In 2012, students supported residents as they launched a pilot project to test the feasibility of a community-based vermiculture composting project run by a newly formed women’s cooperative. The full report from the 2012 practicum course can be explored by following the link below. You can see a video showcasing the work of the 2012 course here.
Building on findings from the 2010 solid waste assessment indicating that levels of organic contamination in the cañada were extremely high, community leaders and project partners began to consider the possibility of composting as a way to address waste management concerns in Los Platanitos. Engaging in composting could not only lead to a reduction in waste accumulations but also potentially introduce a new source of income to residents. In addition, as household waste management generally appeared to be within the purview of “women’s work” in Los Platanitos, a composting project was seen as a opportunity for exploring gendered development interventions. With funding provided through a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency P3 Program, it was decided that the 2012 practicum course would support the residents at they launched a pilot-vermicomposting project.
Students and community members worked together in teams to develop the physical and organizational infrastructure for the project, such as building vermicomposting bins and supporting the organization of a women’s group, Mujeres Unidas, which would ultimately manage the project.
Students also engaged with children and youth in Los Platanitos through educational play and participation in the creation of signs for each site. Additionally, members of Fundacion Los Platanitos worked with students to develop an institutional profile elaborating the Foundation’s mission, vision, goals, and objectives.
The work of the 2012 practicum class was showcased in Washington D.C. as part of the EPA P3 grant that funded the project. Learn more about the grant and how it was used, here.
