Location
Sector (1) Aldea La Emboscada, municipality of San Miguel Siguila, department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Community Description
Sector (1) is a small community located within the Aldea La Emboscada, just a short bus ride from the town center of San Miguel Siguila. There are around
5,000 inhabitants and the community is 100 percent indigenous. The main language spoken is Mam, one of the many Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala.
The majority of the community works in agriculture and construction, while the women occupy themselves with domestic work. The community is very much open to the idea of working together in order to better the lives of their children and their families.
The school Sector (1) was built in 2001. The community has been working hard ever since to make it the best learning environment for their children. There are 300 students who attend the school, and 13 teachers.
Sector (1) started working with Peace Corps and the Healthy Schools program in 2011, and is striving towards the goal of becoming a certified Healthy School by teaching the children health lessons and the importance of practicing healthy habits, such as hand washing and teeth brushing. Each classroom has a health corner where the children are able to keep their toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap.
However, there is only 1 faucet for 300 students and 13 teachers, and this simply is not enough, seeing that the number 2 killer of children younger than 5 years old in Guatemala is the secondary complications due to diarrhea, such as malnutrition and dehydration.
Although the school has access to water every day, it lacks the capability of accumulating and storing water during the dry season, when service is unreliable.
Project Description
This project is to build an 8-faucet handwashing station and water storage system at the school.
The faucets will be located right outside the bathrooms so that when the children leave, they will have easy access to the handwashing station. This will encourage them to form the habit of washing their hands after using the restroom.
The school has already bought most of the materials necessary to build the handwashing station including the faucets, tubes, and cement. Therefore, Water Charity funds will be used to buy the rest of the materials, including the water deposit and the tubes to connect the faucets.
The community will provide a mason and 3 unskilled workers to help with the construction, and they plan on completing the handwashing station in 5 days.
Project Impact
300 students and 13 teachers will benefit from this project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Madeline Syzek
Comments
The construction of storage capacity and adequate facilities for handwashing will enable the children to practice healthy habits, leading to the prevention of illnesses.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of the Paul Bechtner Foundation.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Madeline Syzek of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Madeline and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.