The school “Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Xechebexh” is located in CHAJUL, the cabezera municipal (municipal capital) of the Municipality of Chajul. Chajul belongs to the so-called Ixil-Triangle in the Department of El Quiché in Guatemala. Set amid a mountainous landscape, the climate is cold, humid and rainy.

The school has two three-cabin flush toilets. The contaminated water is disposed directly into a river.

School snacks are usually cooked on open fires, using large amounts of wood and exposing the cook to a dangerous amount of smoke.

The city has a gravity-flow water system providing water to every household. The school has a hand-washing station, which is out of use.

A septic tank will be built for waste from the flush toilets. Additionally the existing toilets will be maintained and metal doors installed.

The hand-washing station that will be built is designed by Agua Para La Salud and has been optimized throughout the years, reducing maintenance necessity to a minimum and facilitating the cleaning of tank and grey water conducting system.

The hand-washing station provides eight taps and a 500 liters water tank to ensure the school children’s access to water.

The improved stove has been designed by a Peace Corps volunteer and APS masons according to the need in schools.

It heats large amounts of “atol” or “mosh” (local versions of porridge) using small amounts of wood. The chimney connected improves the air flow and therefore optimizes the wood consumption and leads the smoke outside.

Especially because the stove is very low, it is a well accepted alternative to the open fires the snacks are often cooked on.

Yes, in approximately six weeks.

Unskilled laborers of the community, most probably parents of the school children, will help the masons working for Agua Para La Salud with construction.