We are keeping busy at Mano a Mano!
Here are a few updates from our projects in Bolivia & Minnesota over the past month:
35+ Tons of Supplies On Their Way from Minnesota to Bolivia
Mano a Mano volunteers spent a week in early November loading 3 containers with 72,209 pounds of medical supplies, mobility equipment, and other in-demand items at our St. Paul, Minnesota warehouse. They are now on their way to Bolivia, where Mano a Mano will distribute them to people and organizations in need throughout the country. With this shipment, we have sent 9 containers with 220,704 pounds to Bolivia in 2022. Thank you to the many people that work to make these shipments possible!
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- These are the 3 containers that were loaded with supplies and equipment at our Minnesota warehouse over the past week.
New Clinic and School Projects Underway
Our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia has been busy working on a number of new clinic and school projects in partnership with local communities in rural Bolivia. The clinics will join Mano a Mano’s network of clinics throughout Bolivia that had 559,439 patient visits in the first half of 2022. Here is more information on each project underway:
Making Progress on the Laguna Sulti Runway
Our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Nuevo Mundo’s engineers and machine operators continue to work from dawn until dusk as they press forward to finish as much runway work as possible before seasonal rains begin later in December. “The work is incredibly large”, says engineer Boris Rodriguez “but we’re making good progress.”
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- Bucket by bucket the front end loader fills dump trucks that will spread the rock on the runway.
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- Crushed rock, fine rock, and ceramic clay being mixed on site.
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- After motograder spreads rock, smooth, vibrating roller compacts it every 6” until it’s rock solid.
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- Rock crusher and four machine operators at work.
Installing Tubing for Potable Water in Chirusi Rosario
Community members and our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Nuevo Mundo have been working on digging a channel and installing the tubing for potable water to reach the 212 households in Chirusi Rosario over the past few weeks. Mano a Mano heavy equipment dug the channel for the tubing that connects with the nearby 6-story water tower (dedicated last month with Mano a Mano) that stores water from the deep well (dedicated in March with Mano a Mano).
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- The 6-story water tank in Chirusi Rosario was dedicated in October.
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- Mano a Mano heavy equipment digging the channel for the tubing that will provide water for Chirusi Rosario households.
Training Workshop for 19 Physical Therapists in Cochabamba
Our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Internacional recently hosted a three-day professional development workshop for 19 physical therapists at our offices in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Mano a Mano workshops provide a blend of theory and practice that help professionals improve their skills and be able to apply them in their daily work.
Congrats Joan and Segundo Velasquez
Congrats to Mano a Mano Co-Founders Joan and Segundo Velasquez for being on the 2022 50 Over 50 list! Segundo and Joan were honored at a celebration event in late October. “The 2022 50 Over 50 list celebrates and recognizes Minnesotans over the age of 50 who have made significant contributions and achievements in their communities.”
Photo Credit: Pollen Midwest
Daily Work
These updates above are just a few of the activities Mano a Mano’s 5 counterpart organizations in Minnesota and Bolivia are doing on a daily basis.
Mano a Mano’s Cessna Caravan parked on the Uyuni Salt Flats.