Projects: Healthy Environments
Project Goals:
The project focuses on three primary goals:
- To reduce the transmission of water-borne diseases by improving sanitation infrastructure
- To improve the sanitation and health practices of low-income, rural families through educational activities
- To engage community leaders as active participants in the design and implementation of sanitation projects
Project Activities:
Volunteers work with local partners to:
- Build an aqueduct system to bring safe drinking water to each family in the community.
- Train health promoters in family sanitation and hygiene.
- Train local workers to fix and maintain the aqueduct system.
- Create and strengthen a community water committee that will work to build and maintain the water system in the community.
Individual Project Descriptions
- Stephen Good
- The people who live in the remote communities of Guaranal and Quita Sueño had never had access to water that was potable. In fact, the only water they ever had access to comes from the river, miles away! So they banded together years ago to build an aqueduct and they knocked on every door and talked to every politician for 7 long years to no avail. Their wishes were finally heard when Peace Corps Volunteer Stephen Good arrived. But it wasn't easy. In fact, throughout the two years, Stephen and his community confronted many challenges. They were promised funding that they never received and they were challenged by the sheer difficulty of the task. But, together they overcame each obstacle. They secured funding from other sources, they worked in groups day after day against each challenge nature through at them. The community dug and installed 13 kilometers of tubing and 160 tap stands. Two entire communities received water through their efforts. No more hiking uphill for miles just to get water, no more using the same bucket of water to bathe, mop, and wash dishes with, and no more drinking water that will make them ill. The men and women of Guaranal and Quita Sueño worked hard for their dream and, with the support and help of Stephen, they achieved it.
Perspective. If you know where someone is coming from you’ll be better able to understand where they are trying to go and how you can help them in the 'camino'.Jenn BiresFormer volunteer in the Dominican Republic 2005-2007.
