Clean Water for Guatemalan Schools

Clean Drinking Water Project, Guatemalan Schools, Guatemala
Led by Pantano Rotary, Tucson (PRC) and Vista Hermosa Rotary, Guatemala City, (VHRC) Guatemala
Project began-October 1, 2020
Donations for this project will be deposited into the Pantano Rotary Foundation account.
Big Picture: Approximately 53% of the people of Guatemala lack clean drinking water. There are 49,449 schools or 296,694 classrooms in Guatemala per the Ministry of Education. The data is clear and the need for clean water is blatantly clear. If schools do not have access to clean water, then they are required to (1) purchase purified water at a significant annual cost, (2) use a method of purifying through boiling, (3) go without water, or (4) simply drink the contaminated water. If firewood is required for boiling respiratory issues and environmental problems ensue. Providing “Ecofiltros” for school and its classrooms can have a profound impact on children's health and wellness. A single filter can provide clean water for classes of 25 to 30 students.
Our project Working with the Vista Hermosa Rotary Club (VHRC) we have identified the significant need for clean drinking water as well as the need for improved awareness and understanding of applied hygiene and sanitation practices.
AREA I: Currently students lack clean drinking water in several schools in villages near Taxisco, Santa Rosa Department, Guatemala. The Vista Hermosa RC, working with villagers, has provided eco-toilets and the purchase of eco filters for classrooms will align with their recently completed water and sanitation work.
AREA II: Currently, students lack clean drinking water in Escuintla, Escuintla (schools repaired or rebuilt due to volcano eruption, 2018), and Santa San Lucia Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla area.
Given our (PRC) experience in past projects of purchasing, distributing, and training villagers in the use of eco filters and training in effective hygiene and sanitation practices and VHRC's wide range of experience with Rotary water and sanitation projects, we believe we can have a profound impact on children's health. We can (1) provide clean drinking water to students and staff, (2) increase their awareness and use of clean water drinking practices, and (3) improve their knowledge and practices in effective hygiene and sanitation.
Our initial goal: Provide clean drinking water for students in 145 classrooms. This will include several village schools in Taxisco municipality (Santa Rosa), schools in the municipality of Escuintla (Escuintla) and schools in the municipality of Santa San Lucia Cotzumalguapa (Escuintla).
The Ecofiltro is a 20-liter, refillable, hard plastic water container with a water filter. Each unit costs $30. The filter needs to be replaced every two years and the replacement filter costs approximately $20.

Our sustainability plan: To receive an Ecofiltro ( container and filter), each school and classroom must agree to participate in water filter system use and maintenance training which will also include information about hygiene and sanitation practices. There are three critical components of this eco filter project. First, provide students and school staff with clean drinking water.
Second, provide training in the use and maintenance of the water filters and training in effective hygiene and sanitation practices.
And, third establish an effective strategy for sustaining access to clean water.
To reinforce sustainability, each classroom, assisted by its teacher and the school director must agree to and implement a strategy to replace the filter every two years. Students, assisted by their teacher, school director, and parents, implement a fundraising strategy to deposit the equivalent of 6.3 quetzals monthly into a water filter replacement account. This will provide funds for sustaining the use of the water filter systems (24 months x .83 $ 20.00).
To reinforce the success of the project, we have created a partnership with the Vista Hermosa Rotary Club, Guatemala City, and Ecofiltro, SA, an organization committed to providing clean water to the children in Guatemala’s schools.

The students of Guatemala are its future. Through their learning and action, the challenge of access to clean water, hygiene, and sanitation can be met.
DONATE to this vital, vibrant, and exciting Rotary-led project and JOIN us in providing and sustaining clean water to the children in Guatemala’s schools.