Pass the Gas: gas for 500 families in Argentina

On Wednesday, the 21st of December, we were able to toast in honor of the end of the year for the “Barrios de Unión y Futuro” Trust. We were joined by the Desarrollares Barriales (Community Developers) as well as others residents interested in the project.  Raúl Zavalía, our Executive Director, arrived early at the event, just in time to help put on the final touches, and he stayed with us until the very end.

We celebrated with very tasty pizzas, empanadas, sandwiches, torrejas and a variety of cakes, all of these cooked by the beneficiaries of the project. Plus, we received some donations of food and drinks from the 25 de Mayo Street neighorhood’s shopkeepers.

In addition to enjoying a wonderful time together, we had the opportunity to reflect on the major events of the project during 2011, as well as the objectives for the coming year, which can be summarized as the following:

2011

1. Contributions: We increased the number of Community Developers from 12 to 78 and, instead of having a unique meeting weekly, there are now 4 per week.
2. Signing of the BUyF Trust: More than 500 people present for the assembly.
3. Project Commitment: More than 2.750 families (80%) signed the project approval.
4. Gas Natural Fenosa has taken charge of the FOMIN project’s technical management: FUVA, BuyF, and the third Trusteeship to be announced in 2012.

2012

1. We begin the new year in very good conditions to successfully develop the project.
2. We will continue to incorporate the activities of the Community Developers.
3. We will work together with the municipality through the National Regulatory Agency for Gas (ENARGAS).
4. Above all, it is going to be the year that is turning the adhesion to more than 2.750.

At the end of the evening, Raúl recounted the history of the trusts. Furthermore, he also highlighted the major strategic steps of Gas Natural Fenosa as technical manager of the project and its impact on BUyF.

Upon finishing the toast, the participants (those who are not Community Developers) were given flyers inviting them to the upcoming meetings of the project.

UVA: Firstly, a goal was reached in order to begin construction in Moreno! 

The Project UVA (Unión de Vecinos en Acción) achieved 65% of the needed signatures, meaning that the gas construction and renovation in Moreno can start! We experienced many challenges in achieving this target while the neighbors have been working very hard! As Liliana Quevedo, a “vecina”, said: “This is the result of all I have learned, Trustworthy, perseverance and the most important, that each of us are doing the best we can to build our future together, for us and our families.”

It is in this context that they all said proudly: “Shoulders to the wheel!”

BUYF (Barrio de Unión y Futuro):Trusteeship of guarantee.

Moreover, a trusteeship of guarantee was signed in the beginning of August in a school of Moreno in order to carry on the construction of the gas network, to begin the home installation within the main neighborhoods in Moreno (Altos de Moreno, Lomas de Moreno y 25 de Mayo) to get funds for the project and to be sure that it will be used for this cause.

At the end of this reunion, the Foundation made the promise to do its best to find the necessary funds and to begin the construction as soon as possible! According to Raquel Casanova from the area of Neighborhood development, “This contract put a legal form to our project, it is very important that we are now an every block!”

However, while we have raised US $1,405 we still need to raise US $6,595 to carry on the foundation's projects.

If you’d like to learn more, please visit the “Pass the Gas” project page here and/or feel free to email us at info@fpvs.org.

Links:

• Website of the Foundation