The Everyone Water Project

Barrio Grenada AnexoManagua, Nicaragua________________

www.companeros.ca

That’s nice

One morning you’re walking to Barrio Grenada Anexo and you pass an aqua blue house and you to think to yourself, “That’s nice….”

Entrance to Barrio Grenada Anexo

As you enter the settlement of 214 familes, 800+ people, you notice the road change to dirt.

Some days the dirt road is dry and dusty

You notice the manhole cover and ask if there is potable or waste water systems here? No, you are told, that’s for the rich neighbourhood up the hill.

Some days it is wet and muddy

And the bacteria and bugs thrive,… and the barefoot little girl does not.

Eye opener

You see people continuously walking out of the barrio with plastic buckets, precious pails, and discarded Coke bottles.

Everyone has a right to water

A young mom and her daugher to prepare food.

Everyone

A woman to clean clothes for herself and others.

Everyone

A single mom with her smiling son in wheelchair.

But not everyone

Can walk hundreds of meters to get water and has the strength to carry it back home.

Everyone

Children working in the evening

So day and night

Time and energy is diverted from other obligations and opportunites.

And day after day

Water goes back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, like a rocking chair going nowhere.

It gets tiring

You wash your hands and dishes less. You bathe and cook less. You work less. It’s 40 C / 100 F.

Night

You are less healthy and less happy and less productive.

So one day

When you are walking out of the barrio and you see another tired person hauling water,…

You think to yourself

And you pass the aqua blue house again, you think to yourself,…

That’s not so nice

214 families. 800+ people. 1 tap.

Community Leaders and OrganizersThe Everyone Water Project is an initiative of Consejo Poder Ciudadano Barrio Grenada and Compañeros Inc. (L-R) Marlon,Jennifer,Javier,Ramon,David,Hilda,Rachel.

The Everyone Water ProjectCONTEXT

• Barrio Grenada Anexo = settlement of 214 families/800+ people (53% children, 26% female adults, 21% male adults) located in Managua. Prevalent health, education, unemployment, and social issues.

• The Consejo Poder Ciudadano Barrio Grenada (CPCBG) = group of local community leaders with organizational capacity and previous experience working with Managua City Hall and HABITAR.

• CPCBG recent success working with Compañeros on design of a public park and classroom building project = more commitment to cooperation.

• Compañeros visited Anexo many times, talked with residents, undertook census, gathered technical advice from city hall, water company, other NGOs = identified The Everyone Water Project as priority.

The Everyone Water ProjectGOALS

• 1. To install a potable and waste water system in 214 homes in 2011-12.

• 2. To inform families about water and health related issues and realize positive generational effect on household.

• 3. To strengthen collaboration among community leaders, residents, city hall, the state water company, and Compañeros Inc.

OUTCOMES

• 1. Accessible water for bathing, cleaning, cooking, and drinking in each dwelling results in higher overall physical health and productivity.

• 2. Elevated dignity due to improved personal hygiene, more frequent cleaning, treated water for cooking, and higher fluid intake in the heat.

• 3. Increased cooperation and capacity of individuals/organizations.

The Everyone Water ProjectPOTABLE WATER SYSTEM BUDGET (August 2010 to March 2011)

• $125 per home x 214 homes = USD$26,750 total

• Includes research, technical, preparation, installation, and inauguration phases as well as civic cooperation, materials, delivery, and skilled labor

• Source of funds: USD$25 from 214 families and USD$100 from 214 donors

WASTE WATER SYSTEM BUDGET (August 2011 to March 2012)

• $200 per home x 214 homes = USD$42,800 total

• Includes research, technical, preparation, installation, and inauguration phases as well as civic cooperation, materials, delivery, and skilled labor

• Source of funds: USD$50 from 214 families and USD$150 from 214 donors

The Everyone Water ProjectCOMPAÑEROS DONORS and/or VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANTS

• Compañeros Inc = Canadian social enterprise based in Managua • organizes volunteer service and cross-cultural learning experiences • advocates and manages international community development projects

• Volunteer participants = work with family and/or street teams • dig 1.2 kilometers of trench 0.5 m. wide and 1.0 m. deep • lay tubing under the supervision of civil engineer and water technician

• House to house visits with bilingual social workers to reinforce water conservation and household hygiene

• Progress of project depends on # of groups and fundraising $• Please join us with your financial support and volunteer participation

Be The Compañeros You Want To Be

__________________www.companeros.ca

Be part of it

Volunteer participants digging waste water system outside Preschool Esmeralda Palacios in Barrio Augusto Sandino, Managua, in May/07.

ENACALCo-workers from the state water company celebrating the installation of the waste water system outside Preschool Esmeralda Palacios in Barrio Augusto Sandino, Managua, in May/07.

The Everyone Water Project

Barrio Grenada AnexoManagua, Nicaragua________________

www.companeros.ca