This past weekend 2 kids from my Brigada Verde group and I headed to a conference about an hour outside of Santiago in Los Montones and spent the weekend listening to presentations on the environment and sustainability. We also visited a coffee distributer on the very top of a mountain called Karoma Cafe to learn about sustainable coffee growers. We learned about different qualities of coffee and about organic fertilizers. The weekend was great, my youth really enjoyed the conference. So much in fact that one of them was in tears when we were getting on the bus to head back to Dajabon. I was surprised because I was a little worried to whether or not they felt that they were learning new things and having a good time. I realized when I saw my muchacha crying that I had helped to have a positive impact on at least one life since I have been here. It is amazing how much for granted I took things like cheer camp, church camp, and the many other opportunities that I had as a kid. She told me how she had never been to a conference and enjoyed it so much that she didn't want to go home. Kids need other kids, they need to go places where they meet new people and have new experiences outside of their comfort zone.

I'm sure everyone is dying to hear about my latrine project. My masons and I learned how to build a new form of the composting latrine that is similar to the water tanks that water volunteers build. We are have now build 6 more latrines and are building 4 more this week. The plan is to build 4 every week! At first I was using my house as the warehouse but realized that I can not continue living like this because work is constantly in my face. Too stressful. I will now be using the health promoters houses at warehouses. :)