Education begins with a glass of clean water.
Why Clean Water?
After years of medical missions treating parasitic diseases, it became apparent that the health of the communities we serve starts with access to clean water. If children were to grow and thrive at school, their families needed clean water for drinking and cooking. Thus the decision was made to extend Olancho Aid’s focus to include providing clean water and education to the communities that we serve.
“Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights.” – Pope Francis, Laudato Si 8
Since 2014, through the generosity of donors and volunteers, 27 purification systems have been installed to provide clean water to more than 5,000 families. One of the systems provides purified water for all of Olancho Aid’s schools, offices, employees, and volunteers.
Community Investment
Members of the community are required to invest what they can to initiate the project, ranging from contributing labor and materials to teaching classes to the children about the importance of clean water. Leaders in each community are trained to run the purification system, monitor functionality, and troubleshoot. OAF is also “on-call” for any problems or emergencies that arise. The community staffs the facility and dispenses water to citizens.
Sustainability
It is critical to recognize challenges posed to and by water supply systems in relation to climate change. Climate impacts are already disproportionately affecting the poor and vulnerable. Consider this report from water.org: Financing Water Supply and Sanitation in a Changing Climate.
Results
Completed Purification Systems:
La Pusunca (2015) 175+ families
Jutiquile (2015) 1,000 families
Becerra (2015) 75 families
Casas Viejas (2015) 100 families
El Chaparro* (2015) 95 families
Guayabito (2015) 100 families
Nazareth (2015) Serves all Olancho Aid schools
El Higuerito (2016) 100 families
Las Lomas (2016) 90 families
Casa Cural, Gualaco (2016) 1,800 people in San Geronimo parish & schools
Cerro Verde, Gualaco (2016) 40 families
Encinal (2016) 190 families
Chindona, Gualaco (2017) 120 families
Rio Grande, Gualaco (2017) 100 families
Cayo Blanco (2017) 200 families
Colonia Agricola, Catacamas (2017) 180 families
La Concepcion (2017) 700 families
El Retiro (2017) 120 families
Guacamayas (2017) 50 families
Potrerillos (2017) 200 families
El Plomo (2017) 200 families
Arimis (2017) 400 families
Juticalpa Prison (2017) 850 people
Laguna del Uyaste (2018) 772 families
Siguate, Catacamas (2018) 220 families
Las Joyas, Gualaco (2019)
San Antonio Manto (2019)