GUA 0544
Name of Project: Healthy Schools 2005 Program
Partner Organization: Agua Para La Salud
Community Description: The majority of the
schools are located in the central highlands of Guatemala in the
departments of Sololá, Chimaltenengo, Quezaltenengo, and Huehuetenango.
The primary occupation of the men is agriculture, and the women keep
house. Some skilled trades are evident such as carpentry for the men and
weaving for the women. The area is considered to be "cold" land
and will only support one crop a year. The low production on this land is
the major cause of the level of poverty of the area. Many of the families
own small "milpas," or land upon which they grow corn, beans and
potatoes. Most of these crops are used to feed their families, but very
often they are not enough to last the year. As a result of this crop
shortfall many of the men or families migrate to the warmer south coastal
areas of Guatemala to find seasonal work on the sugar cane and coffee
plantations. Most of the families own some sort of livestock such as
chickens, pigs, turkeys, or sheep. Fewer families own cows, horses, goats
or mules. Many of the animals are raised only for sale and are considered
too expensive to be eaten by the families. Many of the family members are
employed on fincas (large farms) seasonally to harvest coffee, sugar and
fruit.
Community Needs: According to government
statistics, 98 percent of the potable water in Guatemala is contaminated.
As a result, students in the schools experience a high incidence of
water-related illnesses like gastro-intestinal illnesses/diarrhea,
respiratory infections, intestinal infections and fevers. Sanitation
facilities in the schools may be non-existent, no longer functioning, in
need of repair, inappropriately designed for the environmental conditions,
or there simply may not be enough latrines to support the number of
students using them. School children normally carry habits learned in the
home to school. This results in a very mixed application of hygiene habits
from very good to non-existent. In summary, there are varying needs in the
schools for water systems, latrines and health and hygiene education.
Project Details: The project will serve 13
schools in six communities with the following:
