Start Date: 2012-01-01

Completion Date: 2012-03-31

Technology Used:

El Porvenir has over 21 years of experience helping rural Nicaraguan communities build appropriate technology (wells, latrines, community washing stations, and fuel efficient stoves) as well as providing communities with the tools they need to manage their water, sanitation and forestry resources. The methodology of El Porvenir is based on three key principles:

(a) community empowerment through active participation and ownership in all aspects of the project,
(b) creation of sustainable organizations in the community to manage resources in the long term, and
(c) focus on appropriate technology made from low-cost locally available materials that can be maintained by the community.

El Porvenir projects are demand driven, i.e. the local office of all Nicaraguan staff responds to requests from the community. Once staff verifies the need and feasibility of the project. Funds are sought. The municipal authorities and the local community also contribute towards project materials usually by purchasing or collecting local materials. When the remaining funds are available, the construction phase can begin.

The community learns how to build and maintain sanitation infrastructure themselves.
-Construction materials are purchased and transported to the community by truck and animals
-El Porvenir provides training and technical assistance to the community in construction, maintenance and repair of latrines
-The community builds latrines (hand dig two pits per latrine to depth of 6 feet or 2 meters, line with rocks, bricks or stones, install precast concrete slab and box seat, create walls and roof from zinc panels, install ventilation tube).

The superstructure shells are made of zinc and metal, so as to be easily reused (and moved) when the first pit fills. In a similar way, both pits can be reused as one fills.

El Porvenir mainly works with hand dug wells which are dug by the community. El Porvenir offers their technical expertise throughout the process and trains the community members how to repair and maintain the well.

In some instances, like that of Taquezal, the water is too deep to reach by digging so the best option is to drill. There is always a risk of drilling failure as it is a more complicated process than digging. Once the well is drilled, it is sealed and capped to prevent contaminants from entering the well. EP staff will train the community members just like with the hand dug wells on how to maintain and repair the well when needed.

Phases:

The project can be done in two phases, latrines and then the well if the funding so requires; however we prefer to do all at once if possible.

Community Organization:

The beneficiaries of the latrines and the well have met with the El Porvenir Promoter and agreed to carry out the work needed to implement these projects. They have agreed to use, take care of and maintain them. This includes keeping the latrines and well in good condition, preventing contamination of the surrounding area and implementing a cleaning rotation.

The community will be trained in community organizing techniques and will have a functioning potable water and sanitation committee (CAPS).

Latrines are built on the property of each family, so each family owns their own latrine through their labor of building it. Community ownership is felt by the community through its identification of its problem, their monetary contribution (at least 5%) and their involvement in the sweat equity of the project. The well location is legally placed in the name of the CAPS so future disputes can be avoided over who has the right to access it.

Government Interaction:

El Porvenir has signed MOUs with our municipal governments. In the case of El Sauce, the government supports the project materials cost at 10%. The government is very willing to help with these types of projects as it is their mandate to provide water and sanitation services to their communities. Finances has proved to be a barrier to fulfilling that mandate.

Ancillary activities:

Health and hygiene education:
The community learns how to reduce water and sanitation related illnesses through good hygiene practices.
-Identify and train local hygiene and health promoters from the community to reinforce hygiene trainings on an ongoing basis
-Carry out household visits and community workshops to help the community to identify risky behaviors and learn good hygiene practices. Topics covered include: Definition of hygiene, 10 rules for using latrines, Why sanitation is important, Water and sanitation related diseases, The cycle of contamination, Why hand-washing is important, How to maintain and dispose of garbage, How to use and maintain wells and community washing stations, How to treat and use water, Sources of water contamination, Role and responsibilities of Community Water and Sanitation Committee members.
-Create and air health and hygiene announcements on local radio stations to reinforce community health learning and to reach a larger audience.
-Organize community clean up days to reinforce training about environmental sanitation and waste management
-Collect data from local clinics and health centers on incidence of water and sanitation related diseases (diarrhea, skin infections etc.)

Other Issues: