Partners in Mission in Guatemala
The new Water Infrastructure Development Project! Yikes! What is it like to live, eat, work and play in an area with very limited and sometimes no fresh potable water? That is what our brothers and sisters in Guatemala are facing now. The drought is years long and has had a huge impact on water supply. So, the village Finance Committee has an ambitious goal – to have a working spigot at or near each and every dwelling in each of these nine villages in the community.
The accompanying photo shows the primitive method currently used to collect rainwater for cooking, bathing….everything. No wonder the push is on to modernize! But modernization like this requires expertise in several disciplines and is very expensive. Fortunately, we have been able to partner with two nonprofits who know what they are doing - The Living Water Project (based in TN) has just completed a water infrastructure project quite close to Chujulimul and has signed up to help! And ADICAY is a highly regarded local organization that conducts studies, designs projects and provides construction. By connecting with LWP and ADICAY, we benefit from years of experience, lessons learned, and professional skills that will save countless hours and dollars over the course of this multi-year endeavor.
So, we are hopeful! The first steps have been taken – the first phase of a census of households to determine need; PIMIG site visits with Chujulimul leadership, nonprofit partners, and nearby water project nearing completion; site surveys; project timeline development; and more. It was found that 85% of households do not have regular access to clean water. The village wants that to change – and have asked At. Anne’s to work, shoulder-to-shoulder – to make that happen. Let’s do it!
Lots more information to come. Remember that you can step up to this challenge today – as so many of you have in the past, for vented stoves, for clean latrines, for educational supplies and scholarships. Go to the St. Anne’s website and clicking on the DONATE button; scroll down to click on Donate using Realm and select in Partners in Mission in Guatemala. Simple! You can also, of course, mail a check to St. Anne’s. Thank you, thank you!