Defining our Roles

For the past two weeks (since the solar culture course ended) C.J. and I have been assisting with the construction of solar cookers with the ladies from Sabana Grande. The mayor of Esteli ordered 22 cookers, and the women have been working every day to get them finished. They are all done now, and are awaiting transport to their new owners. In the future, the cookers are expected to be a major product of the Solar Women, but they definitely have some problems to work through first.

On Thursdays, we also help out with construction of the workshop at the Solar Women´s Center. In the future, the Women´s Center will have a store, a restaurant, and other ecotourism attractions, but the workshop is where they will make their solar ovens, dryers, and other products. The workshop is made of traditional Nicaraguan Adobe and is a very open, free flowing space. There is a lot more work to be done there, so all of the volunteers have been helping out.

After several business meeting this week, Susan and I have started to define my role for the upcoming year. For the most part I am going to help with the management of the Women´s Center workshop construction. Right now, they are having trouble keeping the plans, budgets, and schedules accurate and aligned. So, I´ll be able to help out, and teach the current PM some of my management and tracking techniques. Hopefully we´ll get it all organized and the construction will be completed the way we need and want it - on time and under budget (ha!).