Clean Water and Sanitation -Rainforest of Peru

Dear Friend,

It is always our great pleasure to report our project advances to you! The people of Tayakome continue to inspire our work by how quickly they are adapting to the new infrastructure that was installed 2009 -2010. The water flows clean, the bathroom structure at the school is hygienic and in perfect working order, and good hygiene practices abound. We are very proud of the people, especially since 60% of all water projects fail within the first three years of implementation--and Tayakome is FLOURISHING!

In July and August of 2011 our Peru associate and project supervisor Caleb Matos Chavez made supervision visits to Tayakome. Your GlobalGiving donations were instrumental in helping to accomplish the following:

1. Installation of sky lights on the roof of the bathroom structure to minimize flies and mosquitoes gathering in the stall areas. Structural maintenance was also performed due to a leaky pipe.
2. Overall maintenance of the gravity flow water system, cleaning of the slow sand filters, bacteriological water testing, and PH balance testing was conducted to assure the water supply was safe. This was done with the water and sanitation committee. (WSC).
3. A technical training course was implemented for villagers and the WSC to review the infrastructure, and the importance of water quality testing and safety. These training workshops are essential for the community to arrive at long term health advances and project sustainability. 
4. The establishment of a monthly water and sanitation fee in which each family contributes $3.50 per month to maintain their infrastructure. This agreement was established at a community meeting in which 80% of the villagers were present.
5. House-to-house visits were also made with the village health promoter to secure that the tap stands and greywater drains were functioning, and to check-in personally with the people.
6. Meetings were held at the health post with the doctor, nurse and health aides to evolve their understanding of the biological components of slow sand filtration, and how it is removing 99.99% of the bacteria from the water supply. Caleb’s training with the medical staff assured them that the water is safe to drink without the use of chlorine disinfection.

What’s NEXT:  Our next supervision visit will be this December when our medical anthropologist Dr. Glenn Shepard Jr., will conduct a social impact study on the influence of our programming on remote rainforest cultures. We will also continue with technical training and health education to support long term health and sustainability.

House of the Children would like to thank our GlobalGiving Family for their ongoing generosity and friendship to the children and families of Tayakome. The advances in the community are monumental for indigenous people and give hope and inspiration to other villages that await our services.

REMINDER! We still have 14 months of supervision visits in Tayakome, so know that we would all be grateful for your continued support of these beautiful Matsigenka people.

Many Thanks!

Nancy Santullo

P.S.  Please share our work with your friends and colleagues!

"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they will never sit." Greek Proverb

Links:

• Capacity Training Villagers and the H2O comittee.
• Community members agree on a water fee.