Start Date: 2012-01-09

Completion Date: 2012-05-31

Technology Used:

House hold water treatment: The method that PWW is going to implement for water treatment is the house hold plastic bio-sand filtration. During installations this are filled with gravel and sand as means of filtration. Contaminated water is poured through the top of the filter and passes through a plate that diffuses the stream and blocks large contaminants (e.g. stones, large twigs, leaves).The top few centimeters of the sand trap the bulk of micro-organisms, which accumulate and develop into a highly active food chain, called the Biological Layer or Schmutzdecke.
During post project follow-up surveys in communities where PWW has installed filters, many users noted that the water's fresh flavor and cool temperature was an improvement from their previous drinking water. Health reasons were also commonly brought up. In most of the communities that have been served, diarrhea and stomachaches were prevalent mostly in children. In most of these communities people do not visit a health center for a diarrhea case unless it is life threatening. During the survey PWW conducted in previous project communities, the people interviewed said that their health has improved markedly since the project was implemented.

Phases:

This project will be completed in one phase with funding divided between the three communities.

Community Organization:

The community members are the ones who requested the project. They have been involved in the planning process from the very beginning. The community members know their needs and are committed to seeing this project implemented. They have organized health committees for project implementation and are willing to contribute to the project in cash and labor.

Government Interaction:

This will be done by partnering directly with the Health Centers, Secretary of Health, Municipality, Education District and local NGOs over time to enhance their skills, and thereby strengthen the District capacity as a whole to effectively contribute to development work and increase overall project activities.

Ancillary activities:

Community agent training:
PWW staff will train 1 person per 6 filters installed to be community agents. They will be selected by the community leaders, and their volunteer job consists of filter checkups and to solve possible problems with filter maintenance if necessary. The feedback they provide will be the most valuable asset of the project.

Trainings for Children in School:
The objective of this step is to engage school children and teachers as agents of change in their communities. PWW will establish a hygiene and sanitation club or strengthen and streamline existing school clubs to develop a capacity development program. These clubs will train school children in hygiene and sanitation and enhance their involvement as change agents in their respective households and communities
The subjects or lesson planned for this training will be suitable for children between the ages of five and fourteen- the age at which most children complete their primary education in Honduras. The training will consist of participatory methods and tools which help young children to engage in and benefit from and will include gender empowerment. Staff members will conduct evaluations before and after trainings.

Trainings for Community:
The community agents will be in charge of organizing the hygiene and sanitation workshops for the community as well as house-hold reinforcement during house visits for the first 5 months. All the families will be trained in filter maintenance, and the community agent will ensure proper use of the filters, protection of water source and behavioral change relating to hygiene practices.

A parasite treatment campaign will take place to treat 920 people in these three communities. Also incorporated in the educational component is environmental protection education (water shed protection) trainings for adults and children in both of the communities.

An exchange of experiences between community agents will also take place to discussed lessons learned and project follow-up.

Other Issues:

These communities are located in Trojes, Honduras which has been identified by UNICEF as one of the poorest regions in Honduras. Many of these communities lack the infrastructure, jobs, clean water, and proper hygiene and sanitation thus causing much sickness.