Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Chichoche Handwashing Station Project – Guatemala

Location
Chichoche, Aguacatan, Huehuetenango, Guatemala

Community Description
Chichoche is a small indigenous community located 15 minutes east of the municipality of Aguacatan, Huehuetenango. The main source of income for the community is through agricultural work. Most people harvest corn and beans to sustain their families throughout the year.

The community has about 650 inhabitants. 200 students attend the only local elementary school, taught by 7 teachers.

The school of Chichoche is located at the top of a steep grade at the end of the town’s limits. The front gate opens into a dirt soccer field. As you walk through the gate and turn right there is an open dirt area where the kids play.

Surrounding the play area are 8 separate classrooms where grades kindergarten through sixth grade receive classes. There are three flush toilets off to the side of the school, one water basin and a fire pit to cook the snack for the children.

The school has water most days but it can be sporadic during the dry season.

This school does not have a sufficient number of faucets for the children to practice healthy hygiene habits. They currently have two water basins, one for the mothers who cook the snack and one for the rest of the school.

Project Description
This project is to build a tank-style handwashing station with a capacity of 5,000 liters, with 8 faucets around the tank (one for each classroom).

The water source from the community will be connected to the tank to ensure that it remains full. The tank will fill up when there is water available at the school. This school has water almost all the time, except during the dry season.

The tank itself will have a float valve in it to stop the water when it is full. The tank is cylindrical in shape and made of concrete.

The faucets will be of industrial-strength metal so that they will last for many years. They will be located directly on the tank itself, which will supply each one with sufficient pressure. Under the tank will be a cement platform/floor that the kids will stand on and prevent mud from building up around the handwashing station.

The community will provide a skilled mason and the workers to complete the project.

Project funds will be used to buy and transport materials, including sand, gravel, cement, float valve, faucet kits, iron, and tubing.

Project Impact
200 students, 7 teachers, and 100 community members will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Alicia Swift

Comments
This project provides a continuous source of water for the school for oral and general hygiene, even when local water is cut off and during the dry season. This will improve the health and well-being of those at the school, and for the members of the community at large who attend meetings there.

Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00

Donations Collected to Date
$555.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of 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 Alicia Swift of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by other PCVs in Guatemala.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.