Location
Barrio San Juan, Chinameca, San Miguel, El Salvador
Community Description
Chinameca is located in eastern El Salvador within the Sierra Tecapa-Chinameca range in the department of San Miguel. The city is located on the northern slope of Cerro El Limbo at an elevation of 580 meters above sea level. Chinameca is 19.1 km west of the city of San Miguel, 2 miles south of the city of Nueva Guadalupe, 2.5 miles east of the city of Jucuapa, and 4 miles south of the Panamerican Highway.
Chinameca is a large town with a total population of 22,311 people. The urban population represents 27.9% of the total. Women hold the majority, and 48% of the population falls between the ages of 18 and 59. More than 32% of the population is of school-age (4-17 years). About 8% of the population is younger than 3 years, while over 11% is 60 years of age or older.
Rural areas are dominated by agricultural production, especially coffee, fruit crops, and grains. The sale of these agricultural products serves as the main source of income. A series of public and private institutions serve as places of employment for the local urban population.
Public facilities in the community include the City Hall of Chinameca, the sub-delegation of the National Civil Police, the local clinical division of the Ministry of Health, local and national courts, the House of Culture, five public elementary schools, one national institute, local offices of the Salvadoran Social Security Services, and Central Farmer’s Market. The private sector consists of the industrial sector, various shops and services.
The industrial sector focuses exclusively on the processing and exporting of coffee. Commercial enterprises include a number of convenience stores, restaurants, hardware stores, bakeries and pharmacies. The service-oriented businesses include a local transportation cooperative, a number of churches, international divisions of the Red Cross, Lions Club and World Vision, professional offices offering medical, dental and legal consultations, a number of Internet cafes and beauty salons, two gas stations, a car wash, and a local NGO with a tree nursery. The city of San Miguel and its institutions also provide employment to the citizens of Chinameca, given the close proximity of the two cities.
There are concerns in Chinameca directly related to water quality and content. It is widely known that water supplies in Chinameca have higher than acceptable levels of fecal coliform, total coliform, and E. coli, as well elevated levels of diluted metals (a result of the geology of the area.)
The biological contaminants and metals in the water supply of Centro Escolar Julián Aparicio have the potential to put at risk childhood development and other public health complications. These are especially high for children still in development stages, like the children attending the school.
Project Description
This project is to install a water tank and filtration and purification system at the school, and to implement a series of interactive health and environmental education activities.
A fully-equipped plastic water tank with a capacity of 5,000 liters will be installed to ensure an abundant and reliable supply of water at the school.
A water filtration and purification system will be installed. This will help in reducing the susceptibility to diseases transmitted by contaminated water and mitigation of development risks and other health complications as a result of elevated pollutant concentrations in the water.
Finally, a series of interactive health and environmental education activities will be carried out to teach good personal hygiene practices as well as proper water use practices to protect and conserve local water sources.
To implement the project, three quotations from different water tank and material suppliers were obtained. In addition, a local mason was hired to carry out the site preparation and installation of the new water filtration, purification, and distribution system.
The site has been measured to ensure accurate and appropriate placement of the new water tank and system. The site still has to be prepared for the new tank, including a thorough cleaning and leveling of the area.
The water tank and the new system will be purchased and transported to the school by the supplier. With the help of the supplier, contractor, and a number of local community members the new tank will be installed in the school.
Centro Escolar Julián Aparicio has contributed $700.00 to the project and has already purchased the water purification system with these funds. An additional $575.00 of in-kind community contribution has been guaranteed by La Asociacion para el Desarrollo de Chinameca (ASDECHI) and local community members.
Through the Peace Corps Partnership Program, friends and family have raised $1,539.54 which will be used to purchase a fully-equipped 5,000 L plastic water tank.
Appropriate Projects funds will be used to purchase materials necessary for the completion of the water filtration and distribution system.
Upon completion of the physical portion of the project, an education campaign will begin in collaboration with school staff and the local Ministry of Health, with students and teachers attending. This will instill the benefits of clean drinking water and personal hygiene practices to ensure public safety and health, in addition to a focus on water in an environmental context.
Project Impact
617 children y 26 teachers of Centro Escolar Julián Aparicio will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Adam Birr
Comments
This project will ensure a healthy and sanitary environment for the children and staff at the school. Our participation in the larger program adds to a huge amount of public and private support, ensuring the success and sustainability of the project.
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 Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Adam Birr of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Adam 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.