Comments from the Beneficiaries

At the project socialization meeting the president of the community board, Mr. Santos Francisco Mejía, said he and the rest of the people in Arenales Abajo (La Supa) were very grateful with all the organizations involved in this project. They had never received and opportunity this big to improve their quality of life.

In that same meeting the town’s official, Mr.Carlos Rodríguez, told the community that they had to work together to repair the road so it would facilitate truck access for the project.

Mr. Herminio Ordonez said “This project was a sent by God, who touch the hearts of the donors to help this humble community..."

Xenia Carcamo Sevilla said: "...Now we feel the water we are drinking is safe and sweeter and our kids are not getting sick.

Transporation and Installation of filters and building of latrines

The filters for the community had to be transported in a pickup truck, with only a capacity of 5 filters in each load. This meant that to be able to transport the 23 filters, we had to make 5 trips back and forth from Arenales to Arenales Abajo. Once in Arenales Abajo (La Supa), each beneficiary carried their 150 pound filter to their house with the help of staff and the community agent.

Due to rain and to avoid flooding of the pits the beneficiaries where told to wait to excavate the pits for latrine septic tank.

The last week of March, filter intsallation began. Also, filter and latrine maintenance training, as well as hygiene and sanitation education was given for school kids and the whole community. The whole community was present for this training.

This same week, the weather conditions improved and 5 families dug the pit for the latrine so PWW staff also started building the sanitation infrastructure. The construction is complete for 5 latrines. Each family was involved in the whole process and thus, ensuring 100% inclusion at all times.

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Community Survey

Pure Water for the World initiated the project on the first week of March 2010, conducting a base line survey of Arenales Abajo ( also known as La Supa). It was carried out by one staff member with the full participation of one community representative. Field work was conducted in two parts:Health Data Collection from the Health Center in Trojes, and interviews in the community regarding their water treatment methods.
It was a tough job; it took approximately 3 days for Karla, our health promoter, to finish the surveys. She had to walk long distances from one steep hill to another as she conducted the community survey. On the 4th day of this same week, staff organized a brief introduction meeting of the Project with Community leaders or members of the social groups in the area (*patronatos: community boards). After which the attendees would be invited to suggest a suitable *demonstration house which might be used to show the function, capability, use, and maintenance of the filter. It would also serve as an example of how to maintain a hygienically safe environment in the household.

During the initial assessment of the community, the PWW vehicle became stuck twice. Attached are videos showing them being pulled out of the mud.

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Community Stewards and Project Socialization

The second week of project, the community leaders had selected 2 people to be the project community agents. Their volunteer job consists of keeping record of the filters and latrines functions, filling a monitoring format provided by the project staff, and to report to PWW staff. The feedback they provide will be the most valuable asset of the project.

After the selection of the community agents, PWW staff held training for them with the objective to build local capacity to support total behavior change in use of filter, latrine, hygiene and sanitation. To achieve this we have designed a guide for Community Agents and a monitoring form that facilitates their work. After this training the community agents will be capable of supporting installations, orientation for the villagers on how to dig the pit and village-level hygiene and sanitation improvement activities.

Also during this second week a project socialization was held. This meeting is meant to present the project to the whole community. With the previous implementation of the demonstration house, the attendees had a better idea of what to expect from the project and the community leaders already had a list of people interested in the project .
Considering that one of the more critical parts of the project is its sustainability, we emphasized that all beneficiaries of the project must attend the hygiene and sanitation trainings as part of their requirement for receiveing a biosand filter and latrine. Community members were strongly motivated towards improving their water quality and having a latrine and they agreed to attend.

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