Create 2 Resiliency Centers in Cano Martin Pena

In the last three months there have been great advances in the Resiliency Centers. The programming and the use of spaces for educational purposes in the Resiliency Centers have continued. An after-school program that emphasizes in developing the skills of students through supporting and strengthening their study habits have been taking place in both centers.  This program has helped the students greatly after dealing with atmospheric events and the pandemic that impacted the Education System and the way the students received their classes.

Also, two groups of volunteers were received in the Moises school in February and March to help paint the facilities. In both Resiliency Centers, the Santiago school and the Moises school, community assembly were held related to the dredging of the Martín Peña Channel. For the communities and its leaders is very important that these spaces become active as a crucial part in promoting the participation of the residents in the decision-making processes that impact their lives. This its important today more than ever as we recently received the great news that finally the that the federal government will award $163 million to help restore the Caño Martín Peña in Puerto Rico and select the Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project as one of the projects to receive funding following the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The Resiliency Centers have also been very useful to offer training and professional development workshops and make visible what is happening in the communities. We received three groups of university students from Puerto Rico and the United States to learn about the work in the communities, the history and the fight of the community to have a better quality of life.  A group of medicine students were received in the Moises school to receive an orientation about the communities and design a plan to visit elderly residents as part of the services and the training their receive. Also, in the Moises school the program for elderly residents have celebrated a few of their meetings. The program provides elderly people a place to entertain and interaction among their peers while they received information about their rights, health issues, yoga classes, workshops, excursions among other subjects related to their generation.

Finally, the Community Kitchens are ready. The installation of the kitchen equipment and the solar energy system was completed. We are in the process of acquiring necessary utensils to operate the kitchen and other necessary things. Also, developing a kitchen use plan with community and get them ready to be helpful during the new hurricane season that start on June 1^st of this year. We are close to reaching the goal, but with your support, and through partnerships with volunteers and other allies, we can improve the project with a rainwater harvesting system.