THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN CLOSED.

Thank You for your support!
Please see update below for full details.

Project Description:

Raya is the Miskito word for ‘water’, and the people who live in the BOSAWAS jungle reserve in northern Nicaragua believe that water is life (Raya Kalaya). Potable water in this region comes from streams deep in the jungle, thus women and children walk for miles to collect it on a daily basis.
This project will provide a potable water system for the Miskito indigenous community of Pamkawas, situated on the Coco River, which forms Nicaragua’s northern border with Honduras. The water system will allow 1200+ people to have potable water access from 6 community taps in the centre of the indigenous village.

This will reduce the need to carry water long distances as well as stop the common practise of taking water from the Coco River, heavily polluted with agricultural waste from upstream cattle ranching on the Honduran side of the border.

Water borne illnesses are common here, especially amoungst children, who often have diarrhea causing them to miss school in minor cases and can result in anemia, malnutrition and death in more serious ones.

Update from the field: January 2011

The government of Nicaragua prioritized this area for clean water projects in the spring of 2010, so we chose a new beneficiary community to receive this well. In April 2010 we drilled a well and installed an electric pumping system in the community of el Zanjon, in the municipality of Telica, and in the department of Chinandega, Nicaragua. This well benefits a total of over 1,500 people.

Update from the field: June 2010

This project is still in need of support to move forward. Project staff and beneficiaries have completed site selection and design. The community water committee has been formed and is made up of 10 community members, 6 of which are women. These committee members have begun their training in their responsibilities for the maintenance and operation of the system once it is installed. 

Update from the field: November 2009
This project is still in need of support to move forward. Project staff and beneficiaries are participating in group site selection and design activities as well as testing for environmental impacts, consistency of flow / system capacity etc. The community water committee has been identified and is made up of 10 community members, 6 of which are women. These committee members are being trained regarding their responsibilities for the maintenance and operation of the system once it is installed.

Update from the field, June 2009
This project is in the beginning stages and project staff and beneficiaries are participating in group site selection and design activities as well as testing for environmental impacts, consistency of flow / system capacity etc. The community water committee has been identified and is made up of 10 community members, 6 of which are women. These committee members are being trained regarding their responsibilities for the maintenance and operation of the system once it is installed.