Location
Paraje Nuevo Progreso, Canton Pahaj, Santa Lucía Utatlan, Sololá, Guatemala
Community Description
Sololá is located in the western highlands of Guatemala. It is the second poorest state, with 94% of people living on less than $3.00 per day. According to the Guatemalan government, 98% of the state of Sololá is indigenous Maya.
Nuevo Progreso is a small, rural community in Santa Lucía Utatlan. Families in this community saw the danger of sending their children to the closest school, where they would have to cross a busy highway, and asked each family in the community to put a small amount of money toward renting a two-room schoolhouse.
They have recently received land to build their new school and have begun the process to construct the building. The school currently has 30 children, 2 teachers and 17 mother volunteers.
Problem Addressed
Nuevo Progreso is a community with a serious water problem. There is no water in the school or the majority of the homes, so mothers have to get water from other sources and carry large jugs on their heads to provide water for the school and their homes.
The community has recently dug an 18-meter deep well on the new school land to provide water for the school for the hygiene program, nutrition program, and general usage.
Project Description
This project is to purchase and install a pump, piping, fixtures, and fittings to provide for the water needs of the school.
The project will be implemented under the direction of the school and town council of Nuevo Progreso, and directly managed by the school principal and the president of the town council.
The work of assembling and installing the system will be performed by local well experts.
Water Charity funds will be used to pay for the skilled labor as well as the equipment and materials, including a submersible electric pump and motor of suitable capacity, a control panel, tubing, pipes, adapters, cables, and a small water storage unit.
Project Impact
49 people will immediately benefit from the project, with many more to be served in the future as the school population continues to increase.
Project Director
Carolyn Daly is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, living in Sololá, and currently working for Mil Milagros. She previously completed the Sololá School Filter Project – Guatemala.
Monitoring and Maintenance
The school will create and implement a plan for continued maintenance. Mil Milagros staff will monitor the pump to ensure it is properly used and maintained.
Comments
This project will improve the health and wellbeing of students and their families, as well as the school staff. It will add to the educational experience by relieving all of the beneficiaries of the daily responsibility of bringing water to the classroom for ready use during the school day.
Dollar Amount of Project
$1,280.80
Donations Collected to Date
$1,280.80
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Michael and Carla Boyle of Nelsonville, OH, USA.
This project has been completed. To see the results, CLICK HERE.