Changing the World, 1 Village at a Time...
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The people of Indian Creek Village want electricity for their homes and school because they wish to enhance educational opportunities for their children and improve the quality of life in the village. Providing clean electricity for the Village requires an energy plan to include ECOnomic development (to keep the lights lit). |
While sitting on a beach in Placenzia on a hot dry day in April 2005, I watched from a distance as 2 young women walked toward me. Both carried heavy packs filled with crafts. As the sun cast haloes around their moving figures, I was reminded of the harmonic images from the film, "Powaqqatsi". Then, I sensed another familiarity as Katharina and Carmella came closer. But it wasn't until they sat beside me that I realized I had painted a primitive likeness of 16 year old Katharina 25 years ago, and that her portrait had been hanging in my living room since.
During our conversation on the beach, Katharina and Carmella told me they were from a very poor but beautiful village. They talked about their new school -- though it had no pencils or books -- and about their families, who want what most people want for their children - a good education. A few minutes later we were joined by Jose Choc, an uncle and respected council member of the village. He explained milpa farming to me, and then we talked about the possibilities of solar and wind as being the perfect energy choices for Belize.
Since then, we have been working with Indian Creek Villagers in three areas -- to help them acquire clean electricity, provide books and pencils for their schools, and in creating an ECOnomic development program toward sustainability involving a unique system of caves behind the village that have cultural, archeological, and ecological significance as well as ECOtourism potential (Indian Creek Maya Cave Conservation Trust Project).
Indian Creek Villagers are most grateful to the Ford Promios Foundation who has awarded a $10,000 grant to develop the cave ECOtourism/ECOnomic development project. These funds have been used to clear the trails to the caves and will pay tuition for tour guide training in May 2006 for 10 villagers who will provide guided tours to the caves. See photos of award ceremony/December 7, 2005.
The Indian Creek Village Cave Conservation Committee has formed a partnership with The Ya’axché Conservation Trust (YCT), a local community-based NGO whose mission is to promote biodiversity and conservation, and enhance sustainable development opportunities in the rural indigenous communities of the area.
On our visit to Indian Creek Village in August 2005, a few of us were able to make the trek through the jungle in the rainy season in order to see the caves, returned exhausted, but totally inspired by what they had seen. The photos, linked below, tell only a small part of the story of these remarkable caves where the famous crystal skull of Belize may have originated.
The Village will also be working with the Toledo Ecotorism Association in developing a guest house program to accomodate ecotourists visiting the village and caves. Until the Village has its own guest house, cave enthusiasts can stay in the nearby San Miguel Village or another village participating in the program.
See Photos of Indian Creek Villagers and Caves... http://www.indiancreekvillage.org
Solar Energy
Lorenzo Pop, the village Alcalde, has made energy
a priority, as Indian Creek Village has no electricity. Indian Creek is
exploring the possibilities of renewable energy alternatives toward maintaining
a safe clean environment and sustainability. Solar
Energy International is providing a $1500 scholarship for Esteven Ack,
a young man from the village, to attend a Photovoltaic Design & Installation
workshop in Colorado Aug. 21 - Sep. 1, 2006. He will gain technical
knowledge and bring the information back to his village.
We have completed and submitted a grant to the World Bank requesting support for acquiring solar energy to be used with LED lighting (www.leds4all.org), while simultaneously developing the ecotourism program toward self-sustainability. The proposal was prepared jointly with the Alcalde, Village Council, Cave Committee and some of the secondary students who are very interested and involved in both the energy and cave projects. The proposal was submitted late November 2005 and awards will be announced in May, 2006.
Needs:
- Donations of new and used solar panels and
related materials
- Volunteers with expertise to share information,
serve as mentors/advisors, and/or provide hands-on help.
- Donations of LED light bulbs/fixtures
- Funds to support Estevan's transportation,
food, and lodging costs for educational workshop.
School Books/Education
We are working with the wonderful people of Book
Aid in Darien Connecticut who have sent 2 boxes of books for Indian Creek
Village and donated three additional boxes awaiting donations to cover
$35/box to snail mail, or wait for next trip. Books Abroad has also pledged
books for the school. We sent them the information, but have not yet heard
if the village has received the books.
Needs:
- Volunteer to send out information to classrooms
in US and Canada about the Pencil Pals Project
- Volunteers to contact their local schools to
ask if old school books could be made available.
- Establish scholarship program, so more students can attend secondary
school.
Karin
Westdyk
ListNLook.com
To receive occassional updates on Indian Creek Village projects, send an email to mail@listnlook.com with "Indian Creek Updates" in subject box.
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