One of the water systems in Encañada. All 9 were still working and in great shape 1 year later.
Another rainwater system in Encañada.
Kids washing their hands with the water from the rainwater system in Ecañada. One of the reasons it is helpful to having water at a tap in each house is that people can wash their hands more frequently and easily.
Collecting water samples to be tested.
Doing water quality testing in Encañada.
We found that the rain water tanks can provide very clean water if the families are good about cleaning and maintaining the systems.
The guarderia (day care center).
Playing with all the donations in the Guarderia.
The cd-player that the Guarderia was able to buy with donated money to play music and teach songs and dance to the kids.
The students and teachers in the preschool with the new donations we brought down.
The new stove in the Guarderia, purchased through donations, because the old one started creating awful fumes and not working.
The boys from the Guarderia (preschool) performing a dance on christmas.
Girls from the Guarderia in the dance.
The guarderia girls.
Girls serving chicha, homemade yuca alcohol, to the boys.
Me with Samira and Shirla, now 5 years-old. They were just 1 year old toddlers, just learning to talk when I met them.
I can't belive this is the same Samira that I met almost 4 years ago as a smart little 1 year-old with a devious smile and only a few word vocabulary.
And this is Shirla, the sweet, happy little 1-year old now about to start school with her twin sister in the fall.
Shirla with her puppy. Probably the most adorable photo I have seen in my life.
Sebastian, another child I met as an infant and is now about to start school.
Cleaning the water intake area in Santa Ana.
The sedimentation tank in Sana Ana's community water system.
Elsa Vargas, my comadre and I
Elsa and her youngest daughter Tera, named after my mom.
The amazing boardwalk that Telmo and Elsa built over the swamp to their house. I have fallen in the swamp before, but now even bicycles can drive over it!
Me with Beatriz, her daughter Cassie, and Melida.
Hanging out with my friends at the Christmas Day program.
Vanessa and I (madrina and hijada)
