Community Clean Up Initiative Is Brought To Arapata
As part of the USAID-sponsored Yungas Community Alternative Development Fund (YCADF), ACDI/VOCA works closely with local communities in the three provinces of Nor Yungas, Sud Yungas and Caranavi, in the Department of La Paz. Over the past four years, the Yungas region, characterized by a variety of dramatic landscapes and cultures, has been the focus of various YCADF initiatives, encompassing a wide range of projects from environmental to enterprise development. These initiatives work towards improving infrastructure, building local capacity and stimulating economic growth and sustainability in the region, seeking to help improve the quality of life for the local population.
Through the assistance of a strong, enthusiastic and dedicated team of ACDI/VOCA social development trainers, many successful projects have been carried out in the areas of sanitation, education and environmental awareness. These projects have primarily been implemented through the provision of social infrastructure, including potable water systems, sewers, latrines and schools. The community of Arapata, situated in north Yungas is one of over 220 communities to have benefited from YCADF activities.
In early 2005, the YCADF constructed a new sewer system, which provides household connections for approximately 400 families in the community of Arapata. Unfortunately, the indiscriminate disposal of solid residuals (especially plastic bottles, nylon bags, tin and other materials) has significantly affected the performance of the sewer system, as these items clog up the sewer. Within the local communities there was an evident lack of adequate waste management which has resulted in extensive environmental consequences, including contributing significantly to infections and ill-health among local residents. To this end, a more comprehensive environmental awareness is of paramount importance to the future of the sewer system and general well-being of the local population.
One recent area of intervention carried out by the YCADF social development trainers, in conjunction with the local communities and forming part of the larger YCADF environmental initiative, has involved a community ‘Clean-Up’ campaign - the first launched by ACDI/VOCA in the area. The ‘Clean-Up’ campaign, sought to educate the population about the importance of the correct disposal of garbage and how correctly managing waste will contribute to maintaining health and preserving the surrounding environment.The first stage of the project involved an extensive general training program, designed and orchestrated throughout the months of June and July 2005, targeting 800 people of varying age and role within the community. The themes addressed included educating local residents on the adequate disposal of garbage, differentiating between organic and inorganic materials (emphasizing those which are toxic and non-toxic), the length of time necessary for the degradation of the waste and how uncollected waste can affect the functioning of the sewer system. A further key strategy involved the creation of micro landfills in the area to provide a safe and effective method of disposal.
Participants were trained using a participatory methodology which incorporated a variety of training techniques. These included hosting group meetings within zones, conducting household visits, classroom training sessions with professors from The Rosmery G.De Barrientos and Mrcl.Andres de Santa Cruz Educational Units, and collaboration with local authorities.
In addition to the overall training and education programs being run, the next stage of the project involved an actual ‘Clean-Up’ day orchestrated by ACDI/VOCA trainers on the 20th of July, 2005, involving some 485 persons from the local community, with full participation of the community including children, young men and women, local authorities and teachers. The primary focus was on collecting garbage in the locality. Those working as garbage collectors were equipped with protection material, (surgical gloves and masks), and delivered red and black garbage bags within the community in order to help residents separate organic and inorganic materials. While the students collected and separated the garbage, the authorities were responsible for excavating the micro landfills.
One of the evident impacts of this first YCADF implemented campaign is that the active involvement of
different sectors of the community has raised environmental awareness and encouraged a change in behavior
when disposing of garbage. This in turn will directly improve the performance of the sewer system,
and will contribute indirectly to improving the quality of life in the area by reducing infection levels.
Blanca G. Colque, responsible for ACDI/VOCA’s Sanitary, Education and Environment Team, comments:
It is important to note that this sort of event contributes to sustainability, since it involves putting training into practice. In the future they can replicate this experience and apply their knowledge.
This first ‘Clean-Up’ campaign administered under theYCADF now serves as a pilot for future projects. Through these successful programs, the YCADF will assist in improving the quality of life in other localities, just as it did by improving the waste management and hygiene habits for the people of Arapata.
