Project Proposal: Executive Summary
Introduction
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http://bensampsonite.blogspot.com/2011/10/land-of-love-tortillas.html
Tzibal is a small indigenous village located about two kilometers from Campur in what I affectionately call Guatemala’s “egg carton hills”. There are about 380 Q'eqchi' residents who rely on the farming of coffee, cardamom, bananas, black pepper, and mandarins as their principle sources of income. The community has no electricity or running water, but abundances of love, generosity, and tortillas, so many tortillas.
From our bienvenidos at the escuela, to meals with our lovely families, soccer games in the street, haircuts, healthcare, and Chicky (oh so delicious chocolate covered cookies) runs to Campur, jungle hikes, evening masses, and poolside parties, Operation Groundswell Guatemala (OGG) spent an amazing week constructing cross-cultural ties and, when there was time, “building” a bottle school. But it did not end there.
OGG was so touched by the hospitality, generosity, and so taken by the genuine connections they made with the community of Tzibal that its participants decided that their work on the bottle school was just simply not enough. So, after some deliberation and a unanimous vote it was decided that OGG’s fundraising should stay with its heart, in Tzibal. For those unfamiliar with Operation Groundswell: One unique part of OG’s program is that each and every participant is required to fundraise $1000, approx. 50% of which is used to facilitate in-country contributions to local partners and projects. Approx. 35% is secured in a central OG fund for larger scale and longer termed projects while 10% is used to carbon offset all participant and TL flights.
After some reflection and community consultation, the need for a safer site to play and facility capable of accommodating community congregations was made explicit. Consequently, participants concluded that they should respond to the community’s request and contribute to the construction of a civic and recreational space, the result is “La Cancha” project, a covered outdoor Centro de Comunidad.
Enthusiasm for the collaborative project hasn’t diminished. A potential design has been generously provided by Baird Sampson Neuert Architects and a new larger plot of land acquired courtesy of a local resident. However, even with the pledges of land and labour, material costs will still exceed community means and OGG’s budget. Participants have therefore channelled their enthusiasm into a renewed fundraising effort. The goal is $6,500, a daunting task but a modest sum for what will become a social hub and living testament to cross-cultural and communitarian initiative. For all those equally inspired to help, we invite, nay, we ask that you to make a pledge, small or large, Quetzal or Dollar.
On behalf of OGG 2011 and the community of Tzibal, Thank You and B'antiox!
The Goal (Why Give?)
The principal goal of La Cancha project is to construct a public and multi-purpose community centre and versatile recreational infrastructure. The site is situated in close proximity to the community school facilitating its use for school related games, sports, and activities. Outside of school hours the space will be available for soccer, volleyball, and basketball providing a safe space away from the effects of alcohol and domestic violence, which remain concerns in rural communities such as Tzibal. Additionally, the community centre will provide a forum for cultural and civic gatherings, including fiestas, ferias, performances, community consultations, and the women’s group meetings. Tzibal’s access to comparable facilities is limited by its isolation. Moreover, localizing such events will promote civic engagement and cultural enrichment, sustaining and further fostering the strong sense of community already present in Tzibal.
The Design
Based on community consultation, OGG consulted award winning Toronto firm, Baird Sampson Neuert Architects about plausible design options. Preliminary plans were subsequently drawn up and presented to Tzibal in September 2011. The design includes a paved court with nets and goal posts. Reminiscent of a Mayan ball court, 3 tier bleachers will frame the two lengths of the Cancha. Two steel support arms and one tensioned cable in an A-frame formation will stand in each of the four corners (two tall: approx. 7 metres and two low: approx. 3 metres). The roof utilises a web of steel cabling held in tension by the rigid steel substructure. Suspended above, aluminum panelling will span the 1000m2 tented surface providing shade, shelter, and natural drainage. Beneath the two low drainage points will be 20,000+ litre cast concrete cisterns. Positioned, adjacent to the catchment cisterns will be sanitation facilities (special sinks known as pilas as well as showers) with latrines positioned nearby.
Added benefits of La Cancha's design.
1. The suspension roof and substructure minimize the use steel components reducing weight while maximizing strength and reducing overall cost by more than $10,000.
2. The paneled cable roof is devised to act as rainwater catchment system channelling rain water from its 1000m2 surface area to cisterns below providing a sustainable public source of potable water and service to sinks (pilas) and showers on site. Average precipitation in the area can reach 400mm/year and, therefore, catchment potential is over 320,000 litres/year.
3. The campus will also accommodate dry composting toilettes which will, in combination with the sinks and showers, service a sanitation and nutrition program developed by Youth Development Peace Corps worker, Hannah Gdalman. Pilas and showers will service improved community hygiene regiments, while the DAFF inspired dry composting latrines will improve waste management and provide fertilizer for a tiered fruit and vegetable garden that will in turn contribute needed nutrient rich foods to local diets.
The Plan
The initial project proposal and preliminary design, which was developed by the OGG 2011 participants, henceforth referred to as OGG Alum, Program Coordinators, Ben Sampson and Jay Wall, as well as Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, received overwhelming support from community leaders. However, the Cancha will require approximately $20,000 worth of land, labour, and material inputs. Although, this is dramatically cheaper than similarly sized structures and more easily implementable than more traditional court designs, it nevertheless, remains well beyond the means of any single stakeholder and thus can only be achieved through a sustained collaborative initiative. For their part, OGG Alum committed $1,500 to help secure the two cuerdas of land required for the facility’s footprint and to facilitate the commencement of necessary clearing and grading. This was delivered in person on October 3, 2011 by Ben Sampson. The OGG Alum additionally pledged to raise $6,500 privately in hopes that that number would be matched by OG’s central project fund. In this regard, on October 9, 2011, a project proposal was submitted to OGHQ which included a formal request for $6,500 in grant moneys as well as provided the framework for the establishment of the Tzibal Cancha Project Fund which launched on Oct. 15, 2011. The remaining inputs will come from the community, the municipality, and locally based NGO’s in the form of financial contributions and material donations.
As of January 1, 2012, the Cancha Project Fund held contributions from five OGG Alum and their generous donors amounting to $4,000. A second transfer was subsequently made to Tzibal on March 3, 2012 so as to facilitate the requisition of materials and the commencement of construction. On March 5, 2012, OGHQ approved the grant request for $6,500 and began welcoming donations at www.operationgroundswell.causefox.com/Tzibal. May 1, 2012, is now the final deadline for the achievement of the all required revenues. Final blueprints and total funding will be subsequently transferred to on-site coordinator and community member, Eric Cuz Choc in person on May 15, 2012 with construction slated for June & July, completion set for early August, and the Cancha’s inauguration tentatively scheduled for August 2012.
But this can only be achieved with your help. Please give!
