20 October 2008

To: Bill Kramer
Program Manager
International Rural Water Association

From: Lynn Roberts
Agua Para La Salud
Guatemala

GENERAL COUNTRY ACTIVITY  SEPTEMBER

During late August the masons and circuit rider Diego Ramirez finished the El Mirador water project which include the capture of several small springs that  supplied two storage tanks constructed over two old clothes washing stations; repairs to the school hand washing station and the construction of 19  --  2000 liter rain storage tanks in homes. 

Following the completion of El Mirador at the end of August the masons in Nebaj began work in 4 schools to improve sanitation and hand washing stations facilities. The project includes work on a septic tank in Loa Laguna Sal Bal; hand washing station sand latrine complex  in Vitostix; hand washing station and latrine complex in Tzijulche; and repairs to a spring box and clothes washing stations in Buena Vista.

Latrine complex in Tzijulche	Circuit rider Diego Ramirez giving classes in water shed protection and rain cycle

Two compartment Septic tank under construction in La Laguna SalBal

Peter Cruddas and Circuit rider Alberto Xoch traveled to Ixtajacan to do a village water survey with a Peace Coprs volunteer.  A design and map were drawn so the village and the PC volunteer could submit a project to the local mayor to improve their water system that was damaged in 2005 during hurricane Stan.

Peter and Diego hiked to Chuatuj a village on the high plateau near Nebaj to do a study of the water conditions in order to work up a project for the coming year to construct about 40 – 2000 liter rain tanks in the village.

I traveled with Peter to Alta and Baja Vera Paz departments to give advise and designs to four Peace Corps volunteers doing projects with Global Water funding.  The projects included septic tanks; river water collection galleries; rain storage tanks; and hand washing station.

Alberto Xoch  began work on a latrine project in Tecpan with the Peace Corps and made several trips in the Solola area to give advice and training to Peace Corps volunteers and local masons working with them.

The masons in Nebaj attended and participated in two health training sessions with Water For People. The method used is the interactive training methodology.

Trainers are taught to use students to teach themselves using pictorial information about healthy habits.

- End of Report -