final report - itacanet.org · training materials and publicity in june of last year, we...

Appropriate Technology Projects, Latin America

Fuel-efficient cooking stoves, Integrated Health Project, Guatemala

Rainwater catchment systems, Integrated Health Project, Guatemala

Solar photovoltaic systems, Pastoral Social en Salud, Colombia

Date: 11.06.2013

Prepared by: Oliver Style, ITACA-Concern America

FINAL REPORT

FINAL REPORT: ITACA - CONCERN AMERICA APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS, 2013

Email: [email protected] Web: www.itacanet.org

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1 SUMMARY

In 2011, we set out to raise £ 16,995 for our Guatemalan and Colombian for Appropriate Technology

field programs. By March 2012, we had raised £ 16,860, and work began on the projects in May

2012. We’re now happy to report the following results:

Guatemala

26 fuel efficient cooking stoves were built: 217 direct beneficiaries

3 rain-catchment water systems have been built: 540 direct beneficiaries

An external assessor facilitated a complete evaluation with the local team, covering the last

15 years work constructing fuel efficient cooking stoves

Colombia

2 solar electric systems were installed by our Colombia team: 728 direct beneficiaries

Training materials and publicity

In June of last year, we self-published a book, “Energía Solar Autónoma.” The book provides

a comprehensive introduction to the planning, sizing and installation of off-grid solar electric

systems, such as the ones installed in our Colombia project. Available for sale on Amazon,

the book can also be previewed online through Scribd. Royalties go towards future solar

system projects.

In May of this year, an article I wrote about the Colombian solar projects was published in

the Catalan international development magazine, ONGC.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Energ%C3%ADa-Solar-Aut%C3%B3noma-Planificaci%C3%B3n-dimensionado/dp/8461578872/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370942601&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=oliver+style+energi+solar

http://es.scribd.com/doc/128351896/Energia-Solar-Autonoma-Planificacion-dimensionado-e-instalacion-de-un-sistema-fotovoltaico-autonomo

http://ongc.cat/component/content/article/100-indexs-publicats/445-index-53



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2 BACKGROUND

The communities where Concern America’s Field teams work lack many of the basic services required

for sustainable development: access to clean water and renewable energy. For the last 15 years, local

teams have been trained in Guatemala and Colombia to help communities build, operate, and

maintain potable drinking water systems, fuel-efficient cooking stoves and solar photovoltaic

installations. Clean water and energy result in an important reduction in infant mortality, illness,

respiratory problems, and environmental degradation. The way on which we work- with a strong

focus on training local personnel- helps strengthen communities at the grass roots and providing

concrete results for the local population at very low cost.

Guatemala

Concern America’s Integrated Community Health Project was set up in 1995. The project currently

reaches 330 communities in the Petén region, through the training and accompaniment of

community health workers. There are currently 380 Health Promoter Practitioners, Midwives, and

Environmental Health Promoters, including those receiving specialized training in women's health

and dental health, working with the project and providing health care, health education, and

sanitation/water measures to approximately 150,000 people.

The project’s Environmental Health Team has been trained by Concern America field personnel in the

construction of rain-water catchment systems and fuel-efficient wood-fired domestic cooking stoves.

Over the past 15 years, the project has completed 162 rain catchment water systems, 448 fuel

efficient stove projects, directly benefitting 51,000 people.

Colombia

The Pastoral Social en Salud team began work in the Chocó region of Colombia in 2004, initiating a

Health Promoter Practitioner training program in an area seriously affected by armed conflict, and

where there is next to no public health service coverage. In late 2007 the project was named as the

recipient of the Pan American Health and Education Foundation's prestigious Clarence H. Moore

Award for Voluntary Service, chosen out of a total of 600 nominations.

In 2008, I trained two regional solar technicians in the installation of low-power off-grid solar electric

systems. Since then, they have installed 5 systems, providing electrical power to rural health posts,

directly benefitting 1,500 people.



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3 PROJECT LOCATIONS

3.1 PETÉN, GUATEMALA

The Integrated Health Project works out of the Department of the Petén, in the northern part of

Guatemala. The Petén is the country´s largest department, covering 35,000 km2, with a population of

around 480,000 people.

Petén



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3.2 CHOCÓ, COLOMBIA

The Chocó region of Colombia borders with Panama, stretching between the Caribbean and Pacific

coast, and covers 46,000 km2, with a population of around 490,000 people.



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4 OBJECTIVES

4.1 GUATEMALA

Construct 26 fuel efficient cooking stoves and 3 rain water catchment systems, to improve levels and

health and living conditions in the communities of the Petén, Guatemala.

4.2 COLOMBIA

Install 2 solar electric systems to provide power to community health posts, allowing health

promoters to work more effectively at improving the well-being of their communities.

5 IMPLEMENTATION

5.1 FUEL EFFICIENT COOKING STOVES, GUATEMALA

A total of 26 fuel efficient cooking stoves were built in the Petén region, during the period May 2012-

May 2013. Stoves were installed in the following communities:

El Guayo

Cobanerita

Each family covered 10% of the cost of their stove and provided labour to assist in the construction.

The stoves took an average of 2 days to build, and have an expected working life of 10 years. They

help reduce the amount of fuel used by around 50%, and remove smoke from the kitchen, improving

health conditions in the communities and reducing deforestation derived from sourcing firewood.

The construction was coordinated by Silvestre Sales and the Concern America Environmental Health

Team, who have been working in the region for the past 15 years.



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Constructing the stove chimneys, community of

Cobanerita Constructing a stove, community of Cobanerita

A completed portable stove, community of El

Guayo Constructing a stove, community of Cobanerita

Making tortillas on a completed stove,

community of Cobanerita Trying out the tortillas cooked on a recently completed stove, community of Cobanerita



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5.2 RAIN-CATCHMENT WATER SYSTEMS, GUATEMALA

Three 10,000 litre rain catchment tanks were completed in the communities of Las Cruces and

Esmeralda:

Preparing the tank mould, community of Las

Cruces Rain catchment water system, community of Las

Cruces

Completing a rain-catchment water tank

system, community of Esmeralda Completing a rain-catchment water tank system,

community of Esmeralda

The tanks take 4 days to build, and provide clean drinking water for the communities, collecting

rainfall from the roofs and storing it for later use.

5.3 SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, COLOMBIA

Two solar electric systems were installed in the communities of Barranco and Unión Embera Katio. Preparatory workshops were held with the communities, in which a contract was drawn up and signed. The installation of the systems took 2 days. Community operators were trained in the operation and maintenance of the systems, and the installations were



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supervised by Alberto González and Víctor Alfonso Pérez , the solar technicians I trained in 2008.

Preparatory workshop: community of Barranco Preparatory workshop: community of Unión

Embera Katio

Installation of solar electric system, community

of Barranco Installation of solar electric system, community

of Unión Embera Katio

Testing the lighting system of completed solar

electric system, community of Barranco Vaccinating young children with electric light,

community of Unión Embera Katio



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5.4 BOOK: AUTONOMOUS SOLAR ENERGY

To assist the work of the solar technicians I trained, I wrote a book covering the planning, sizing and

installation of off-grid solar systems. It is currently available in Spanish, with the English edition to be

published in September of this year.

Front cover of the book “Energía Solar Autónoma”, self-published in 2012

Back cover of the book “Energía Solar Autónoma”, self-published in 2012



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6 ACCOUNTS SUMMARY

7 DATE OF REPORT, AUTHOR AND SIGNATURE

Date: 12/06/2013

Place: C/Ciutat de Granada, 69b, 08025 Barcelona, Spain

Name of author: Oliver Style, Coordinador ITACA

Signed:

Total Colombian $ Total £

A.100 Equipment, materials 18.744.546,00 COP 6.511£

A.200 Fuel, transport 5.498.989,20 COP 1.910£

TOTAL DIRECT COSTS 24.243.535,20 COP 8.421£

B.300 Food 2.064.650,00 COP 717£

TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS 2.064.650,00 COP 717£

TOTAL Colombia 26.308.185,20 COP 9.138£

Total Guatemalan Q Total £

A.100 Equipment, materials 66.346,46 GTQ 5.394£

A.200 Fuel, transport 22.023,16 GTQ 1.791£

TOTAL DIRECT COSTS 88.369,62 GTQ 7.185£

B.300 Food 8.945,46 GTQ 727£

TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS 8.945,46 GTQ 727£

TOTAL Guatemala 97.315,08 GTQ 7.912£

Total £

17.049,75£

16.860,00£

189,75-£ BALANCE

B. INDIRECT COSTS

A.Direct costs

A.Direct costs

B. INDIRECT COSTS

TOTAL PROJECT COSTS

TOTAL RAISED

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