* Financing and purchasing of materials, for example for a water project,
* Direct support with writing project proposals,
* Helping hand with organising demonstrations etc.
* Introducing people/organisations to journalists etc.

Grassroots Projects is mostly active in Central America.

* In Chiapas, Mexico we will help with setting up 2 water projects in 2006. The first project will be realised in February, March and April and the second in October, November and December. Two Zapatista communities will be connected to a water system.
* In El Petèn, Guatemala we support indigenous farmers who are against Plan Puebla Panama. In February a volunteer will visit some action groups and would like to give some financial support.

Water projects in Chiapas, Mexico

Water projects in Chiapas, Mexico In Chiapas, Mexico a lot of households are still devoid of running water. And the Nafta-agreement (free trade between Canada, United States and Mexico) did do no good for the farmers in Chiapas. The only thing it brought is more poverty. Besides the Nafta kick off the Zapatistas saw the light in 1994. Like the revolutionary Zapata the Zapatistas fight for indigenous rights and land for farmers and peasants. Present-day they govern large autonomous communities in Chiapas. And they lead their own schools, clinics, radio station etc. And they can count on a worldwide sympathy. In the last 12 years they have worked very hard on the rights of the indigenous. But still a big problem is how to generate money. They asked us to help with the realisation of 2 water projects in small communities nearby San Cristobal de las Casas. The residents will be responsible for the realisation of the water project and asked us to do the logistic part: purchasing materials and taking care of transport etc. We will do this in cooperation with Catas . Our task is to buy the materials, organising transport, tools etc. The budget for each project is:

- pipe: 3500 euro
- cement etc: 1000 euro
- tools: 400 euro
- transport: 200 euro
Total 5100 euro

Two volunteers will help with the realisation of the project on behalf of Grassroots Projects. They will do this on their own costs. All the money we collect goes to the projects at the grassroots! We and especially the indigenous peasants are hoping to get your support!!!

Actions against Plan Puebla Panama in Guatemala

Just a few years after the end of the tragically civil war in Guatemala a new disaster is heading for it’s way: Plan Puebla Panama

On of our volunteers has been in El Petèn, Guatemala in April of this year. Indigenous peasants are working on a collective resistance to stop the PPP. Besides working hard out on the fields they meet on regular scale to talk about actions to come. Grassroots Projects is asked to help with networking within the international solidarity movement. One of the things is to get them in contact with funds worldwide. In February a volunteer goes back to El Petèn to maintain the good relations. We also would like to hand out some money so the peasants can organise meetings on regional level. Every euro or dollar is extremely welcome. Our volunteer brings his own pocket to pay his bills and expenses, so every cent will go to the peasants in resistance!!! We will make sure that the money will be well spend and doesn’t get lost in corruption or whatever. And we will keep you updated off course.