School Health and Hygiene for Mayan Children

Pueblo a Pueblo is proud to have added a new school partner to its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools Project! Nueva Providencia Elementary School is now equipped with a brand new set of bathrooms and hand-washing stations, as well as a state-of-the-art septic system.

We started work late last year to construct facilities for more than 80 children from grades K - 6. We inaugurated the new bathrooms and hand-washing stations at a recent celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony that was attended by the Pueblo a Pueblo board of directors on a visit from the USA.

Sandy Mendoza, the WASH Project Assistant, said about the new development, “This project is important because it finally helps cover the needs of the school in Nueva Providencia. Before there was a poor sanitary facility open to the entire community, and with so many people from the school and outside community using the bathrooms, maintenance was nearly impossible. Some days the kids would come to school and find their bathrooms completely unusable.”

“And it’s not just about construction,” Sandy continued. “We’re trying to promote good health habits in other sustainable ways. By giving hygiene classes to students in partner schools, we’re giving them knowledge they can use to lead healthy, happy lives. Our hope is that these hygiene habits will spread from the students to their families, and eventually to the entire community.”

Of course, this project wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity and support of people like you. Now that it is complete, please consider donating to support future WASH projects in other school communities where we work!