PROJECT #227

Project #227 Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Education, and Watershed Restoration in Nicaragua

Our Partnership with El Porvenir

The need to protect and restore watersheds that supply vital water to rural, subsistence farmers is growing in importance as Nicaraguans face both sudden and slow onsets of climate change trends like prolonged drought, which are pushing the agricultural frontier into previously forested or preserved land as well as back to back hurricanes. The village of Posolí is in a region where just 32% of people have access to potable water, and 53% have adequate sanitation facilities. Inadequate access to clean water increases rates of diarrhea and skin infections. In addition, water responsibility falls on women and children who must travel farther to bring water to their homes. Government resources are often not available to rural villages due to economic conditions—Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Families in Posolí earn US$50-75/month, leaving little to construct water systems or new latrines.

One Day’s Wages is partnered with El Porvenir to equip Posoli residents on multiple projects: bringing clean water to 65 homes via a new piped water system, building latrines for families without adequate sanitation, constructing fuel-efficient cookstoves, and working toward behavior change with hygiene and watershed education. The watershed restoration component is crucial to longer-term food and water resiliency and mitigates climate change. El Porvenir partnered with Posoli residents to replant and protect forests so that residents can live, grow food, drink and use water, and raise cattle in such a way that people downstream can do all of those things as well. El Porvenir has over 30 years of experience partnering with rural Nicaraguan communities to build appropriate technology and provide communities with the tools they need to manage their water, sanitation, and forestry resources. Only with clean water, improved sanitation, and healthy habits can individuals become educated and improve their living standards. 

Our Collective Impact

People With Increased Food Security

People Receiving Health and Hygiene Education

Fruit Trees Planted

Meet Reyna

Posoli residents are motivated after hearing stories of completed projects in nearby villages. Take Reyna, age 62, who grew up carrying water home on her head or hip. “The water was dirty, and we had to strain or filter it to be able to drink it,” says Reyna. “It gave us stomach problems and diarrhea, especially in the children.” Due to the lack of water at home, residents could not clean their homes regularly, and they washed their laundry in the river. “My situation worsened when my knee started to hurt a lot. The doctor diagnosed me with osteoporosis,” shares the mother of eight. Reyna’s community partnered with El Porvenir to provide accessible, safe, consumable water. “Our lives have changed forever. Having water at home allows us to live healthier, have time for other activities, and of course, have a break from carrying water,” said Reyna with a smile. Your donations will help bring clean water—and smiles—to the people of Posolí.

Thank you for making this possible!

Our movement is grassroots, to us that not only means the work on the ground is led by local leaders with the support of the community, but it also means that we raise the funds for our projects through everyday donors just like you. In addition to all the donors that gave $25, $100, or $250 and the campaigners that ran a race or donated their birthday to raise funds, we also want to thank our generous business, school, and faith sponsors who believed in our work and joined the movement.

If you want to support future projects like this you can make a donation to the fund below.

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One Day's Wages is a grassroots movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty

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