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Sanitary Bathrooms Project – Paraguay
Water Charity is participating in a project to provide sanitary bathrooms in a small rural community in Paraguay. The project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Michelle Pfister.
This project will provide latrines for 21 families, comprised of 120 adults and children. It is a natural extension of a project that was begun in 2008 under the direction of a prior Peace Corps Volunteer working in the community. All construction work will be done by local professionals.
Barrio Maria Auxiliadora, Calle San Francisco, Guayaivi, San Pedro, Paraguay, is home to approximately 112 families, comprised of 650 people. While Guarani is the most commonly spoken language, the majority of the community also speaks Spanish.
This hard-working, well-organized community has an elementary and high school, a successful agricultural cooperative, various community groups/committees, two churches, small family shops, and soccer fields.
Most homes have running water and electricity. The principal economic activity is agriculture. Farmers primarily produce fruit, such as bananas and pineapples, and the average family income is about US $5.00 per day.
Although educational opportunities for children have improved, the average adult has only an elementary school education.
Intestinal parasites are one of the most serious health problems in Paraguay, affecting more than 90% of the country’s children, including most people in this community. According to a recent community census, nearly half the families lack a bathroom, and 85% of latrines are unsanitary.
An unsanitary latrine directly contributes to the presence of parasites, through exposed feces and flies that are attracted. This impacts on the entire community, with children more heavily affected.
The project is being implemented by committee participants, who attend regular meetings, organize fundraisers, pay monthly dues, and participate in Peace Corps-organized health classes.
A Paraguayan NGO is contributing 38% of total project costs. To ensure community ownership and sustainability, participants are contributing one third of the cost of materials and labor. The remaining funds for materials are being provided through donor contributions.
This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Michelle Pfister of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Michelle and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Paraguay.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.
This summer the Peace Corps community has an opportunity to be part of an extraordinary effort to improve our communities through volunteer service.
President Obama’s summer service initiative, United We Serve, is a call to all Americans to join a volunteer effort this summer and be part of building a new foundation for America, one community at a time. Please visit the 
