This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION.
This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion, CLICK HERE.
Locations
1. Pamezabal, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
2. Campo Verde, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
3. Buena Vista, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
4. Cruz B, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
5. Chuijomil, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
6. Nikajkim, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
7. Los Manantiales, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
8. Xesampual, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
9. Nuevo Progreso, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
10. Los Planes Chuchexic, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
11. Pahaj, Santa Lucía Utatlan, Sololá, Guatemala
Community Description
1. Pamezabal, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Pamezabal is Mil Milagros’ largest partner school and community with 316 children in the school, 32 children in the early childhood development program, 18 mother leaders leading its programs, and 17 teachers.
b. Filters Needed: 18 filters for the classrooms and kitchen in Pamezabal and 20 filters for the mother leaders in our programs in the community.
2. Campo Verde, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Campo Verde is the most rural of the Mil Milagros partner schools, with 39 children in the school, 11 children in the early childhood development program, 10 mother leaders leading our programs, and two teachers.
b. Filters Needed: 3 filters for the classrooms and kitchen in Campo Verde and 10 filters for mother leaders.
3. Buena Vista, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Buena Vista is one of two schools to be added as MM partner schools in 2019. There are 78 children in the school, 12 mothers leading our programs, and 5 teachers.
b. Filters Needed: 7 filters for the classrooms and kitchen and 12 filters for mother leaders.
4. Cruz B, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala 
a. Cruz B is one of two schools to be added as MM partner schools in 2019. There are 120 children in the school, 17 mothers leading our programs, and 7 teachers.
b. Filters Needed: 8 filters for the classrooms and kitchen and 17 filters for mother leaders in our programs.
5. Chuijomil, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Chuijomil has 99 children in school, 28 children in the early childhood development program, and 17 mother leaders in our programs.
b. Filters Needed: 17 filters for the mother leaders in our programs.
6. Nikajkim, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Nikajklim has 39 children in school, and 10 mother leaders in our programs.
b. Filters Needed: 10 filters for the mother leaders in our programs.
7. Los Manantiales, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Los Manantialesl has 123 children in school, 24 children in the early childhood development program, and 14 mother leaders in our programs.
b. Filters Needed: 14 filters for the mother leaders in our programs.
8. Xesampual, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Xesampual has 213 children in school, 26 children in the early childhood development program, and 20 mother leaders in our programs.
b. Filters Needed: 20 filters for the mother leaders in our programs.
9. Nuevo Progreso, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Nuevo Progreso is a small, rural community in Santa Lucía Utatlan. The community has fought with Mil Milagros by its side to build a two-room schoolhouse, kitchen, bathrooms, and playground for the children in the community. The community has 29 school-aged children, 32 babies and young children, two teachers, and 7 mother leaders.
b. Filters Needed: 7 filters for mother leaders in our programs.
10. Los Planes Chuchexic, Santa Lucía Utatlán, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Los Planes Chuchexic is a rural community 20 minutes from the town center of Santa Lucía Utatlán. The school has 169 children, 10 teachers and 17 mother leaders.
b. Filters Needed:17 filters for Los Planes for the mother leaders in our programs.
11. Pahaj, Santa Lucía Utatlan, Sololá, Guatemala
a. Pahaj is a larger community outside of the main town of Santa Lucía, with a large population of men who are in the United States. Many are unable to send money to their families. We are serving 89 children and 64 mothers in Pahaj with our early childhood development program.
b. Filters Needed: 6 water filters for the mother leaders in the early childhood development program in Pahaj.
Problem Addressed
None of the 11 communities with which Mil Milagros works has enough water, and since an estimated 98% of the water sources in Guatemala are contaminated, potable water is a luxury.
In Sololá, the department (state), 94% of families live on less than $3.00 a day. Because of this, many families choose to drink the contaminated water instead of boiling it because the cost of the firewood required to boil enough drinking water each day is out of most families’ reach. This causes illnesses and an aversion to drink water.
A major nutritional problem that has been encountered in potential partner schools is the cultural norm of drinking sugary fruit drinks with contaminated water. Mil Milagros works with the mother leaders, teachers, and child leaders in each school’s student council to promote drinking purified water and eating a piece of fruit (provided by Mil Milagros) instead.
Project Description
The project will consist of the provision of 185 water filters to schools and mother leaders in 11 communities in Santa Lucía Utatlán.
Mil Milagros has expanded its coverage in this municipality and has added four new partner schools and communities since January 2018. 35 filters will be distributed in each classroom and school kitchen in the four schools, serving 525 children and 30 teachers. (The rest of the schools have already been equipped with water filters from Water Charity.)
Additionally, since receiving filters to aid in the school health and hygiene program, the mother leaders in each school have recognized their value and have asked for filters at home. It is estimated that 98% of the water supply in Guatemala is contaminated, so the mothers have a valid concern if their children are drinking unfiltered water at home.
To encourage health and hygiene habits in the home, 150 Sawyer filters will be given to the mother leaders who volunteer in our early childhood development, nutrition, and health/hygiene programs. MM will train the mothers on the installation, proper use and maintenance of the filters and will conduct home visits to ensure compliance with the expectations of use.
Project Impact
Over 1,100 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Carolyn Daly, RPCV, In-Country Director, Mil Milagros, a local NGO that has as its mission to partner with communities to prevent malnutrition and hunger and improve the health and education of children in Guatemala. To achieve this goal, they implement programs in eight communities serving more than 1,400 children. The early childhood development program currently serves more than 200 babies and young children and more than 150 mothers in weekly workshops on topics in nutrition, health and hygiene, child development, and early literacy.
Monitoring and Maintenance
Mil Milagros will manage the project and monitor and evaluate its success.
Fundraising Target
$4,500
Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.
Donations Collected to Date
$4,500
Dollar Amount Needed
$0 – This project has been funded through the generosity of Michael and Carla Boyle, of Foster, West Virginia.
Additional donations will be used for future projects in Guatemala.