Water Projects and Pilas Schools

Water project update:

So the water project is pretty much done. It only took the builders around two weeks to get everything done. All that we’re waiting for now is for the cement to dry, which should take about a month-it’s the rainy season so it takes a little while, and we want to be completely sure that the cement is fully dry before filling the deposit. The tubes are also in place for the faucets, which just lack the faucet part itself-I think they were going to install those today. The height of the handwashing station slopes downward so that smaller kids will be more able to reach the ones on the right side, while the faucets on the left side are a little higher for the older kids. They also just put the top on the deposit so that rain and dirt doesn’t get in (and also so the kids don’t decide to play in there). It all came together so quickly we’re all surprised most of the work is already done.

Here again is the site where you can donate for water projects: http://appropriateprojects.com/node/298

We lack a little less than half of the amount-HUGE THANKS again to those who already helped.

In other schools, they’ve also been coming up with their own projects. One school is constructing latrines with the help of the muni and the Padres de Familia. Another school is constructing a kitchen, while another has some new classrooms, deposit and handwashing stations. Of course, all of these schools are in the municipality that actually helps and gives money towards school projects. The other isn’t quite as supportive yet, but hopefully we can convince them that this is important. Meanwhile, a director in this muni has built his own handwashing station on the weekends partially using money that the school got from hosting cock fights during the feria. At least the money’s going to good use.

At another school, three of the teachers got together and wrote out a month of lesson plans, materials lists, and activities to use in the classroom and all of the teachers are teaching health lessons on Mondays and Fridays. They moreover invited the health center and some university students to come and give a talk to the parents and students on hygiene, which was really great.

Most of the schools have their “Healthy Corners” in place and I’ve seen some classrooms practicing healthy habits. In all, I lucked out with my placement because pretty much all of the schools are willing to work hard and the teachers are really creative and enthusiastic. I’m really looking forward to working with them over the next year and a half or so.

Over the past week and a half, I’ve helped give two HIV/AIDS workshops to middle school kids and participated in a Project Design and Management workshop and will participate and help give a library workshop next week, so I’m keeping busy. I’m also visiting schools, as usual, and judging the Rincones de Salud (Healthy Corners) to pick ten winners. I also have a certification on Friday, the first one, for a school that I really love, so that will be fun. So things are flying by but going really well. I’m happy, healthy, and ready for summer vacation-only five more weeks left. It will be sad to have such a long time away from the schools, but the time will be nice for planning, finding some local sources of funding for projects, taking K’iche’, planning an American culture day, and finding other activities to keep me busy. I also have yet to take any of the three personal days we get per month, so I’ll take some of those and travel a little.