Providing water resources and health education to this rural school in conjunction with the Peace Corps Healthy Schools project.

Narrative

The project start date is tentatively set for the month of Feb. Once the school year begins on about the 20th of Jan. 2012 the Peace Corps volunteers will begin the process of organizing the school and community for the construction of the facilities.

  • Lynn Roberts of Agua Para La Salud (APLS)
    • confidential
    Implementation Status: completed Wed 29 Feb 2012, About 12 Years ago

    Progress Report of Com School

    During the month of February this school project was completed in the municipality of Jacaltenango, department of Huehuetenango. The project went smoothly with the villagers cooperating in each of the schools. A few modifications to designs were made to accommodate the school conditions and perceived needs of the communities.

    Due to the changing situation in Guatemala due to increasing drug related violence and common crime Peace Corps made the decision to evacuate the Healthy Schools volunteers in the department of Huehuetenango for their safety. Peace Corps has taken a wait and sees position in this department to see if they can return the volunteers in the coming year.

    Meetings were held with the teachers and administrators of the various schools to ensure that they would continue the hygiene education in the absence of the Peace Corps volunteers.
    The notice of this evacuation took place in the middle of the construction process and APS made the decision to complete the work since the majority of the materials were delivered and masons hired to complete the work.

  • Impact Assessment (M&E) Phase Project completed on 24 Feb, 2012 Implementation Phase
  • Implementation Phase Project started on 12 Feb, 2012 Preparation Phase

Providing water resources and health education to this rural school in conjunction with the Peace Corps Healthy Schools project.

Narrative

The project start date is tentatively set for the month of Feb. Once the school year begins on about the 20th of Jan. 2012 the Peace Corps volunteers will begin the process of organizing the school and community for the construction of the facilities.

Sustainability

Creating and measuring long-term impact

The Peace Corps volunteer will sign a maintenance contract with the school that will name specific individuals who will be responsible for maintaining the facilities installed. The contract will also outline the method of collecting funds for the maintenance.

Other Issues

Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution

The project was modified from the original proposal because the community wished to keep an existing water tank and add a portable tank to the kitchen. As a result the old tank was found to be sound but needed repairs and a new concrete roof. The modified tank was connected to a rain system from the roof for added water supply.

Peace Corps was leaving the area for security concerns , but had meetings with the community and teachers to leave behind an organization of teachers and parents to continue the hygiene education until such time as Peace Corps would return.

Learnings

Knowledge of project and process for sharing

Community wishes change over time and school committees also change which require some negotiations at the time of the actual construction some months after receiving funding.

Impact

People Impacted: 197

School Children Getting Water: 197

The figure represents the total population listed at the 6 schools at the close of school year 2011.
The parents and siblings of the children will be impacted as well in that they will have fewer heath issues in the family because of the changed hygiene habits of their children.

People Getting Sanitation: 197

While on site repairs were made to existing bathrooms and flush toilets.

People Getting Other Benefits: 197

The school children and the teachers will have the benefit of the Peace Corps healthy Schools program which assigns a Peace Corp volunteer to the school for a period up to 6 years to work with the teachers and train them in the health education program with the goal designating the school as a healthy school by the Ministry of Education.

Maintenance/Operating Costs Annual, in US$: $100

Creating and measuring long-term impact

The Peace Corps volunteer will sign a maintenance contract with the school that will name specific individuals who will be responsible for maintaining the facilities installed. The contract will also outline the method of collecting funds for the maintenance.

Funding

funded:
$2,689
Community:
$350
Final Cost:
$3,039

Plan/Proposal