Location
Casario Escobol El Volcan, Guatajiagua, Morazan, El Salvador
Community Description
El Volcan is located 11 km above the pueblo of Guatajiagua in Southern Morazan, El Salvador. The community consists of 160 homes and over 550 people. On the edge of Morazan, El Volcan rests 1100 meters above sea level and provides supreme growing conditions for a number of fruits and vegetables, including avocados, mangoes, pineapples, and an amazing ten-plus varieties of guineos (which we would call bananas).
El Volcan endures many hardships. It was a heavily conflicted area during the war. Isolated high above the pueblo, access is limited to an off-beat road which takes about an hour to drive and two to three hours to walk.
The community is a part of the fourth poorest municipality in the country, in which most families live on less than a dollar a day. The community has limited sources of income and the families primarily eat what they grow. Most of the homes lack a direct source of water. However, there are a number of springs on the mountain. It is the last canton in the municipality to receive electricity, but the posts are in the ground and expected illumination is near.
A water system currently provides water for 16 houses and 2 schools in the community. However, the system is in the need of repair, and there are 10 houses that remain unserved.
The tank that serves the system is inadequate, and is in need of extensive repair.
Project Description
This project is to build a new water tank for the existing water system. The old tank will be repaired and used as a reserve tank. The current piping system will be repaired as needed, and 10 new families will be added.
The project was planned by the water committee, which will implement the plan. The community members, along with the parents of the school, will contribute their time and labor in building the new tank, as well as connecting the new houses to the system.
Project Impact
26 families will benefit from the project, consisting of 136 people. Between the two schools, 259 students and 8 teachers will also benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Karl Mollohan
Comments
This is a terrific project, which utilizes improvements which are in place, but needing repair, and builds upon them to improve their usefulness. In addition, it extends the system to families in the community that are presently unserved.
It has extensive support from the water committee, which in the past has worked hard to keep the system functioning. The school and the community at large are involved and committed, to ensuring the success and sustainability of the project.
Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00
Donations Collected to Date
$500.00
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 Karl Mollohan of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Karl and/or those of his counterpart PCVs in El Salvador.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.