|
This project will increase awareness of the benefits of clean water, sanitation and hygiene and enhance and strengthen the access and capacity of safe drinking water. One component will be interactive education programs that will enhance the communities' knowledge of the benefits of safe water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene. A second component will be assistance in development a new safe water source for the community and the training and education in the maintenance and governance of the system for a sustainable future.
Community description: The community of El Potrero is part of the village of El Tablón which is in the northern part of the municipality and department of Sololá, just north of Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. The Mayan language spoken by the people is Kakchiquel.
Background: The water system in the community of El Potrero was built more than 34 years ago. Originally 30 families had been included in this gravity-fed system, which has a source is in the mountains on the northwest side of the village. There are some families who have some water every day (2 hours during a day). Other families do not have water at home at all. These families use water from their relatives, collect water or purchase water. Purchasing water is very expensive due to transportation, as the location of the community is remote. The shortage of water causes the children and mothers of the families to spend a lot of time looking for and collecting water every day, thus decreasing school attendance for children, and lessening other opportunities for women. The new project is planned to serve 85 families with an estimated population of 350.
Community Commitment: The community has shown a commitment to the project and the sustainability. The community has a Community Based Organization, called the COCODE (Community Development Council) The committee has been able to buy the spring of water for this project, the cost of the spring was Q 115,000 (US$ 15,132), and this purchase was made by the entire community in which 85 families contributed. The committee has been able to buy the land where the distribution tank will be built for this project. The cost of the land was Q50,000 (US $ 6,579) and this purchase was made by the entire community in which 85 families contributed. All members of the community can participate in the COCODE. To be part of the committee, people from the community propose the candidates in an assembly and select members through a vote.
Parters: The community with the support of Rotary and EWB-USA Guatemala office will make a governance plan to manage, maintain and operate the water system, for its self-sustainability. Rotary and EWB-USA Guatemala do periodic follow-up on all their projects with the communities.
Project costs listed on this site are only those funded by Rotary. The local municipality and the community are both also contributing to this project. The municipality will contribute $13,280 and the community will contribute $5789. The community will also supply unskilled labor for the project.
This project is also supported by Engineers without Borders USA (EWB-USA). EWB-USA will be assisting with technical design and implementation. EWB-USA has an in-country team in Guatemala and they will be partnering with the EWB-USA Fort Collins Professional Chapter.
Budget note: Please note that the draft budget is less than full budget listed on grant, as the draft budget does not include some sanitation work that was requested by host Rotary Club and Community after initial draft budget was completed.
| 
