for that very reason I mentioned above: people are more forgiving and there’s a general level of awkwardness that’s to be expected, which has an overall dulling effect on any negative social experience.

It’s very easy to get addicted to that position of being a foreigner, and it’s easy to mistake that addiction for you fitting in better in a different culture.

There’s also the fact that other people often *do* look up to Americans, so they’re going to be at the very least interested in asking you questions, if not super friendly. To assume that others are nicer to you just because they’re nicer cultures is to get things a bit wrong.

If I was Peruvian, would they give me the time of day?

When I was in Brazil, everyone was pretty interested in talking to me. At first, I thought it was because I was special. Then, I thought it was because I was foreign. Then, I realized that it was because I was American. They had plenty of news stories and plenty of pop culture that they wanted to talk to me about. The same wouldn’t have been the case if I’d been an Uruguayan.

In the end, though, I came to recognize that their culture wasn’t inherently “nicer” or “more genuine” than mine.

In addition to all that, being a “professional traveler” does not put a person in touch with a culture as much as they’d think. You come to recognize how little you actually “get” a place when you go from being a traveler in a place to being a local who can’t necessarily afford to pack up and go on to the next place. Most places feel like a pair of open arms when arrive as a traveler. This does not signify a more open culture as much as it signifies the fact that you’re a traveling consumer.”

A great wake up call to the author comes from Tricia, who wrote

“…I started reading this article without looking at even the author’s name. Immediately I knew it was written by a straight white male. There’s this thing called “privilege” that some people have that makes them wholly unable to see something from a marginalized perspective. It is quite upsetting.
I have lived abroad as well, though not as extensively as the author. I have never been to Asia or Africa, though I’ve spent a lot of time in Latin America and Europe. I have been sexually assaulted much more frequently (despite more precautions taken) while abroad than in the States. Being a male has a lot to do with your presumed levels of safety while you’re out, not to mention comfort.

As guys, we don't have to worry about as many things and get to enjoy it all

 My male roommates when I lived in Nicaragua had all sorts of fun adventures with meeting strangers, staying out late, etc. I could not have a few drinks at a club without someone trying RELENTLESSLY to take me home. I was kissed, felt up, you name it, just for having the audacity to go to a club without a man. This has happened to me in countries in Europe, Latin America, and even here at home, but not nearly as frequently…”

Take some time to read some of the resulting discussions posted on the article, they really make you think. 

Another comment also made me curious:

“I would love to see similar articles by folks from other countries that emigrated outside their native lands, about their own countries. In my interactions with immigrants here in the USA, I hear many amusing observations about their own nations. It’s a sign of humility when you can recognize your own faults, admit that they’re silly and laugh about them [when they don't cause significant harm]. And if there’s one thing the global community of mankind can use, it’s less national pride, and more humility.”

So friends, let me hear your stories! I am really interested to hear if you have ever had a chance to look at our nation (or any other for that matter) after you have seen the way other places are run. (Please refrain from personal attacks)

God Bless the United States of America

Bamboo!

Quality control, this stuff is so tasty!

My journey to the world of bamboo came unexpectedly. It started with a visit to CepiCafe, a coffee co-operative in our department’s capital, Piura. My socio (community counterpart) was the president of the organization for 3 years, so we used his influence to learn about all of the work CapiCafe does to help the coffee producers improve their yield. We even got an impromptu tour of the panela factory!Next, we went next door to the father NGO of Cepicafe, called Progreso. My socio was interested in developing the use of bamboo in his community and introduced me to Rocio Leon, my new mejor amiga. She is the project coordinator of the NGO and is in charge of three different initiatives:

Rocio teaching about proper bamboo forest management

High school creations

Key chains!

S I bought a necklace and earring set from her.

When these have cushions on them, they are wrapped in local woven designs.

Bus stop designed and built by community

Healthy school project (Escuelas Saludables) –

Progresso, Cuerpo de Paz, y Emilio Espinoza (high school)

Eco-recreational high school center. Not in use, but to be developed soon!

Soccer field with 4 new bathrooms in the distance. We hope to build bamboo kiosks and bleachers.

The high school's "auditorium". Planning on building benches and adaptable shading structure. 

Municipality Tourism development- 

• Changing rooms – the main tourist destination is a group of waterfalls and pools called “Los Peroles”. Many tourists like to swim in them, but do not have anywhere to change their clothes. Our stalls will not only provide a place to change, but we may even build a lookout area on top of the stalls to offer a place to take in the amazing views of the waterfalls.

• Bathrooms – there are not any latrines near the waterfalls, which is a half an hour walk from the town center. In the future, we are talking about building a few bathroom or latrines to offer a restroom for the tourists. 

Regional Designs-

• Bus stops: The regional government has build one bus stop out of bamboo, but at certain times of the day, the seats are in the full force of the Piura sun. The have asked for me to help with a shading study for the following bus stops. I explained to them that each stop needs to be designed to the site (solar orientation, street orientation ect.) as opposed to designing something that looks nice. 

• Single family housing: The ministry de housing, construction, and sanitation from Lima asked Progresso to give them an affordable design for a single family house with 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and dining room. I do not have a lot of time to develop the design, but after 3 days, I passed to them a model that is easy to build, with skylights for natural lighting and all the water services housed in one wall.

• It is important to have a design where the walls can be built on the ground, then lifted up into place, because the construction workers do not have much experience with the bamboo joints.

• Sierra Exportadora: A national based NGO also asked Progresso to help them out with some “face-lift” projects to promote tourism in Ayabaca, an area in the northern Andes of Piura that the regional government is developing. Basically they want to install veneer facades made out of bamboo to give the restaurants and the town a universal “eco-feel”.

• 

  Bamboo window frames look awesome during sunset

This past week I was in Lima for an English Teaching workshop that was hosted by the US Embassy. I took advantage of my time in Lima by visiting the architecture department of San Martin de Porres. There I met with two French architects, Yann and Faouzi, who have been working in Peru for the past 5 years.

French Architects Yann Barnet and Faouzi Jabrane. In front of a shading structure at San Martin de Pores, Lima, Peru

Transitional housing

2-story bamboo house

PS: Also working on an Eco-park! Its hard to remember it all. If I accomplish 30% of these dreams, I'll be very happy. PS: Also working on an Eco-park! Its hard to remember it all. If I accomplish 30% of these dreams, I'll be very happy. Noticias (News)1) Teaching villagers how to properly grow, cut and process bamboo2) Developing local small business through artisan workshops (jewelry, furniture)

3) Leading workshops with construction workers to teach them how to build with bamboo (nickname vegetable steel)So I have fallen in love with this line of work. To the point where I have almost signed up for so much that my Peace Corps work took a back seat for a little while. I have pulled back from my bamboo craze (a bit) and incorporated it in my PC projects. How so you ask? Well let me tell you!I am working with two high schools to implement treated water, soap in the bathrooms, and a number or other initiatives that the teachers and parents prioritized. In one high school, they want to develop a small business selling organic banana marmalade and chifles (fried banana chips). In order to develop the local market, we are going to build a bamboo kiosk, which they can sell their products during special events (holidays, soccer and volleyball games) and during the peak tourist season (June-September). The other high school wants to install a bamboo-shading device to cover their courtyard that they use for many different events (graduations, volleyball, school-wide presentations).In addition to shade, we hope to train the local carpenters how to build bamboo furniture so that we can have benches, chairs, and tables to facilitate a space the community can use throughout the year. The municipality has been searching for someone to help improve their tourism. After a few conversations with a motivated socio in the municipality, we are going to install various bamboo projects to promote their tourism.So clearly I am up to my ears with opportunities, BUT I have to turn a lot of them down because I am not volunteering my 2 years in Peru to be a free source of design services. I am having trouble saying no at the moment because I really want to improve my design skills, especially in regard to bamboo.
They were very receptive to my impromptu visit and reinforced my already budding appreciation for the “vegetative steel”. After a devastating earthquake in 2009, they offered their design services to the various NGOs that rushed to the disaster area of Ica, southern Peru.They designed a simple bamboo home that could be built with a tight budget and little technical training. They also designed a beautiful bamboo church, and a 2 story bamboo house, all of which I hope to visit in my next trip down to Lima.
I am very fortunate to work in an area that has so much support from an amazing NGO (Progresso), and I hope to have more photos and stories to share in the future!

Peace Corps_A year in review

Well, when one goes on a 6 month hiatus from blogging, it is quite difficult to know where to pick up. I have decided to write about one theme of my life in the following posts. I will start with the most relevant: WORK! Themes to come: personal discoveries, vacations and who knows what else?!

This week I will post a rough draft of a portfolio I have been putting together. It describes my service until this point. Next post will be about my FUTURE work, which I am very excited about. 

Teaser- Healthy schools project, latrines project 2 hours hike up the mountain, bamboo furniture/architecture with INBAR (an NGO from China), recycling program, small business with students (jam and fried plantains), an eco-park designed with bamboo, tires, and much much more.

Enjoy!

The past 18 months, I have learned a lot about myself, the world outside of the United States and what I want to do with my life. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to put my skills to use for those who NEED them. It is very hard to say no, so I am operating at capacity right now. 

If there are any designers who would like to help with some bamboo projects (shade, simple houses and digitizing furniture designs) please to not hesitate to contact me! (david.witte.2030@gmail.com). We need YOU!

Future posts will come much sooner that 6 months, I promise.

Take care,

David Witte