From Poop to Fuel

Tu’ik Ruch’ Lew began working with the David LaMotte School in 2019, first introducing the concept of a biogas digester and obtaining the support of the Board of Directors and then waiting each year for the school to be accredited for Primary School classes. Without these grade school students, TRL could not install the digester. A biogas digester must have the number of students contributing the quantity of nitrogen-containing feces needed to be able to ensure the digester’s success.

Year after year, Melchora Reanda Rujuch, Director of the school, submitted the required documents and every year they were rejected by the Ministerio de Educacion for one reason or another. Melchora was told in June, 2023, after submitting yet another new document, that they would be approved for 2024, with notification to be received in August.

August came and went and still no approval. Melchora went several times in the following months to the offices of the Ministerio de Educacion, where they assured her that the school would be approved--eventually.

“Eventually” wasn’t good enough. December 7th, the representatives of organizations supporting the existence of the school--all of us who are extremely frustrated with the continual delay--sent a joint letter to the Ministerio de Educacion demanding a resolution NOW.

Within two weeks, the letter you see above was received. David La Motte School is finally accredited and will open for primary level classes in January!

Unfortunately, TRL’s window of opportunity for installing the biogas digester in 2023 was missed, as the only time we can disrupt the site for the building process, is in the months of November/December when the students are not occupying the school.

TRL can now proceed to coordinate the education and training of the school staff and parents, make arrangements to bring our Cuban expert, Eng. Cesar Parras and collaborator Edy Omar from Honduras, as well as all the necessary preparations including purchasing materials and organizing the construction crew. We plan on installing in November 2024.

As you can imagine, with inflation having nearly doubled the cost of everything, we have to raise additional funds to cover the increased costs. Our goal now is $15,000.

During these passing years, TRL has looked at other possibilities for installing the pilot biogas digester, but we never found another site with the requirements we have; most importantly the number of users, easy and public access--necessary for promotion of the concept and the enthusiasm of the participants. The school even built a kitchen in anticipation of the gas to be produced from the digester!

Once again, we see that Patience is a Virtue. Thank you, Dear Supporters, for hanging in there with us on this project and continuing to fund it with your contributions even with all of these delays!

Happy Holidays, Candis