Monday, March 24, 2014

3 Months in 3 Pages

Thanks to all of you who have bugged me into writing. Especially the non-Facebook gang. I have been posting now and then on the Book, but how would you know? So, please bear with me, this will be a long read.
As I’ve noted before, 3rd year service is a very different animal. Somehow, it just doesn’t seem like the office routine is as newsworthy as my very direct interactions in San Luis. Most of what I do is organizing the conferences and resources, training new volunteers and consulting with the volunteers in the field who have tech questions about renewable energy, water systems and sanitation projects or issues. I average about 15 consultations a month on a 24/7 basis – though PCVs have learned NOT to call after 9pm. I enjoy the Heck out of this, but this work doesn’t lend itself to headlines or photos. Then, throw in some purely administrative duties and my days are full.
Yachaywasi staff demonstrates biodigester

Two completed projects which did garner some press were the recent ECPA / renewable energy conference at the Yachawasi center in Ica, which I organized and helped teach. We had 24 PCVs and community partners, who got to experience first hand in most every RE imaginable: biodigesters, improved cook stove, solar cooker, water heater, wind turbines and solar panels. They also saw drip irrigation, fish aquaculture, composting toilet and low tech water pumps in 3 flavors.

The facility was not only full of working tech, the rooms were beyond comfortable – providing the first hot showers many PCVs had enjoyed in a while. The food was extraordinary, with all herbs and many vegetables coming directly from the gardens. Our meeting room was complete with projector, sound system and satellite internet connection. And the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. The only glitch was that it was overcast , drizzly and calm on the day we wanted to demonstrate the solar cookers and wind turbines. 

It was a joy to see the lights going on and folks from all over the country going home with some new ideas in their heads. We left the conference on the center's nice bus, stopping at the Tambo Colorado ruins and museum, including some 1000 year old indoor plumbing. We also stopped at the little town of Huancano, self-anointed home of the best alfajore cookies in the country.,where we stocked up on 3 layer alfajores – best I've ever had.
Photos : https://plus.google.com/photos/114324927553623472875/albums/5988386925827987185
I've also started work with the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM). Over the last 5 years, they installed 130 “Solar Schools” around the country. These units are comprised of 6 solar panels and a small wind turbine, which provide power to the school for lights, outlets, 5 computers, an internet dish and a UV water purifier. MINEM has asked us to help inspect, evaluate and monitor the systems – to see how they are holding up over time.

I visited the first system near Chincha with my friend Joe Gubbels of the Canadian charity “Rainbow of Hope”. We ventured an hour and a half off the main road, crossed mudslides and rockslides, to get to the village of Huachinga. The system itself was in great shape – very sturdy construction. However, the computers had been stolen, the UV unit was “broken” and most of the power was being sent to the nearby health post to power refrigerators for storing medicines. The internet signal was rigged to an antenna , to provide WiFi to the 3 computers in the village. The folks liked the solar idea so much that they got two solar streetlights to illuminate the village center at night.
I have developed an inspection report and will enlist the aid of other PCVs to inspect some of the installations near their sites.

I do renewable energy trainings for the newer PCV groups, showing them the array of possible projects available. They then see if one or more are appropriate in their site and see if there is local interest and cooperation. I help them design the project and shepherd it through the grant process. Not the same as doing it myself, but fun to get in on many good projects.
Another recent project was translating an entire magazine (AMARAY) about renewable energy in Peru from Spanish to English for a cooperating NGO. I have to admit that Google Translate (I liked the old Babblefish name better) did most of the heavy lifting. It did a perfect job about 90% of the time, but has problems with technical terms and slang.
The huge US Embassy (aka The Fort) in Lima

USAID recently held a Climate Change conference at the US Embassy here in Lima. Security is a little over the top – no cellphones, cameras, computers or even USB memories allowed – plus the standard empty your pockets and take off your belt stuff. They asked me to do a presentation on Peace Corps Peru's renewable energy efforts under the ECPA program. So, I went back through all the grant records and compiled a list of our results. In the 3 years of the program, with a total budget of about $45,000, here's what we did :
Peace Corps Peru – ECPA
Activities FY 2011-2013
    • 10 Workshops : trained and educated 127 PCVs and 87 community partners
    • 42 Small Grants (each < US$ 1,000.)
      • 10 Solar PV Projects – total of 24 systems
      • 2 Pico Solar Projects - 83 homes + follow on
      • 12 Biodigester Projects - 13 units installed
      • 18 Improved Cook Stoves Projects - over 400 stoves + follow on
      • 3 Wind Projects - 3 wind turbines installed
      • 4 Climate Change Projects – over 150 students trained
      • 2 Bottle Bulb Projects - over 80 + follow on
      • 2 Solar Hot Water Projects - 4 systems
This has got to some of the best “Bang-for-buck” in the international development world. Yet, sadly, Congress has decided that the program will not be funded next year. The “+ follow on” are projects that have been carried out by communities or families outside of the project.

Speaking of funding, during a visit with the PC Director of Global Operations, I learned that the Peace Corps budget, after being stagnant at around $340M for the last few years, will actually be increased next year , to about $380M. For the same cost as the Army marching bands, PC will field over 8,000 volunteers around the world.

Angel displays the 'new' computers back in San Luis
I'm happy to report that I continue to work with my dear friend and community partner, Angel Garcia in “mi pueblo” of San Luis de Canete. During my service there, I had tried but failed to get computers for the new Youth Tech Center. I finally made the connection, when the PC office in Lima replaced all its computers and 10 of the old ones went to San Luis !! And while I was at the USAID conference, I ran into the guy who is in charge of the grant request we made last April, for Cerro de Oro. At LONG last, it looks like this may actually happen, as well.


I had a lovely 63rd birthday with Ingrid, with whom I share a birthday (also the Peace Corps' birthday) and “oldest PCVs in Peru” honors. We visited a couple of museums, had a wicked good dinner and were home by 9. While the Larco museum was impressive and included an ancient porn section, the Nat'l Archeology museum was far more educational.

The solar waterfalls at the Peace Corps center in Lima have gotten some upgrades. I added a timer, since the system was often left running until the battery died. Also, I had to add an automatic fill to the reservoir. Just connected a hose to a float valve. It's amazing how much water is lost due to evaporation and the birds splashing around. Since running outside water is pretty rare in Lima, the waterfall attracts TONS of birds – some nice colorful ones, too.

The compost pile I started at the PC office is composting down nicely – slightly surprised by how much volume is lost as it decomposes down. Still hoping to add a biodigester soon.
Personal note :The water in Lima is treated at a huge modern plant, which I've actually visited. I've tested the water many times – if anything , it has too much chlorine in it. It’s as safe as any in the US. So, I drink it and make ice out of it. The strange thing is that my landlord and the staff at the PC office are shocked at this behavior. The good news is that nobody takes my ice.

I enjoyed a morning and breakfast with cousin Conrad Plimpton. He was enroute to Cusco, escorting his grand-daughter Emma to a nurse internship. I always enjoy our wide ranging conversation.

In service to my alma mater, I interviewed a young man who had applied to Princeton and was living in Lima. He was so articulate and accomplished it was scary. I'm not sure I could get accepted these days.
Another interesting encounter – Cliff Brown is with USAID in Lima and is constructing a device to capture wave energy. It is much simpler , cheaper and more durable than most of the wave generators I've seen. I'll be helping him in the field.

Thanks for hanging in there. I'll try to get back to shorter blogs, going forward.
CHEERS !!














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