Drinking Water for Poor Schools in Rural Honduras

The goal that all of us share is to prevent the unnecessary suffering of children that results from consuming contaminated water and improper hygiene habits. Blue Planet Network collaborates with water funders and implementers to create sustainable water programs that prevent ill-health and death. To this end, we are raising funds for Pure Water for the World (PWW), a long-time Blue Planet Network member, to build clean water facilities and bacteria testing kits for the schools of Trojes, Honduras. What makes Pure Water for the World a leader in water, sanitation and hygiene development is that they employ three highly effective techniques that ensure sustainability. Those are:

1. Community engagement
2. Effective and affordable technology
3. Long-term monitoring

Here's more about Pure Water for the World's unique approach:

When you support PWW, you are supporting a water, sanitation and hygiene project implementer that focuses on working with a community rather than for a community. PWW ensures recipient communities, such as Trojes, gain the skills and leadership necessary to repair and maintain water infrastructure on their own for years to come. For example, community members such as homeowners, school leaders and students, work along-side PWW staff in filter installation and latrine construction for a more complete, hands-on understanding. PWW asks communities to select their own community agents who receive continued education to oversee the project.  PWW staff conducts visits to monitor project installation and meetings with community agents. PWW also engages the community to provide small contributions for filters which instills a sense of ownership.

PWW measures their success through long-term monitoring. For the schools in Trojes, PWW will measure the number of lives they have improved permanently by the number of children who no longer get sick day after day. Additional metrics include  the elimination of diarrheal disease in homes and communities and by school attendance. Typically attendance rate has increased from 50% to 100% for other school projects. PWW will continue to interact with local health centers to collect data and provide consistent updates like they have done for projects on Blue Planet Network in the past. Project data for past projects are available on Blue Planet Network if you'd like to learn more.

In terms of affordable solutions, Sawyer filters will be installed in schools and Bio-sand filters in some homes. Sawyer filters are budgeted around $70 USD as the simple filter requires minimal maintenance. PWW has budgeted $220 USD for hand-washing stations and parasite treatment at just .65 cents a unit. It's amazing to consider how low the cost is compared to the great impact on health, education, and development it will have.

Thank you so much again for helping the children of Trojes to live a healthier and happier life.