Das Neueste aus dem Helping Hand Project

21.Oktober 2002

Dear Pilar, Alfred and Company,

I went to Lias last Tuesday (10-15,02) and had the meeting with the association officers that night 9PM-11:30PM. We discussed the unfinish seed bedconstruction, identified the problems or reasons why until now it is not yet finished, first-due to peak of harvest season, 2nd-heavy rains so they could not get sand for cementing. These reasons I have already given in my past e-mails. Now, they said that they did not yet continue on the construction since only the officers are working and some of the members, they taught that this is unfair since this is suppose to be a group work and later on the other members who did not help might be the one to get more seedlings and so they are hessitant to continue.

In this regard, I ask the officers and some of the members who attended what they want and two suggestions came out; 1) to continue with the finishing of the seedbed that was alredy started, 2) to form different farmer groups who will have one nursery each group ( with min. member of 3 farmers and max. no. of 10 farmers) to take good care of 1 nursery so as to identify the cooperative and interested farmers for the project.

We went into votation and the 2nd suggestion was unanimously carried by all, Since I went back to Baguio the following day for our tarining, I advice them to conduct a public meeting last Sunday afternoon to discuss the result of the meeting to other members and call me in Baguio City to inform the result. Last night they phoned me directly from Lias since they have a land phone now, informing me that they have the meeting yesterday afternoon and come-up with 7 groups of farmers. I am planning to go to Lias on Friday or Saturday to assist in the establisment of the seedbeds for each of the group and I will buy 21 bags of cements from Bontoc, 3 bags for each group, additional coffee arabica seeds (10kgs) cellophanes for covering the seedbeds.

Pls. give me your comments, pieces of advice regarding this matter. Kindly also give me the breakdown of the last money that you sent me. How much is for the medicines and for the project implementation?

Thank you and best regards to everybody.
Pedro