GWC Water & Sanitation for Guatemalan School

In Guatemala and the greater Central American region, water supply continues to represent a great challenge. Calculations based upon the 2004 WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme show that 46% of the approximately 15 million people living in rural areas of Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador. If connections are not available in the homes of a given community, generally they are not present in the school. In addition, much of the government provided water infrastructure does not meet quality or quantity water, nor can the infrastructure compensate for the increase in population.

Providing adequate basic sanitation conditions in communities and schools that lack access to a sustainable water supply is difficult, if not impossible. Young people face significant challenges to learn proper hygiene practices in communities where neither access to sustainable safe water nor improved sanitation facilities is available.

Goals overview

The SWASH+ Guatemala program goal is to improve the quality of life in Guatemalan families through advocacy and direct intervention by improving sanitary conditions in the schools and communities.

Current status

By the end of 2009, Water for People is on track to complete sanitary infrastructure in 18 schools, and has begun construction activities in 25 additional schools. Hygiene education activities have been conducted jointly by W4P and the Guatemalan Ministry of Health officials. Catholic Relief Services has completed sanitary infrastructure for four schools and are working on the completion of 14 additional schools. As part of the Healthy Schools strategy with the Ministry of Health and Plan International, CRS's local partner, Cáritas Verapaz staff will train 400 teachers in the municipalities of Rabinal and Cubulco in a series of ecological sessions around health, hygiene and environmental education.

Project plan

Water for People has worked primarily in Negaj, Guatemala on school water supply, sanitation, and hygiene education projects, and providing hand washing stations. WFP is now expanding to work collaboratively with five other municipalities.

Catholic Relief Services and local partner Cáritas Verapaz of the Diocese of the Verapaces will use SWASH+ to complement on-going, community-based water and sanitation activities in the municipalities of Rabinal and Cubulco in the department of Baja Verapaz.

Both GWC implementing members are part of a larger SWASH+ program that focuses on the Central American region. Implementing partners work with 114 schools in 26 municipalities in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Local governments and communities are closely involved in project design and implementation so that the approach can be replicated beyond the initial target areas.

The program is based on best practices that enhance the prospects for school- and community-level sustainability, include extensive monitoring and evaluation support, and document strengths and weaknesses. The exchange of ideas and experiences across the four countries will help in regional replication and scale-up.

Expected outcomes

• Increase access to sustainable safe water for 5295 people
• Increase access to sanitation facilities for 5388 people
• Improve hygiene behaviors in students and families
• Improvement in handwasing practices in schools
• Evidence of water systems being maintianed in schools

The two implementing GWC members, Water for People and Catholic Relief Services are building the SWASH+ program on years of reputable experience. SWASH+ requires participation from a variety of groups, parents, students, teachers and local and regional governmental institutions. Local institutions and communities are closely involved in project design and implementation so the approach can be replicated beyond the initial target areas. The success of the programs depends on their participation. Water for People and Catholic Relief services understand that each school and village is different and program activities should take each local context into account. In addition, collaborations and alliances with other agencies working in the local area should be sought in order to achieve stronger and broader impacts.

The SWASH+ Guatemala program is part of a larger regional program based on best practices that enhances school and community level prospects for sustainability, which include extensive monitoring and evaluation support, and documented strengths and weaknesses. The exchange of ideas and experiences across the Central American countries will help regional replication and its ability to scale-up.