Lessons from the Field: Humanitarian Work in Latin America - ACS

Chapter 7

Lessons from the Field: Humanitarian Work in Latin America Downloaded by UNIV OF FLORIDA on November 17, 2017 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date (Web): October 23, 2017 | doi: 10.1021/bk-2017-1267.ch007

Nathan D. Leigh* Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409-0010, United States *E-mail: [email protected].

The author is a relative newcomer to Chemists Without Borders but not to humanitarian efforts in Latin America, working most recently as a mentor to student members of a large engineering-centric humanitarian organization. This chapter is not a description of research but rather the author’s reflections on his experiences living and working in Latin America, specifically with regard to humanitarian work. Although the focus is on the western hemisphere, much of what is observed and the advice proffered are applicable worldwide. Opinions and suggestions given herein are those of the author, and not necessarily of Chemists Without Borders nor the American Chemical Society.

Fortunately for chemists, not all humanitarian work happens away from the laboratory, and the vision of Chemists Without Borders (1) embraces a plethora of laboratory-based opportunities to better the human condition. There is, however, some work which must take place in the field, and the more unfamiliar the field, the more daunting it may be to step into it. In this chapter I share some of the lessons I’ve learned from fieldwork in Latin America in hopes that it will be that much easier for the reader to take their work to where it is needed.

© 2017 American Chemical Society Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

Downloaded by UNIV OF FLORIDA on November 17, 2017 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date (Web): October 23, 2017 | doi: 10.1021/bk-2017-1267.ch007

Introduction The casual observer might be forgiven for thinking of Latin America (2) as a vast region of poverty, punctuated by archaeological attractions, tourist bars, and sunny beaches full of vacationers. It does seem that most of what enters the public consciousness about Latin America doesn’t stray far from the wonders of Chichen Itza and Machu Picchu and vacation hotspots like Cancún, Mazatlán, and Rio de Janeiro (3). The reality is much more complicated (and Latin America much more expansive) than the general public may readily remember. Between the US-Mexico border in the north and Tierra del Fuego in the south, today’s traveler will find modern airports, well-paved roads, high-rise buildings and familiar fast food in most major cities. However, farther from the capitols, commercial centers, and tourist towns, the affluence abates and the reality is much closer to the historical stereotype (4). Opportunities for improvement in the standard of living abound; many humanitarian organizations are engaged in this work, but there is much more to be done than can be accomplished by those presently working on it. In this chapter I will discuss some of the challenges and needs of Latin America, some general cautions for working there, and some of the lessons learned that hopefully will be of help to others planning to work there. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive instruction manual, particularly with respect to things like culture and etiquette (which are largely omitted here and can/should be studied elsewhere), nor will the advice given here necessarily apply to all projects.

Challenges and Needs in Latin America Before discussing some of the humanitarian needs, it should be observed that one thing the people of Latin America generally have in abundance is happiness. Newcomers to the region, visiting from areas of greater wealth and higher standards of living, are often astounded at the levels of happiness enjoyed by people who have so little and who live under such relatively difficult circumstances. According to the 2017 World Happiness Report, most Latin American countries are among the top one-third of the nations of the world with regard to happiness (5); in nearly all of Latin America happiness is increasing (6). The same report finds that some wealthier countries are not as happy as those in Latin America, while most similarly-impoverished nations are significantly less happy. A discussion of the reasons behind this apparent contradiction could be voluminous; by way of explanation I will simply point to an oft-uttered Spanish phrase: “como Dios quiera”, which is to say “as God wishes”. This is spoken not in a fatalistic or resigned fashion, but rather as an acceptance of their lot in life, and is accompanied by gratitude for what they do have. It appears that this outlook, widespread among the lower socioeconomic strata of Latin America, is a protective against affluenza (7) and the unhappiness it produces. Moving on from that, humanitarian needs in Latin America are much like needs throughout the rest of the world and are mentioned here in no particular order. 100 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


Poverty Of the challenges Latin America shares with other areas of the world, first and foremost is poverty – not necessarily universal, but widespread. In most Latin American nations, one-fourth to one-third of the population lives below the poverty line; in Chile and Uruguay poverty is less common (approaching the US rate of about 15%) but in the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Honduras the situation is significantly worse (8). Rural areas are more impoverished, with nearly two-thirds of the rural population living in poverty (9). Those accustomed to a higher standard of living may think that money is the answer, and too often money has been the proffered solution. Tossing strings-free money at poverty is akin to someone winning a big lottery prize (about 70% of such winners go bankrupt within a few years) (10); the two-part remedy of microfinance and education is promising (11, 12). Clean Water On one visit to Bolivia years ago, I traveled by bus on a mountain road between the cities of Sucre and Potosí. The empty, arid landscape is periodically broken by small homesteads eked out of the hillsides or occupying what little flat ground can be found in that area. Those living in such places are utterly “off-grid” and by and large practice subsistence farming. As I contemplated what modern marvels they might wish to have, and which would be of the most benefit, I concluded that foremost would be access to an adequate supply of clean water. The World Health Organization’s Joint Monitoring Program defines an improved water source as “one that, by the nature of its construction and when properly used, adequately protects the source from outside contamination, particularly faecal matter”. Improved sources include water piped to a residence, plot, or community tap; protected springs and dug wells; bored wells; and rainwater collection. Unimproved sources include surface waters, unprotected springs and dug wells, tanker truck deliveries, and bottled water (13). According to their statistics, most urban Latin American households receive water from an “improved source” (14), such as a community or residential tap, but typically half or more of the water sent into the distribution system is lost due to leaky pipes (15). Rural households are much more likely to receive water from an unimproved supply or non-piped sources. Despite improvements to water supplies, concerns still exist regarding the safety of the water provided, with an “improved source” not necessarily guaranteeing safe drinking water. Water quality varies dramatically from country to country and sometimes from city to city, with microbiological issues being the most common hazard. Other pollutants are possible, with heavy metals contamination a risk in some areas due to mining or improper hazardous waste disposal and natural sources posing problems in other areas (16, 17). Facile and inexpensive testing of water quality (mineral and microbiological) would help with avoidance of bad water regardless of the source, and filtration and purification methods that could be easily implemented even in resource-poor areas would permit use of otherwise unsafe drinking water. Technologies for 101 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

small-scale as well as community/municipal reuse and recycling of water would benefit areas with limited and/or expensive supplies as well as potentially being useful to improve existing supplies of poor quality. (Given the looming freshwater crisis here in the United States, such technologies might well be employed domestically as well as in developing areas abroad.)


Sanitary Facilities Expansion of improved water supplies has also brought into focus the inadequacy of sanitary systems in much of Latin America. Access to improved sanitation (which can range from “simple but protected pit latrines to flush toilets with a sewerage connection”) has improved steadily over the past decade (18) – but as with water supplies, rural areas lag behind urban areas in the presence and sufficiency of their sanitary systems, and increased water usage can overburden sanitary systems with insufficient design capacity. Improved sanitation has health and environmental benefits not just on the “input” end but also on the downstream side, where significant country-to-country variations exist in the extent of sewage treatment (19). Rural areas may benefit from sewage treatment alternatives such as biodigestors, which can potentially convert wastes into fertilizer and fuel (20–22). Housing In Cochabamba, Bolivia I met a family of four living in a lean-to shelter beside the basketball coliseum; they felt fortunate to have a plastic tarp for their roof. In contrast, the family of five in El Alto, Bolivia (23) that lived in a 130 square foot home with unplastered adobe walls and a tin roof (beneath which shone a single, bare light bulb) was comparatively well-off (24). Statistics published by the Inter-American Development Bank indicate that vast swathes of Latin Americans are either homeless or live in poor-quality housing; Costa Rica and Chile fare better (18% and 23% respectively) while Bolivia and Nicaragua (75% and 78%) have the highest percentage of their population housed inadequately (25). The problem is particularly bad in urban areas (which hold four-fifths of the region’s populace) where urban planning is inadequate or absent, congestion is both chronic and acute, and danger due to crime and health risks is high (26). A variety of governmental and private sector efforts attempt to solve the housing shortage but are hampered by lack of funding (27), lack of suitable land, and inadequate infrastructure in places where building is undertaken (28). Transportation and Communication Only once in my adult life have I traveled in a motor vehicle and desperately wondered, “Are we there yet?” We journeyed by truck from La Paz, Bolivia to a small community in the Yungas, and were fortunate to take the “new” road and not the fabled “Death Road”. The trip of about 170 miles (with a net vertical drop of 2 miles, which we may have done several times) took 12 nail-biting hours, part 102 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


of that in the dark (which, when it fell, mercifully cloaked the steep drop-offs common along that road). Bolivia has fewer miles of roadway per square mile of area than most of Africa, and only a tenth of those roads are paved (29). The rest of Latin America does somewhat better, and Bolivia itself is improving – 140 miles of highway between La Paz and Oruro were recently improved to become the country’s first divided highway (30). With so many of the opportunities for humanitarian work being located in rural areas, the condition (or even existence) of roadways must figure into your plans, not forgetting how weather may impact their passability. Rain will not only muddy or flood the roads but may wash them out entirely; in hilly or mountainous areas, be mindful of the risk of landslides or rockfall (31). Cell phone penetration (loosely defined as the number of cell subscribers divided by the population) in Latin America is quite complete; like most of the rest of the world, it seems that nearly everyone has a cell phone (32). However, cell towers are not ubiquitous, being concentrated near areas with a sufficient subscriber base; thus, don’t count on cell service while traveling on rural roads between populated areas (33).

Some General Cautions Some cautionary material is found in the “Challenges and Needs” section above; here are some additional items that should be taken into account for those planning and carrying out work abroad. Materials Availability It is no surprise that many of the materials that we are accustomed to finding in the hardware store or delivered next-day by an online vendor cannot be found or had in less developed areas. Often, comparable products with which we are unfamiliar are available, and you should be prepared to substitute locally-available materials for whatever you might have planned. This is actually a great opportunity for learning: from time to time, inexperienced students working on project designs will specify a material or fabricated item that is common in the US but unavailable abroad, and the consideration of substitutes fosters innovation in the spirit of “necessity is the mother of invention”. Some things can be found as imports, but at a price point that strays into ludicrous territory; I remember one store where toothpaste imported from the US could be purchased at about 10 times the price as the South American version of the same product. Personal care products are a relatively trivial example; more to the point for chemists, starting materials, solvents, equipment and instrumentation just might not be available (34). A colleague at a semi-rural university campus in Costa Rica once asked for some titanium dioxide, explaining that it was very difficult to obtain chemicals and reagents due to high costs and excessive paperwork. Due to availability and affordability, that same colleague worked with welding gases instead of high purity reagent gases (which is a marvelous “make do” approach as well as a lead-in to the next point). 103 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


Different Standards and Expectations The standards and expectations in your work country may be dramatically different than what you expect. Countries lacking the same regulatory infrastructure may have what we might view as relatively lax standards with regard to construction techniques, materials quality, testing rigor, etc. Seek ways of adjusting your expectations without sacrificing important and critical aspects of your work (e.g., safety, quality, durability). Hopefully you will be able to laugh at things like pipe with a nominal diameter measured in inches and a length in meters! The mingling of metric with what are considered traditional units in the US will crop up elsewhere (including the kitchen); even though you probably won’t be trying to land a probe on Mars, don’t let confusion over units doom your project (35). Another facet of standards and expectations is the trap of thinking that humanitarian aid means making their lives look like ours. For example, in the US we build our buildings so as to make them nearly airtight; I’ve enjoyed the places I’ve stayed within 20° latitude of the equator that allowed at least some free exchange of air with the outside. We can’t do that in locations where the climate is too cold, and there are ramifications to allowing that air to flow. Sometimes and under some circumstances the differences are consequential, but sometimes they are merely a matter of preference or custom. Government as Impediment Some governments think it best to protect their citizens by tying them up in red tape. A colleague in Central America explained that the government of his country relied on the bureaucracy of paper to reduce corruption. While the prescribed paperwork has reduced the amount of bribery, one can still wonder what other, less impedimentary means might be employed to bring about that desired end. Because governments tend to have monopolies on the services that they provide, the customer service normally expected of a competitive enterprise may be lacking. Civil servants often have no incentive to deal with out-of-the-ordinary requests and formalities that may arise in the course of a project spearheaded by foreign aid workers. Your in-country partner (see below) will probably handle most of the necessary interactions with government officials (other than “meet and greet” sessions and photo opportunities), but be aware that obstacles may arise and solutions may not be rapid. Envy of Neighboring Communities My post-doctoral mentor sagely asserted, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” Those who ask and get may be envied by those who failed to ask (or didn’t know they could ask). A Bolivian community requested help improving the water collection and distribution system which they had implemented as private citizens; they worked through an NGO and were delighted to be selected for assistance. When outside help arrived, the community became the target of 104 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

envy of the neighboring municipality (of which they were a subdivision). This became problematic when legal paperwork required for improvement of their water system had to be approved by a government official residing in the envious area. Calm and careful discussion led by our in-country partner helped defuse the situation. (Stares and scowls from the community that thought itself slighted turned to smiles as we explained the process to anyone who would listen; it helped that we bought ice cream and soft drinks from their shops.)


Some Things I Have Learned The following suggestions are based on my own experiences and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of hints and tips. Although these lessons are based on my experiences in Latin America, most of them will probably apply to any unfamiliar place in which you wish to work.

Importance of a Capable In-Country Partner Ships traveling the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans and Baton Rouge engage the services of a river pilot to help them navigate the difficult waters. The river pilot, expert in his stretch of river, knows the shifting sandbars, fickle currents, and the local winds; understands when to turn a large ship so as to avoid grounding and what speed to travel to prevent damage to docked ships; and how to use the winds, currents, and tugboats to move or stop the big ship as needed. Any time you work in a foreign place, work with someone who can be your “river pilot” - someone who knows the particulars of the location, how to get things done, and how to get help when needed. Ideally, your in-country partner will be able to help with the following: •

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Language translation – even if your team speaks the language, your partner should know the local slang and subtle nuances and should be able to talk you through and out of difficult situations; this is especially important if working in an area where multiple languages are prevalent. Avoiding faux pas – your partner organization should be able to act as your cultural attaché, advising you on things you should (and should not) do. Transportation – rely on your in-country partner to get you from place to place, whether by arranging public transportation, private carrier, or by driving you themselves; in many places, the pitfalls of short-term foreign visitors driving are sufficiently numerous as to make it foolhardy to drive yourself. Best times to travel – get advice from your partner organization in order to avoid the rainy season, holidays, strikes and upheavals, or other times that might interfere with your mission. 105 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

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Supplies – whether you need building materials, equipment and tools, books, medicines, food, chemicals, etc., your partner should either know where to acquire needed supplies or where to seek help finding them. People/connections – your in-country partner should have a network of contacts that you can tap for services, advice, and needed expertise that you didn’t bring with you. Government – whether it be legal paperwork required for a project or a courtesy call to help things go smoothly, your partner should know the people to meet, how to find and access them, and the protocols to follow when interfacing with government functionaries. Visas and permits – you can’t always trust a consular website to give you correct information, but your partner organization should be able to convey up-to-date details (and insider tips) on things like visas (36). Any permits needed for work to be done are best handled by them as well. Paying for things – a good in-country partner will have a mechanism to receive payments from your organization and make disbursements on your behalf as they arrange your visit. They probably can get better pricing on lodging, transportation, supplies, etc., than you could by making arrangements yourself; they should also know the best currency exchanges. Phones and other communication – you’ll need to be able to communicate during your travels and your personal cell phone may not be of any use in your target location; you partner organization should be able to either provide cell (and/or satellite) phones or help you buy and set up a suitable phone. For some projects, a team will rely on radios (“walkie-talkies”) for short-range communication; radio communications are governed by national laws and international agreements, and you should check with your partner organization to be sure you do not violate the rules regarding use of radios.

In addition to these capabilities, look for a partner organization that is wellestablished and stable. One of our projects in Central America nearly failed when the NGO with whom we worked went defunct. Learn the Language, Connect with the People Having a partner organization that can provide translation is invaluable, but being able to speak the language yourself takes things to a whole new level; until you speak the language, you will always be an outsider, even if you are appreciated and loved by the people you endeavor to serve. Not everyone in the group needs to learn the language – even if just one member of the group can communicate effectively with the local population, it links the whole group to the people. I first traveled to Costa Rica with a couple of fantastic colleagues who spoke no Spanish and whose English was accented. We were making presentations at a host university where the audience’s level of English language comprehension covered a spectrum from “very little” to “a fair bit”, with whispered translations provided by those with better comprehension. 106 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


My colleagues presented first and were accepted politely; I spoke next and as I began in Spanish, a young man at the back of the room gasped audibly, and everyone relaxed and listened. At the end the atmosphere had changed and we were no longer just the visitors from elsewhere but colleagues with whom the locals could work. (I relate this not to boast but to illustrate – and to be fair, common language only takes you so far, as evidenced on the same trip by the colleague who had an incredible knowledge of agriculture which he used to great effect in making friends and developing relationships in spite of the difficulties of communicating in a mutually non-native language.) The information age has brought with it additional options for studying a new language. No longer limited to formal classroom instruction or an immersion program requiring foreign residence, the aspiring student has options including free (37) and fee-based on-line (38) as well as off-line (39) courses (40). Note that these are geared toward conversational and business language; acquisition of technical vocabulary beyond cognates (41) is a more difficult proposition. Learning the local language will not only enable better communication and connections with the people where you work, but will also permit a better appreciation of their culture and thinking. Whether or not you speak the language, you can learn about the food, music, weather, and local customs. Of particular importance are holidays – so much so that you should learn about this before traveling. (For example, you might wish to avoid Brazil during Carnaval (42); you might not be able to purchase needed supplies in Paraguay on May 15th, their Independence Day.) Be prepared for surprises as you might not be able to learn about all the local holidays in advance. In Bolivia, local holidays seemed to be all over the calendar, and parades complete with brass bands and marchers from the local schools are frequent (43). Shed Attitudes of Superiority Early in my career, my job required me to work with a broad variety of solvents in a laboratory setting; my wife could always tell when I’d been working in the lab as she could smell it on my breath and clothing. The stench of supposed superiority is no less detectable on the person of someone who believes himself or herself to be working with or for an inferior group of people. This is not meant to be an accusation but rather a caution and an opportunity to examine motives and perspectives. Working abroad with people of different backgrounds can break down stereotypes and preconceived notions, but the traveler must be willing to accept that he or she individually (and, by extension, his or her culture and heritage) holds no monopoly on goodness, on valuable ideas and habits, or on the best way to do things. Just as a visiting scientist will acquire new and important skills and knowledge from a host lab, as visitors to places where we go to share our skills and expertise we return changed by the things we learn while away. Allow yourself the opportunity to improve by keeping the door open to learning from people who are poor or less educated; at a minimum, they can probably teach you something about happiness (as discussed above). 107 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


Look for Synergistic Opportunities One of the fundamental principles of the UNIX computer operating system is that a program should do one thing, and do it well; this has contributed to the longevity of the operating system (44). On the other hand, our financial advisors tell us to have a diversified portfolio. Personally and professionally we are probably somewhere in between, with broad shallow capabilities and narrow areas of deep expertise. While we can outsource tasks outside our core expertise, the transaction costs may not be worth it – for example, learning how to glue PVC pipe isn’t difficult and doesn’t require the skills (and expense) of a plumber. However, constructing a community-wide water distribution system using PVC pipe requires a more specialized skill set and greater experience, and designing that system requires yet another set of skills and expertise not common among chemists. The trend toward increased interdisciplinary research (and the possibilities it affords) suggests a similar need in fieldwork. An organization that understands its own strengths and weaknesses and is willing and able to partner with another organization having complementary abilities will be able to accomplish more than the organization that attempts to do everything on its own. Unfortunate bureaucratic barriers often prevent such collaborations; seek ways to transcend those barriers and multiply your efforts by partnering with other experts. For example, chemistry expertise in water quality testing and water purification could be partnered with the engineering expertise of organizations like Engineers for a Sustainable World or Engineers Without Borders who are often engaged in water supply projects. There are large numbers of humanitarian organizations with whom you might partner; the challenge is first to find one with complementary interests, and then to overcome the institutional barriers that would otherwise hinder or prevent cooperative efforts. Plan for Sustainability In the context of humanitarian work, sustainability means that the beneficiaries of aid will be able to manage and maintain the deliverables. For example, if a composting toilet is built for community use, the members of the community need to be instructed not only in how to use it but also how to maintain it, what supplies are needed for its replenishment and where to obtain them, and how the compost must be handled in order for it to be safe for use. Such instruction is conveyed not only verbally and by demonstration, but also in the form of an “operations and maintenance manual” (O&M) that provides sufficient information – in an easily understandable form – for users to be able to undertake the needed operational and maintenance tasks. Ideally an O&M would have plenty of pictures, each of which (if well done) will save a thousand words of misinterpretable explanation (45). Sustainability involves not just the ability of aid recipients to maintain improvements but also their willingness to do so. That willingness can be manifested in what they do to better their own condition prior to asking for help: the community that organized a water committee, instituted a funding mechanism, 108 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

built their own water collection and distribution system, and then went through the formal process of requesting assistance from an NGO will probably take good care of the improved water system built for them. The engineering organization with which I work also requires that the community being served make a token financial contribution to the cost of project materials; we also like to have as much “sweat equity” as possible (46).


Guard Your Health One of the first principles of emergency response is to protect yourself, because an injured responder is unable to help others; this also holds true for those traveling abroad in humanitarian efforts. Water tends to be the biggest issue – avoiding tap water will lead to dehydration if sufficient bottled water is not available, and those who gamble with dubious tap water invariably fall ill. (Remember, if it’s not clean enough to drink, it’s not clean enough to use for brushing teeth!) At high elevations it is easy to get sunburned, so sunscreen and a hat are de rigeur; at lower elevations, insects may present a greater hazard, necessitating insect repellent and netting (47). Know the typical hazards of all the places you expect to be, and all the activities in which you will engage, and have a written plan for dealing with them with one or more members of your party prepared to deal with such exigencies (48). Although you hopefully will never need it, you should always have some form of international travel insurance with provisions for medical evacuation. Write Things Down, Take Plenty of Pictures As scientists, we are conditioned to write things down in our laboratory notebooks. That conditioning should extend to fieldwork and associated travels – failure to properly record something the first time may mean a trip of thousands of miles to try to recapture the needed information. Write down not just measurements and observations but also names of places and people, phone numbers and addresses, implementation ideas and possible impediments. When you are out of your familiar surroundings, the plethora of unusual stimuli will make it harder to remember fleeting thoughts, so write things down. We advise the students with whom we travel to keep a journal of their experiences, to write a little something every day about what they’ve accomplished, what has happened to them, the people with whom they’ve worked, and how they feel about the work in which they are engaged. Write about the positive things, but don’t neglect the bad things – your journal should be a place where you can be completely honest in your expression, and eventually you’ll be able to laugh about the negative things that you recorded. The journals I’ve kept have helped to keep the experiences fresh for me and keep the details of stories straight. Good pictures encapsulate a great deal of information and can be used for project documentation as well as serving the usual tourist-type purposes. Pictures of people you meet are useful for helping you remember their faces so that you can greet them properly the next time you are face-to-face. One sometimes forgotten 109 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

purpose of good pictures is public relations (PR), and time spent learning how to compose good photos for PR purposes is well invested.


Bring Small Gifts It is likely that gratitude for your efforts on behalf of others will be expressed in the form of some small token of appreciation (and maybe even a party near the end of your visit) (49). It is good form to have some small gifts to give as well – nothing expensive, but something that shows you were thinking ahead. Check with your in-country partner for suggestions (50). Another nice touch is to bring some candy to give to children (51); they are the ones who will benefit most from the work you do and can teach you words, games, songs, and a thing or two about happiness as a way of life. I recommend candies that are not individually wrapped, unless you want to follow kids around and pick up their discarded candy wrappers (52). If you find yourself bereft of ideas for things to take, choose some non-perishable food items that you enjoy and take enough to share. The novelty of it may be fun for those with whom you share, and if nothing else you’ll have some comfort food to carry you through difficult moments (53).

Last, but Not Least... Humanitarian work – wherever conducted – is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Don’t hesitate to tell others (54) what you’re doing; share pictures and stories, not to boast or induce guilt but rather to illustrate how it has impacted you positively. Invite your listeners to be part of your efforts – there is plenty of work to go around, and no matter what your expertise there is somewhere and some way that you can contribute.

Biography Nathan D. Leigh holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Missouri – Columbia and is currently Assistant Director of Research at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He lived in Bolivia for two years (half that time above 13,000 feet elevation, and always above 8300 feet) and has traveled elsewhere in South and Central America. In his travels he enjoys meeting people, eating local food, joking with children and contributing to the improvement of their quality of life. He eagerly anticipates his next trip.

References and Notes 1.

To wit: “a global support network of volunteers providing mentoring, information and advice to ensure every person, everywhere, has affordable, consistent and persistent access to: essential medicines and vaccines; sufficient safe water; a sustainable energy supply; education in green chemistry and business which people can apply in their daily lives and 110 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


teach to others; safe processes in work environments where chemical hazards exist; emergency support, including essential supplies and technology”. See Chemists Without Borders - Mission and Vision, www.chemistswithoutborders.org/index.php/about/mission-and-vision. 2. While Latin America technically is much more encompassing, I will limit my discussion to those countries where Spanish and Portuguese are the principal languages. With all apologies to the other countries of South and Central America and the Caribbean, whose needs I do not mean to minimize: it is just that I do not know you yet, but I do hope to some day visit you and experience your wonders too. 3. Lamentably, much-ignored Ecuador seems best-known for having Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as a long-term couch-surfing asylum seeker at their London embassy. Ecuador should be known for, among other things, its wonderful biological and geographical diversity, its well-preserved historical sites, the Quito-Guayaquil train, and of course the Galapagos Islands. 4. A wealth gradient from the urban areas to the countryside is in no way surprising as the same is generally observed in the United States, where we are likewise not immune to urban decay and crises (of which the recent contaminated drinking water debacle in Flint, Michigan, is prima facie evidence). 5. The World Happiness Report (worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/) has been prepared annually since 2012 by independent experts acting under the auspices of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 6. A notable exception to this upward trend is Venezuela, where happiness decreased more than anywhere else in the world. Sadly, the current problems in Venezuela appear to be largely preventable, but a discussion of the causes and solutions is quite beyond the scope of this volume. 7. “Affluenza” is a portmanteau of the words “affluence” and “influenza”, and is defined as “a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more” in the book Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic by de Graaf, J., Wann, D., Naylor, T. H. Berrett-Koehler: Oakland, 2001. 8. Based on Statistics in the CIA World Factbook. www.cia.gov/library/ publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2046.html. 9. Statistics from Strategy for Rural Poverty Reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean. International Fund for Agricultural Development. www.ifad.org/ where/region/resource/tags/pl/1962687. 10. Chan, M. Here’s How Winning the Lottery Makes You Miserable. Time, 2016 (Jan 12). time.com/4176128/powerball-jackpot-lottery-winners/. 11. Maldonado, J. H. The Influence of Microfinance on the Education Decisions of Rural Households: Evidence from Bolivia, 2005. Microfinance Gateway. www.microfinancegateway.org/sites/default/files/mfg-en-paper-theinfluence-of-microfinance-on-the-education-decisions-of-rural-householdsevidence-from-bolivia-aug-2005_0.pdf. 12. Hadi, R.; Wahyudin, U.; Ardiwinata, J. S.; Abdu, W. J. SpringerPlus 2015, 4, 244. 111 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


13. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation. www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/watsan-categories/. 14. World Health Organization, Monitoring and Evidence – Water. www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/monitoring/water.pdf. 15. Barlow, M.; Clarke, T. The Struggle for Latin America’s Water. NACLA Report on the Americas. nacla.org/article/struggle-latin-americas-water. 16. Arsenic, for example, is increasingly recognized as a problem; see McClintock, T. R.; et al. Sci. Total Environ. 2012, 429, 76–91. 17. See also Bundschuh, J.et al. Natural Arsenic in Groundwaters of Latin America; CRC Press: Boca Raton, 2008. 18. Improved Sanitation Facilities in Latin America and Caribbean. Trading Economics. tradingeconomics.com/latin-america-and-caribbean/improvedsanitation-facilities-percent-of-population-with-access-wb-data.html. 19. Rodriguez, D. J. Investing in wastewater in Latin America can pay off. The World Bank Water Blog, 2017 (10 May). blogs.worldbank.org/water/howcan-we-make-wastewater-investments-sustainable-latin-america. 20. For more information, see Garwood, A. Network for Biodigesters in Latin America and the Caribbean: Case Studies and Future Recommendations. Inter-American Development Bank, 2010 (December). publications.iadb.org/handle/11319/4848. 21. See also Biodigesters to Improve Milk Production in Bolivia.. Hivos, 2014 (27 Oct). latin-america.hivos.org/news/biodigesters-improve-milkproduction-bolivia. 22. Garfi, M.; Martí-Herrero, J.; Garwood, A.; Ferrer, I. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 2016, 60, 599–614. 23. “El Alto” is the city on the Altiplano (“high plain”) about 1600 feet above the city of La Paz. 24. In contrast with this, I have been in upper-middle class Bolivian homes that were gorgeous - but the tap water still wasn’t safe. 25. “Inadequate housing” in this report included not only structural deficiencies but also lack of utilities. Brief details are available in Development in the Americas: Housing. Inter-American Development Bank. www.iadb.org/en/ research-and-data/dia-housing,6586.html?slideID=5. 26. City Limits. The Economist, 2011 (Aug 13). www.economist.com/node/ 21525915. 27. It is estimated that it would cost $300 billion to solve the issue of inadequate housing in Latin America; see Development in the Americas, 2012. InterAmerican Development Bank. www.iadb.org/en/research-and-data/diadevelopment-in-the-americas-idb-flagship-publication,3185.html?id=2012. 28. In one instance, the local branch of an international aid organization built a housing development on undeveloped land prone to flooding; they did bring in electrical service. Improved drainage and a community water system were implemented later by a different organization and at great expense and effort, but for sanitary facilities each residence either has a pit toilet or must install its own space-restricted septic system. 29. Road data is from the CIA World Factbook, www.cia.gov/library/ publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2046.html. Although Bolivia’s roads 112 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

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are largely substandard, the city of La Paz has a very modern teleférico or tram system. For a modest fare, riders can travel from the lower reaches of the city all the way to the Altiplano, avoiding traffic and enjoying a spectacular view of the city. Seeing adobe homes and dirt streets below while gliding quietly along in a clean and modern tram car does illustrate the socioeconomic dichotomy that exists. Most of the cost of the improvements was paid for by a $250 million loan from the Development Bank of Latin AmericaCAF. Mountainous and hilly terrain features prominently in nearly all Latin American countries. The chance of being hit by falling rocks is fortunately lower than the chance of suddenly finding them on the road ahead; not all will be as large as the truck-sized slab we once found standing in the middle of the road just outside the city of Potosí, Bolivia. Pertinent statistics can be found in the CIA World Factbook, www.cia.gov/ library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2046.html. Cuba is the outlier with only 22% cellphone penetration; the Dominican Republic has the next lowest rate at 78%. While cell service wasn’t always available, on an upscale cross-country trip in Costa Rica the shuttle van featured satellite internet service, interrupted only when we passed through tunnels or briefly while circumnavigating steep mountains. A recent article in C&E News addresses these issues with respect to Cuban universities; see Widener, A. Improving Prospects for Chemists in Cuba. C&E News, 2017 (24 April), 34−40. cen.acs.org/articles/95/i17/Improvingprospects-chemists-Cuba.html. The Mars Climate Orbiter, launched in 1998, famously disintegrated upon orbital insertion due to a mismatch in units between two pieces of software; see Mars Climate Orbiter – Mars Exploration Program. mars.nasa.gov/ programmissions/missions/past/climorb/. Trips to Bolivia, for example, could be disastrous without knowing that a visa must be purchased and paid for with crisp $20 bills. (Due to concerns over forged currency, the immigration workers are quite particular about the bills they will accept.) Duolingo is a very popular free, on-line language learning tool, although their materials are crowd-sourced in whole or in part and the consensus may be swayed by regional variations. I tried it for Spanish review and grew frustrated when it would not accept answers that I knew to be correct; thus, it may be better for acquisition of a new language rather than review of one you already have. As of this writing they offer 23 languages, including English, and their website is available in 23 languages, but they are not the same 23 languages. www.duolingo.com. Many people think of Rosetta Stone as the archetypal personal language study course, perhaps due to the influence of airline in-flight magazines. Their reputation is quite good, and in keeping up with the times they’ve moved from a CD-only business to an on-line model. As of this writing they offer instruction in 30 languages, including both “American” and “British” English. www.rosettastone.com. 113 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.


39. If you don’t wish to be tied to your computer, highly-regarded Pimsleur may be the right option as their lessons are provided in mp3 format. They offer instruction in 50 languages (9 of those being regional variants, e.g., Brazilian vs European Portuguese), plus English as a Second Language for students from 14 different language backgrounds. www.pimsleur.com. 40. I have no pecuniary nor other interest in the previously mentioned language learning businesses. Other options are easily found using your favorite online search engine, and the best one is the one that works for you. 41. Speakers of Romance languages may be the ones to benefit most from cognates (words that are the same or very similar in two different languages). There are caveats, however – one famous example is the Spanish word embarazada, which does not translate to “embarrassed” but rather “pregnant”. 42. Carnaval is actually celebrated throughout Latin America to various extents and in various ways. In Oruro, Bolivia the parade can last all day (and the participants tend to dress in warmer clothing); throughout the country, Carnaval is also a time to play with water using squirt guns, water balloons, buckets, etc. This is ironic in regions where water is often a scarce resource. 43. I’ve never quite figured out the holiday in Potosí, Bolivia on which they decorate their dogs with colored paper polka dots...but I imagine that our Groundhog Day has them baffled in exchange. 44. From its “birth” in 1969, UNIX has endured nearly half a century and looks poised to continue for a long time to come. See The UNIX® Evolution: An Innovative History. The Open Group. blog.opengroup.org/2016/02/23/theunix-evolution-an-innovative-history. 45. Insufficient education, coupled with a misunderstanding of the community’s wants and needs, led to this frustrating but instructive outcome: for water purification, a community had been given biosand filters built in plastic barrels; a year later, most of the recipients had emptied out the barrels and were using them for rainwater collection. With better up-front information gathering, additional empty barrels could easily have been provided; better explanation of the benefits of the biosand filters could have helped community members understand their value. 46. Don’t underestimate the value of that sweat equity! A travel team has limited time to carry out their work plans and the contributed labor of community members is often the only way to get everything done. Before accepting a project, we survey the community members and ask about their skills in order to gauge their ability to help with various aspects of the project. The locals can show you how things are done the local way and probably will get it done faster than you would. Everyone can help dig ditches; I witnessed a middle-aged woman with a baby strapped to her back shoveling vigorously because she was so excited by the prospect of having running water at her home. 47. DEET is my go-to standard repellent, but use what works for you. Also, I highly recommend treating your clothing with permethrin as it should kill the insects that are undeterred by the repellent. Insect netting pretreated with permethrin is available; this makes it less likely that a mosquito will bite you 114 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

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through the net while you sleep. Depending on where you travel, antimalarial medication may be appropriate (ask your health care provider). Our travel teams always include two or more people with a current Wilderness First Aid certification, and the teams discuss and train for the kinds of incidents that could arise during the course of travel and work. We always carry a first aid kit with supplies appropriate to the expected hazards, and individual team members are encouraged to have personal first aid kits with things they are likely to need (adhesive bandages and loperamide tablets get used more than anything else). Major milestones and project completion are logical times for parties to be organized, which may feature food, speeches, music, dancing, and so forth as an expression of community gratitude. Appreciation for your in-country partner should not be neglected; it would be polite to offer to bring them something. One person with whom we work always enjoys a bag of a particular snack food for which he developed a fondness while living in the US. Taking candy from strangers isn’t stigmatized in developing countries like it is in the US, and offering candy to kids can melt their reticence to interact. (For the sake of propriety and safety, of course, don’t be alone with the children; even an accusation of impropriety could lead to a highly unpleasant judicial experience.) Sadly, proper disposal of rubbish is still a cultural problem in much of Latin America; I was dismayed to see one of our hired cooks throwing garbage out the window as we traveled. While it would not solve the underlying problem, the development and adoption of biodegradable wrappers would mitigate the symptoms. When your gastrointestinal tract is in turmoil and you are laid low, nibbling on that comfort food may mean the difference between having enough fun to want to travel again and being so miserable that you’ll never go back. Our students typically go on summer internships, and we encourage them to seek opportunities to share their humanitarian efforts with their summer colleagues (who have never failed to be impressed). On such occasions they are not to solicit contributions, but invariably those in a position to help offer to do so.

115 Grosse; Mobilizing Chemistry Expertise To Solve Humanitarian Problems Volume 1 ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017.

Lessons from the Field: Humanitarian Work in Latin America - ACS

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