Location
EL SALVADOR
Volunteer Coordinator(s)
M. Gregory of WI
Funds Needed
$12,702.63
Original Request
$14,202.63
Project Number
519-091
Community Contribution
$14,131.43 (50%)

Caserío El Amatón is a farming community of 120 families located in Western El Salvador. Water scarcity and contamination are serious problems in the community. The Health Promoter estimates that 95 – 100% of the residents of Caserío El Amatón suffer from parasitism.

The objective of the proposed project is to install slow sand filters in the homes of 120 families of Caserío El Amatón, El Salvador, and train residents in proper use and maintenance of the filters and correct personal hygiene and environmental sanitation practices. The filters will help families to purify water for drinking, cooking, and hand washing. The project’s goal is to improve community health, primarily through reduction in the frequency of diarrheas caused by fecal coliform bacteria and water-borne parasites such as amebas, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and helminthes (worms), all of which the filter is capable of removing.

The Peace Corps Volunteer assigned to El Amatón, the Health Committee of El Amatón, and the Health Promoter will conduct community meetings and house visits to educate families on the link between poor hygiene and disease, proper use and maintenance of the filters, and personal hygiene and environmental sanitation practices in general. They will also conduct follow-up visits to beneficiary families to monitor filter use and health indicators.

The estimated budget for the project is $28,334.06. The local community will provide $14,131.43 in monetary collaborations for the filters, labor, volunteer work in hygiene and sanitation education, and parasite medication (secured from the local Ministry of Health). $14,202.63 is requested in Partnership funds.

Please contribute to this project here:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/donors/contribute/projdetail.cfm?projdesc=519-091&

These project summaries are written by Peace Corps volunteers and their host communities.