An update on Mano a Mano's Demonstration & Training Center project in Cochabamba, Bolivia, which aims to provide Bolivian farmers training on best use of their water to ensure maximum benefits from the water projects that Mano a Mano has built with them. The last few weeks we have been working on finishing the bathrooms and working on the buildings where the training workshops and overnight facilities for traveling participants will take place.

1. “ A P L E A S A N T W O R K E N V I R O N M E N T . ”
MA N O A MA N O D E MO N S T R A T I O N & T R A I N I N G
C E N T E R ( C E A , B Y I T S A C R O N Y M I N S P A N I S H )
Weeks 13 and 14
April 1-April 13, 2013

2. Processes that are completed
 The bathroom is ready and in use
 The bathroom demonstrates how even the simple act
of going to the bathroom can be made more
environmentally friendly.
 Our bathroom has these advantages:
 Doesn’t waste water
 Doesn’t contaminate underground water
 Doesn’t contaminate the environment
 Is hygienic and avoids bad odors
 Eliminates microorganisms dangerous to our health
 Transforms excretes into a nutritious fertilizer

3. Leonardo completes the installation of the urinal.
Pablo supervises the completion of the details.

4. Installation of the steps

5. The bathroom is
completed.

6. Painting of the perimeter internal wall
 With the goal of providing better security to the CEA,
a perimeter wall was installed.
 The wall reflected the sunlight, however, and caused
the area to be extremely hot.
 The wall was painted to cut down on the heat.

7. We decided to play with mud

8. Pablo and Hamet prepare the mud to paint the wall

9. After distributing the materials, we begin the game.

10. Hamet painting the wall

11. Jacky, Francisco and Fatima decide to work on the details.

12. The CEA before painting the wall

13. The CEA after

14. Infrastructure
 Step by step, the dream of a training center for the
farmers is taking shape.
 The infrastructure is a very important component.
 The main rooms such as the kitchen, the food room,
and the warehouses are taking shape.
 The roof and other details continue to be
constructed.

15. Bricklayers preparing scaffolding to continue work in the warehouses

16. Work on the office and the entry is completed

17. Progress on the Roof
The construction of the roof
continues and the structure is
painted.

18. A little work remains to complete the structure
and begin assembling the roof.

19. Construction of the sidewalk
Excavation and leveling for the construction of the sidewalk for visitors

20. Paving the sidewalk

21. Soon, we will have most of the infrastructure
for the development of the workshops.

22. Educational activities with children
 On April 12, the Day of the Child in Bolivia, youth
studying the environment completed an activity to
demonstrate their entrepreneurial spirit.
 They developed a product to be sold in different
parts of the city.
 A group of 5 students made toys with recycled
material and left to sell them in parks and streets in
Cochabamba, earning the profits from the toys.

23. Leonardo, Marisol, Juan and Gabriela walk and offer their products.

24. Juan offers the toys to Camilita.

25. Isabel and Marisol
convince Camilita’s
father to buy
the toys.

26. Camilita is happy over her new toys and the group is happy to have
successfully sold their toys.

27. Processes that continue
 The youth continue helping with routine activities at
the CEA, like planning the planting of their plots.

28. Youth helping with the beans and corn

29. Pablo gives seedlings to a student to plant in her plot.

30. Looking ahead
The CEA hopes to give all of the public a seed of
consciousness surrounding the production of healthy
foods and how to care for the environment.