Rebuilding communities affected by 8.2 earthquake

Introduction

During the reconstruction process of the Istmo of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, we have the results of collective work coming from communal organization and the strengthening of their constructive knowledge.Communities have reinforced their social ties and their commitment to generate a habitat that is in harmony with their culture and the environment.

The collective work has demonstrated that the objectives of reducing vulnerabilities and the strengthening of self- management is possible thanks to the hand in hand work, recovery of constructive systems and local materials self-management.

Reducing vulnerability of Women in La Blanca Community

During our social work with the community, we have reduced women's productive and economic vulnerability. While building their kitchens they have increased their knowledge on building and on the use of local materials. They have also recovered their income by selling local food and totopos. This is very useful because womens income represents an average of 33% of familie´s economy. In addition, women are recovering their ancestral alimentary culture, which strengthen their food sovereignty.

The kitchens are made by the reinforced constructive systems with local materials, which reduce the cost of building, it's more secure and their thermal characteristics make it comfortable and more habitable.

In the two years of work that we have been in the community, women have built 30 kitchens with the Cooperacion Comunitaria technique advisory.

Nursery-garden for reforestation of community

As part of the process of social and integral reconstruction of habitat, we have created a nursery-garden with community. This space has gathered people from all ages for the reforestation of timber species in order to give back to nature what we have taken from it to kitchen's construction. This nursery garden has sensibilize the community on the importance of reforestation in order to avoid land erosion, keep humidity, and contribute to a healthy environment. This part of the reconstruction process has the objective of the self management of plants and woods growth for their necessities. You can learn more about the process in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54gNs0Jf330

Autoconstruction of houses with local materials

The reconstruction process involves not only the building of houses, but also the strengthening of self- management building abilities that enable the constructive culture reproduction, their way of life and production. Throughout this process we have generated a working group with 10 families where the self -reflection has contributed to the diagnostic and participative design for the construction of their homes, recovering the bajareque building culture. 

The participant group that is starting the self production of traditional housing is currently managing the search for reused wood in good condition, as well as the stones and earth to start the rebuilding labour work. 

Tools for self management

Throughout the reconstruction, CC has been part of a formative process with builders and women which form part of a group or promoters and participants who have strengthened their self-management skills and generated conscience about the importance of saving the traditional building systems using local materials and taking care of the natural resources. Promoters have strengthened their leadership skills, as well as comunitary diagnosis.

On the other side, we have imparted first aid and use of equipment workshops for builders to propitiate a more safe working environment. We have also been part of a formative workshop for the self- management building skills as part of the Social Production and Management of habitat logic.

Links:

• Nursery-garden for reforestation experience video