EWB Bridge in Bolivia
Meeting with Dr. Beaule
November 1, 2007
Clarifications
 Though the government gave the village an irrigation system, they will not get a
bridge because the government’s civic projects gifts were only a one-time deal.
 We want Dr. Beaule to come with us on the site assessment trip and she is not free
this winter break. However, she is free any other time, so we would prefer spring
break (March 8th – March 16th), which is at the end of the rainy season.
 Our possible site assessment DukeEngage funding might have a deadline for its
use, so we would need to take that into consideration
 Skilled laborers are plentiful because there is not much farming work to be done
during their dry season. Laborers would get paid about $8/day, plus a possible
bonus from leftover funds.
Area Description
 Condor Chinoka:
o A 600 year old town; it is named after the legend of a condor who used to
eat local children. Offerings were made and a shaman was called in,
eventually resulting in the petrifying of the bird (the rock the bird was
turned into is still visible). Offerings are now made by the community
elders though the younger villagers don’t really believe in the legend.
o Dr. Beaule’s archaeology site is located near here.
o The elevation in this region of the Altiplano is about 14,000 ft.
o Residents are subsistence farmers growing potatoes, carrots, onions, and
other crops. Some have side jobs in a mining company. Annual income is
about $200-400.
o The dry season runs from May to October. The monsoon season fills the
interim. The area is very gravelly/sandy/silty/clay-filled.
o The area speaks no English, only Spanish and Quechua.
o The area has pretty reliable electricity (220V).
o The local religion is Christianity with a mix of indigenous religions.
o There are eight similar communities nearby; it would be important to
speak to their leaders about our projects as well.
o The area is wide open for other projects related to health, water, house
improvements, plastering and painting to slow Chagas disease, maternity,
vaccinations, decreasing the area’s high infant mortality, access to food,
and irrigation ditch-dredging.
o There’s a charitable organization attached to the local school that may be
worth getting involved in.
o Children attend school if the parents can afford it; a child may get his or
her only meal of the day (something similar to porridge) at school.
o Socialist president Evo Morales is popular in the region.
 Government has given the village a radio and an irrigation system
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Obrajes:
o A small town, Obrajes is about a 20 minute drive from Condor Chinoka.
o The community center where we would stay is located here.
o The town has hot water springs (Los Baños) that are a tourist attraction.
o Cabs run frequently between this site and the larger town of Oruro.
o Obrajes also has reliable electricity.
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Oruro:
o A city of 120,000 inhabitants, Oruro is on most maps of Bolivia.
o Any equipment we would need could be found here.
 This includes concrete, steel, pipes, mud brick adobe, plaster,
wood, and hiring trucks.
o About eight Bolivianos equals one dollar (and buys a bucket of carrots).
o It’s about a 30 minute drive from Condor Chinoka.
Accommodations
 Dr. Beaule rents a space in Obrajes for $80/month. It can handle 20 people and
includes a kitchen space, several sleeping rooms, and a social/work space. Beds
are available but sleeping bags will be necessary. There are bathrooms with
showers but they are only functional in the rainy season.
 The area has electricity and it’s pretty reliable.
 The team cooked for themselves though the wife of one worker was hired to
prepare their lunch (a Bolivian’s largest meal of the day). Food costs for the
entire team of about 20 people were $50/week.
 Water was boiled on a propane stove; propane may be bought in Oruro.
 There’s a restaurant in Obrajes that costs about $1/meal. The food is clean but not
terribly tasty.
Project Details
 During rainy season, river can become 5 ft. deep and is impassable.
o River about 100ft. wide
 The town’s pastures and grazing fields are on other side of the river.
o The rainy season forces a four mile detour and decreases productivity.
 Two previous groups have come to build a bridge; each collected money from the
village and then disappeared!
o Dr. Beaule has worked here for several years
 The nine communities along the river would all benefit.
To Do List (in order of priority)
 Contact Natalie Hartman (Center of Latin American and Caribbean Studies) for
potential support on our project (plus, Dr. Beaule has worked with the CLACS
before).
 Contact the University of Missouri (St. Louis?) chapter of EWB about their trip;
do we need any sort of permits? How do we work with the local government?
 Get the number for the Condor Chinoka pay phone and the phone in the
community center in Obrajes.
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Obtain email of Bolivian agricultural scientists that have worked in Condor
Chinoka before
o Their work was focused on giving a new strain of onion to the villagers. It
did not grow well at all (1/3 of typical yield).
What is Condor Chinoka’s population?
Obtain a topographical map that Dr. Beaule has.
Write up an official letterhead document describing who we are and what we
want to do for distribution on our site assessment trip.
May be worth talking to Paul Baker of the Nicholas School about his projects in
Bolivia.