Tania Sagahón Vela, Facilitator

Tania Sagahón Vela (left), facilitator in Costa Grande, prepares materials
for a festival with brigadistas and children from the community.

Personally, the change I have noticed relates to my knowledge. I had heard about dengue and how it spreads — my sister has even suffered from it — but I wasn’t really aware until now of the responsibility I have to prevent the mosquito’s reproduction at home. And now, I pay attention to the surroundings of my house to see where there are mosquito breeding hot-spots, and I share information with my family.

As a facilitator I don’t have enough parameters to compare and determine which has been the most important change in the community. I notice that people do receive the brigade in their homes, take suggestions into consideration and begin to carry out prevention measures and diminish their use of insecticide, replacing it with natural measures.

… The brigadistas’ work is essential to all this. They have shared  with other people the knowledge they have obtained from their training and from community members. Bit by bit, they have gained increased support from their people. The fact that they belong to the neighbourhood gives them greater reach and ease with which to communicate with others. Without the brigadistas, a project such as this would be very far from reality.