Havurah pledges to aid Nicaragua

By POLINA OLSEN

article created on: 2010-03-18T00:00:00

When the group from Havurah Shalom returned from their 2008 project in Uganda, they vowed to continue fighting global poverty.
    
The two-week experience with American Jewish World Service gave them a variety of ideas. They settled on a collaboration with Green Empowerment, a local non-profit that builds renewable energy and water systems throughout the world. Together the teams will bring running water to a rural Nicaraguan village. El Jocote’s residents have always hand-pumped from a well. Now, water will come straight to their homes.
    
“Water was a huge problem for the village in Uganda,” said Havurah Shalom member Linda Boise. “And, Green Empowerment gives local workshops on water systems and sustainable energy. That was another appeal.”
    
While fundraising is Havurah Shalom’s major commitment, they plan additional contributions. Boise, a research associate in community health at Portland State University, and Michael Heumann, an epidemiologist, will help organize a health assessment of the village before and after the new water system.
    
“We’re looking at positive and unintended consequences,” Boise said. “Clean cooking water will probably improve intestinal problems. And, local people may be able to grow things with the water.”
    
Jason Selwitz, director of service learning at Green Empowerment, works with the Havurah Shalom group. He explained daily life in El Jocote. Located in the dry tropical forest one hour from the nearest road, the town’s 230 people are mostly farmers and depend on rain for their corn, millet and bean crops. They acquire basic literacy at the local primary school. Young men supplement the family income with work on coffee or melon farms in Costa Rica.
    
Green Empowerment has completed projects in similar Nicaraguan villages.
    
“A solar installation powers a deep well,” Selwitz said. “Water is pumped to a cement tank at a high point in the community.” From there, gravity brings water to people’s homes.
    
Rosa Gonzales, a villager from Bramadero, Nicaragua, knows the benefits of Green Empowerment systems. “Now that we no longer need to walk two or three hours each day carrying heavy buckets of water, we are not as tired and can take better care of our families,” she told visiting students who asked how running water changed her life. “Our young daughters also are not as tired and can spend time in school or doing homework.”
    
With a total cost estimate at $80,000, Havurah Shalom hopes to meet their $40,000 target by June.
    
“Then, we’ll work with Green Empowerment to raise the rest through grants,” Boise said. “We’ve made a lot of phone calls, and Rabbi Joey talked about the project during services. We might also have music fundraisers or workshops.”
    
While Boise appreciates living in Portland, she feels removed from places that lack privileges we take for granted.
    
“It’s wonderful to connect with people in different situations and find ways to improve their lives,” she said.  “At Havurah Shalom, people engage in the world and repair the world. That involves working locally and with global poverty. This is a great example of Havurah Shalom being out there in the world.”
    
For more information, contact Linda Boise at boisel@comcast.net. To contribute, mail checks out to Havurah Shalom, (note Green Empowerment on memo line), 825 NW 18th Ave., Portland, OR 97209. Learn more about Green Empowerment at www.greenempowerment.org.