• Domaine :

  Water

• Région :

  Central America

• Pays :

  Guatemala

The project: 

Installation of a water crane and a drinking water supply tank in Nacimiento de Maguila, Guatemala.

The request: 

January 15, 2015
From: Casira
To: Fondation Coup de Cœur
Mr. Jean Gagnon and Ms. Fatima Lahmami, 
Mr.  Jean and Ms. Céline

Dear Benefactors,

We, Gaëtan Drolet and Onil Boilard, are the aid workers who started the OBGD project, an effort to improve community services in the Petén Department, one of the poorest regions in Guatemala.
We work for the Centre d’Amitié et de Solidarité International des Appalaches(CASIRA) International Friendship and Solidarity Centre of the Appalachians), an NGO based in Thetford-Mines, Quebec, that has existed for more than 30 years.
We are pleased to request your financial support for installing a water crane and a drinking water supply tank, and making this water available next to people's houses in Nacimiento de Maguila, Guatemala, a hamlet located in the mountains, 15 km from the Chacalte village.
Relevance of the project:
At our first approach, we found that water supply was not available near people's houses in the hamlet, which has around 25 families. The government doesn't provide any services to the village as it is located far from the main road. Currently, women and children from the village have to walk off the mountain several times a day to fill plastic bottles and jars with water, which is essential to every family in their dietary and day-to-day needs. These women have to walk one kilometre back and forth to the mountain, just to bring water to their homes.
Transparency:
Every step of the development of our projects is shown with pictures, which we put on the Internet to the construction progress. Sometimes, as in this case, the final photos are only shown until we go back to the site, following the inauguration of the project.
Governance:
All our projects are the result of a collaborative effort with the village council. This approach helps us identify what is needed, determine people's involvement, and analyze project proposals and adjusting them if necessary. We analyze the feasibility and costs of projects, which we prioritize and designate to each activity sector, taking into account our financial availability and our sponsors' commitment. Sometimes, projects take longer than a year. Our current project, which we started last year, will be finished at the end of 2014.
Impact:
Studies show that when children are required to do less domestic chores their schooling is immediately affected. This is why we think that our involvement in this village is so important, given that the first thing people asked us to do, when we first met, was to build a school for them.
To date, we provided a corn mill, started to build the first water collection basin, installed all connection piping for the water supply system, completed setting up a bigger water basin, and mounted six batteries. With this service, every house has running water nearby, even throughout February, March, and April, the dry season months. 
Sustainability:
We believe that this service will be kept for the long term. Just as when we installed the corn mill, we insisted that the community should save some money, in case repairs are needed, without having to rely on external resources.
We still have to follow up the community's first request, changing and enlarging the school's thatched roof, and pouring a cement floor. 
None of these projects would be possible without the sensibility and understanding of our sponsors, who accompany us in our endeavors.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for everything you do for these people who live in such difficult conditions.
Because of the village's particular location, we are forced to cross private property whose owners initially gave us access to their land, but have been reluctant to continue doing so.
When we go back, we want to show a banner which will display the generosity and support of your participation in this important collaboration. 

Onil Boilard
CASIRA Aid Worker
www.casira.org​

 Financial contributions​: