Hi all-
Back in the United States in the chilly Pittsburgh weather, I am presented with the opportunity to reflect on the trip.
We all had different expectations of what we were going to be doing when we got the D.R., and the challenges we would face during our stay. For me, it was my first trip outside of the United State. Previous to this I had only taken a few plane trips, and all my knowledge of cultures outside of my own came from reading National Geographic and watching the Discovery Channel. I was excited for the opportunity to help out in a small way to provide the essential need of water, but also to experience a new country, its people, and its culture.
The work was amazing. It was understandable that while working with the team at the filter factory, we were going to have to find places to make our presence felt. At first finding a niche for a group of overeager grad students presented a challenge, but eventually we were able to meld with the workers, and hopefully not get in their way too much. We built pens used to sort the different sizes of wood that provides the fire for the kilns, package the filters, and made bricks that were to be used in the new kiln soon to be set up in Haiti. This work was a welcomed change from the excel spreadsheets and long essays that take up so much of our time at school. Using our hands, mixing the raw materials and that would become the clay that would provide clean water and bricks that would one day become a kiln in Haiti was amazing, and provided me a warming feeling that my actions had a direct impact on another person's life. I think what I have taken away most from our work was finding the importance in seemingly mundane work. Every bag of sawdust we carried, every piece of wood we stacked, and every speck of dust we swept make the factory that much more efficient, and allowed more filters to be made, and that many more people to enjoy the essential right of drink a glass of clean clear water with the knowledge that it will not make them sick.
The impact that we had during our stay in the Dominican was not limited to the time we spent working. During the flight home I kept think of something Kelly, a Peace Corps volunteer in the area was talking to our group about. She spoke of the important the cultural exchange that was occurring between our group and the Dominican people we were meeting, and the impact this exchange would have on all of our lives. Personally, I can say that I have a newfound great respect for the people that despite the limitations they face strive to make a positive change in the world.
The people that we have met, and the bonds that were built in the 10 days of our trip will be carried forever by all the members of our group. Now it is our duty the spread the word about the importance of clean water, and the how these low-tech filters can make a monumental impact. By continuing to make this issue one of importance and relevance to the entire global community, we can make the necessary strides to ensuring the future generations of Haitian, Dominicans, and any other members of the global community will not drink tainted water.
-Nick C. Shahverdi
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Potters For Peace
The chairwomen of a sister organization to Filter Pure - Potters for Peace - is staying with us. She has been our main source of information in understanding the organization, their mission, and vision for this area and in other countries. She lives in Nicaragua. There her and her husband work for Potters for Peace, and their daughter - a peace corps graduate, teaches in a local school.
She has made the trip to the Dominican Republic, to show solidarity with Filter Pure. Although they use a variation of the same ancient technology, their missions are the same. Providing clean water in local communities that need access to clean water.
The technology both organizations use, is as old as the shards of pottery found in the remains of ancient civilizations, with one minor addition: Colloidal Silver.
The filters made by Filter Pure are cone-shaped. Layers of clay sandwich a layer of charcoal. both are soaked in colloidal silver. The clay and charcoal filter-out 90 percent or more, of what needs to be removed from the water. The colloidal silver is a natural anti-bacterial, that removes micro-bacteria, that would not be filtered by the pores in the clay and charcoal.
We are very excited about the mission of the organization we are working with, and are excited about what we will learn and what we might accomplish in our time here. As they are preparing to fill in order for 1500 filters that are shipping to Haiti, we are helping with the layout of the factory. We are helping to "optimize their work flow" as we might say back at Carnegie Mellon.
She has made the trip to the Dominican Republic, to show solidarity with Filter Pure. Although they use a variation of the same ancient technology, their missions are the same. Providing clean water in local communities that need access to clean water.
The technology both organizations use, is as old as the shards of pottery found in the remains of ancient civilizations, with one minor addition: Colloidal Silver.
The filters made by Filter Pure are cone-shaped. Layers of clay sandwich a layer of charcoal. both are soaked in colloidal silver. The clay and charcoal filter-out 90 percent or more, of what needs to be removed from the water. The colloidal silver is a natural anti-bacterial, that removes micro-bacteria, that would not be filtered by the pores in the clay and charcoal.
We are very excited about the mission of the organization we are working with, and are excited about what we will learn and what we might accomplish in our time here. As they are preparing to fill in order for 1500 filters that are shipping to Haiti, we are helping with the layout of the factory. We are helping to "optimize their work flow" as we might say back at Carnegie Mellon.
Yucca, pottery, and lessons in Dominican hospitality
Upon arriving at what would be our home for the duration of our stay, we recieved our first meal with-in 10 minutes. We were all getting ourselves acclimated to our new surroundings and our host invited us to the table, which was set with Yuccca: a potato-like leggume, that is difficult to describe, but served with most meals that we eat.
We were relativley surprised with the luxury in which we were staying. We were prepared for much harsher conditions. Though the family that we are stay with has made every effort to welcome us into there home. Although different from what most of us are used to living in America, we are very comfortable.
Elaina, our host mother, is the sister of the owner of the filter factory. Her daughter Claudia and her niece Mellisa also live with her. I'm sure that our presence has impacted their lives grealy, by making everything much more difficult. They have however shown no signs of frustration.
Claudia is 25. She attended medical school, and is about to start her residency. Sher is, for the most part away at work, but when home she works with ther mother keeping us all well fed. Mellisa is one of the happiest girls I have ever met. Shy, but sparingly willing to practice the english she is learning at schoool; I belive she is in the 7th grade.
We are very lucky to have ended up staying with the family that we are!
We were relativley surprised with the luxury in which we were staying. We were prepared for much harsher conditions. Though the family that we are stay with has made every effort to welcome us into there home. Although different from what most of us are used to living in America, we are very comfortable.
Elaina, our host mother, is the sister of the owner of the filter factory. Her daughter Claudia and her niece Mellisa also live with her. I'm sure that our presence has impacted their lives grealy, by making everything much more difficult. They have however shown no signs of frustration.
Claudia is 25. She attended medical school, and is about to start her residency. Sher is, for the most part away at work, but when home she works with ther mother keeping us all well fed. Mellisa is one of the happiest girls I have ever met. Shy, but sparingly willing to practice the english she is learning at schoool; I belive she is in the 7th grade.
We are very lucky to have ended up staying with the family that we are!
Planes, trucks, and old Dominican Women
It was a great pleasure to meet Carolina's mother. She was not only a great help greeting us at the airport, but she made us feel safe and was a connection to home, while we were in a foreign country. I think most of us were surprised when arriving in Santos Domingo. Being the capital of the D.R. Santos Domingo we thought would be relatively free of the signs of poverty: dirty streets, stray dogs, etc. however the nicest area of town surrounded the presidential palace.
The next morning, we left early to the bus station. The hotel organized a transportation to the bus station, and after bartering (unsuccessfully) our taxi driver semi-safely delivered us in plenty of time for us to make the bus. The bus trip was nice. We traveled with mostly locals, who may have been shocked to see a group of gringos traveling to Santiago. We found that we were at a great disadvantage not having a fluent language speaker on the trip. When the bus rolled to a stop in Santiago, it took us a good 10 minutes to find out we were in the right spot.
We grabbed our bags off the buss and in poor Spanish asked the first person we saw, if this was in deed Santiago. The person answered "you must be the Carnegie Mellon students." After a brief bathroom break, we tossed our bags on the back of a flat bed, and jumped up to join them. We rode through the down town of Santiago, as somewhat of a spectacle. Happy to be close to our destination we responded to most honks of horns, and flashing lights with a smile, a wave, and a possibly incomprehensible "hello."
We turned off the main road, and arrived at our new dwellings. Unaware of where we were going we were pleasantly surprised when we stopped in front of the home of Elaina - our host Senora.
The next morning, we left early to the bus station. The hotel organized a transportation to the bus station, and after bartering (unsuccessfully) our taxi driver semi-safely delivered us in plenty of time for us to make the bus. The bus trip was nice. We traveled with mostly locals, who may have been shocked to see a group of gringos traveling to Santiago. We found that we were at a great disadvantage not having a fluent language speaker on the trip. When the bus rolled to a stop in Santiago, it took us a good 10 minutes to find out we were in the right spot.
We grabbed our bags off the buss and in poor Spanish asked the first person we saw, if this was in deed Santiago. The person answered "you must be the Carnegie Mellon students." After a brief bathroom break, we tossed our bags on the back of a flat bed, and jumped up to join them. We rode through the down town of Santiago, as somewhat of a spectacle. Happy to be close to our destination we responded to most honks of horns, and flashing lights with a smile, a wave, and a possibly incomprehensible "hello."
We turned off the main road, and arrived at our new dwellings. Unaware of where we were going we were pleasantly surprised when we stopped in front of the home of Elaina - our host Senora.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Night Before the big day!
I think we are all packed although probably 50% of us aren't (Mcinitire). I am very excited to go back go the DR and hopefully make it to Haiti. In 24 hours we will be touching down in the Santo Domingo and then on Friday morning traveling to Santiago to begin our project.
A lot of people have asked what we are doing and why we are doing it. We are attempting to provide clean water to the Haitians. As of right now, the Haitians lack access to clean running water and as the rainy season begins in Haiti, their only access to water will be what is collected in the crevices and sewer canals. The filters will allow the Haitians to use that water by easily filtering it through these filters. The clay filter pots are made of clay and combustible materials such as sawdust or rice husks and colloidal silver, which actually works as an antibacterial substance. The simply designed clay pots are fired at 1000 degrees Celsius to create a water filter. The filters will eliminated several water borne diseases including diphtheria (diarrheal disease) which is a leading cause of death amongst babies under 2 in the developing world.
Haiti is currently at an important crossroads. If they do not have clean access to water, the spread of diseases will continue, and ultimately, they will be unable to rebuild their lives.
So in a nutshell that’s why we’re going!! I’m excited!!!
Srilata Remala
A lot of people have asked what we are doing and why we are doing it. We are attempting to provide clean water to the Haitians. As of right now, the Haitians lack access to clean running water and as the rainy season begins in Haiti, their only access to water will be what is collected in the crevices and sewer canals. The filters will allow the Haitians to use that water by easily filtering it through these filters. The clay filter pots are made of clay and combustible materials such as sawdust or rice husks and colloidal silver, which actually works as an antibacterial substance. The simply designed clay pots are fired at 1000 degrees Celsius to create a water filter. The filters will eliminated several water borne diseases including diphtheria (diarrheal disease) which is a leading cause of death amongst babies under 2 in the developing world.
Haiti is currently at an important crossroads. If they do not have clean access to water, the spread of diseases will continue, and ultimately, they will be unable to rebuild their lives.
So in a nutshell that’s why we’re going!! I’m excited!!!
Srilata Remala
Friday, February 26, 2010
So surreal
I still can't believe in about 6 days we'll be in the Dominican Republic and Haiti to help with FilterPure. FilterPure does such an important job of impacting everyone's life by providing access to clean water. I am so excited to be part of this amazing project yet already overwhelmed by what I will be experiencing. This blog will keep myself and other members share our emotions as we prepare for the trip, and also help update our friends, family, and supporters throughout the journey. Definitely more updates to come!
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