"Bron!" or Let's Go!

I have an announcement: I am organizing the construction of simple latrines to improve the health of the community in which I live and work, and I'm seeking financial support. This isn't a surprise to you if you've been following my blog here :) but I'd like to share the following statement with you, which summarizes the nature of the project.

Community analysis meeting

In the foothills of the mountains of the Ngäbe-Bugle indigenous reservation in western Panama, the neighboring communities of Guary and Alto Nube are home to nearly 500 subsistence farmers who cultivate staple crops such as rice, corn, yucca, and fruit on the steep, eroded hillsides of their homeland. They proudly maintain traditions such as cultural dress and handicrafts, and they speak their native language. I have had the privilage of living and working here in this particular community with the Ngäbe people over the last year, and in my next year here, until October 2013, will be working on health education, on improving management of existing water systems, and on improving sanitation practices. It is on the account of sanitation that I write to you today, which I expect will be my greatest effort during my 2 year service.

In Alto Nube and Guary, 72% of homes lack basic sanitation infrastructure and families defecate in the woods, fields, and creeks near their homes. This exposes people to feces, leading to high rates of diarrhea and intestinal worms.  Intestinal worms, nearly universally prevalent, also contribute to children’s malnutrition as they consume precious food. Regular medical campaigns have trained most residents in the use of pit latrines, but only 23 wooden or concrete latrines exist in 77 houses.  Health is a priority for families, as expressed in interviews, conversation, and observation, but it seems there's not a clear understanding of what steps may be taken to arrive at better health.

Some of the kids whose families plan on participating in the project

Since the community repeatedly expressed interest in building latrines as a group, I have been coordinating a project that aims to teach basic hygiene practices, hand in hand with with construction and maintenance of affordable, durable pit latrines. I invited families to a series of health workshops, focusing on prevention of gastrointestinal illnesses and on latrine construction. The 65 families that participated in the workshops are eligible to build latrines as part of the program.  The families will learn how to build small concrete slabs and seats. These latrine components can be moved to new locations as needed and are expected to last at least 20 years. The families will build outhouses of local materials, and may opt to contribute to buy a metal roof. Participants will be encouraged to model proper latrine usage and to use their new construction skills to teach their neighbors to build their own latrines. The volunteer committee that is organizing the program with me is learning valuable project management skills. This program is an effort to accelerate a slow but existing trend towards more latrine usage, and give children an opportunity to grow up with latrines, in such a way that they won’t return to the traditional, unhealthy ways of using the fields. The following are a few photos from the health and hygiene workshops:

Participants in a skit

Teaching about hygiene

A mock-up of latrine formwork

I am organizing the project using the guidelines of the Peace Corps Partnership Program, in which donations are sought in order to support the Panamanian community in reaching its goals.  Community members will provide local materials and labor, and the local Panamanian government will be providing transportation of materials from the hardware store. The community members' and the local government's contribution are a full 50% of the cost of the project. I am seeking donations to cover the other 50% of the cost, which comes to $3099 and will be used to purchase latrine construction materials and subsidize metal roofing for the outhouses.  I invite you to sponsor one or more latrines at $50 each (contributions of any size are welcome).

Tax-deductible donations can be made through the Peace Corps' website here. I am hoping that we will have funds available to begin construction in February, Panama's dry season. I always appreciate your thoughts and prayers for the work here.