Peace Corps Work Updates

Based on our blog it would appear that we’ve adopted the “Cuerpo de Pasear” lifestyle.  In Spanish, Peace Corps is translated to Cuerpo de Paz.  A common saying among some PCVs is Cuerpo de Pasear which basically means the Backpacker Corps.  This would be a dig at volunteers that are routinely traveling, rarely in their site, and doing little work.

 

While it is true that Kristi and I have been on the move a lot lately (USA in June, Honduran vacation with the Lees in August, and two PC meetings in September) we are still plugging away at our community development work.  In this post I’d like to update those of you that are interested on what we’ve been working on lately.

 

Recently, Kristi wrapped up a water filter project with her counterpart, Red Cross Honduras and a medical brigade out of Arizona.  In all, about 12 micro-pore water filters (similar to the filters used in kidney dialysis procedures) were distributed to schools in surrounding communities.  Mostly Kristi, and a little I, trained Red Cross health promoters in the operation and maintenance of these filters who, in turn, distributed them to community schools and trained the teachers and other adults in their use and maintenance.

 

With another counterpart, the Honduran NGO, Agua y Desarrollo Comunitario (ADEC), we are installing more than 50 ceramic water filters in the mountain communities around Trinidad.  The filters will be delivered this week.  In addition, a Combined Treatment Unit (a mini drinking water treatment plant) will be installed in a community school as part of this project the following week.

 

We are still pushing forward on a permanent water system project in the community of La Fragosa where we achieved much success with an earlier ceramic water filter project last year.  The Engineers without Borders (EWB) Lehigh University chapter has taken on the design, financing and implementation of the project.  They are in the design and fund-raising phase of the project currently and will be visiting Honduras in January 2012 (and several other times next year) to begin implementation.  Kristi and I would like to facilitate the construction of latrines in La Fragosa before or during the construction of the water system to create a full water and sanitation project in the community.  We are currently looking for ways to fund the construction of about 35 pour-flush style latrines.

 

Three new water and sanitation volunteers arrived in the department of Santa Bárbara in May.  Since their arrival we have been working together on several water system designs.  Each new volunteer has little technical experience with respect to hydraulic design so I’ve been helping out.  One of the three is an environmental engineering graduate.  I hope to train her very well in the proper design of water systems before the end of my service.  Since their arrival we’ve been working to improve their topographic surveying, design, and technical reporting skills.

 

Since concluding a water system study for the community of Tulito in the municipality of Chinda, Santa Bárbara, Kristi and I have been searching for means to fund the construction of several much needed improvements to their existing system.  We started the project working together with the NGO Water for People (WFP).  WFP has since been forced to withdraw from that municipality due to budget cuts leaving the community to find funding for the project on its own.  This should prove difficult since their municipal government has shown very little interest in supporting the small, isolated community.  We hope to help them along in the process of soliciting funds to complete their water system improvements.

 

This is the majority of what we have completed (or nearly completed) recently.  We’ve got several great projects in the works involving various governmental and non-governmental agencies that we will be developing over the next few months.  Check in later for more details!

 

Sorry for the lack of photos!  We’ll get some pictures up from recent adventures next week!