El Porvenir's mission: Through sustainable water, sanitation, and reforestation projects, El Porvenir works to improve the standard of living of poor people in rural Nicaragua. In 18 years, El Porvenir has completed over 600 projects and planted over 278,000 trees!
In this newsletter:
- 2008: The International Year of Sanitation
- Building Partnerships to Help Support Nicaraguan Communities
- Upcoming Work Trips and Educational Tours
2008: The International Year of Sanitation
El Porvenir Continues Moving Toward the Goal!
The United Nations has announced that 2008 will be designated "The International Year of Sanitation". The declaration is intended to bring greater attention to the enormous need for sanitation facilities throughout the developing world and coincides with calls in the Millennium Challenge to reduce by half the number of people living without basic sanitation by the year 2015, and to provide all rural areas with sanitation coverage by the year 2025.
Often eclipsed by rising public awareness of issues surrounding potable water, access to sanitation facilities is less widely discussed and consequently under-emphasized for its role in community health and sustainable development. The UN Human Development Report for 2006 stated that "in all regions and in almost all countries sanitation provision lags far behind access to water" and that "these gaps matter not just because access to sanitation is intrinsically important, but also because the benefits of improved access to water and sanitation are mutually reinforcing".
Study after study has demonstrated the dramatic impact that a combined approach to water and sanitation development has on the overall health of a community. To maximize the health benefits of potable water access, communities must also tackle the significant hygiene issues associated with insufficient sanitation facilities. In many areas with successful water projects, high levels of uncontained excreta undermine the potential health benefits provided by access to potable water.
El Porvenir has always promoted an integrated approach to water resource development and has been committed to not only assisting in the development of sustainable water systems, but also in the building of individual family sanitation facilities. We receive many more requests for latrines than for water projects because villagers in Nicaragua understand that latrines offer dignity as well as obvious health benefits. Over the last eighteen years El Porvenir has helped families build nearly 6000 latrines in rural villages and barrios throughout Nicaragua. This upcoming year, 2008, El Porvenir has already planned for over 832 new latrines and needs funding for 352 more.
El Porvenir will be commemorating The International Year of Sanitation by continuing to develop and support community-based projects throughout Nicaragua. Please consider helping us to provide more families with basic sanitation facilities.
Building Partnerships to Help Support Nicaraguan Communities
El Porvenir continues to build partnerships with other organizations committed to promoting community-based sustainable development in Nicaragua. During the last year El Porvenir received funding and worked with many diverse groups with an interest in Potable Water, Sanitation, Reforestation, and Health/Hygiene Education. These emerging partnerships not only focus greater resources on the important work of El Porvenir, but also promote the productive synergy that results from shared ideas and experience. In the next several newsletters we will introduce you to these valuable partners.
Water For People is a US-based NGO working around the world in the development of water and sanitation facilities (see www.waterforpeople.org). In addition to the large impact made with "bricks and mortar" projects in many developing countries, Water For People is also focusing on capacity building in the communities in which it works; helping to build the skills necessary to maintain long-term sustainability. Because this an approach promoted by El Porvenir for over eighteen years, the partnership is a very good fit. This partnership will result in three wells and 144 family latrines in 2007, and much more in the future.
Water for People and El Porvenir are working toward the development of a Baseline Data Mapping system in Nicaragua providing a mechanism for long-term monitoring and oversight of El Porvenir projects. A World Water Corps will develop mapping surveys to inventory community resources and create a precise picture of conditions on the ground at the beginning of all future projects. El Porvenir and Water For People welcome the assistance of volunteers with experience in engineering and the operation of electronic mapping systems. Please contact us if you think you might be able to help!
Upcoming Work Trips and Educational Tours
Have you been thinking about joining an El Porvenir work trip or taking an educational tour? Then join one now! Help build a sustainable project with villagers, make new friends, and get to know Nicaragua! All work trips offer recreational activities.
- January 27 to February 3, 2008 - Educational Tour with Ray Finney (see below)
- February 15 to 24, 2008 - Birding Tour (see sidebar)
- February 23 to March 1, 2008 — Open
- March 29 to April 6, 2008 — Open
- July 24 to 31, 2008 — Elderhostel intergenerational trip *
- August 9 to 18, 2008 — Open
- October 4 to 13, 2008 — Elderhostel trip *
See the travel section at www.elporvenir.org for details or email us at info@elporvenir.org
* Elderhostel trips are for people aged 55 and older; please see the Elderhostel website for details at www.elderhostel.org or call toll-free 1-877-426-8056.
Visit Nicaragua with El Porvenir Board Member Ray Finney, January 27 to February 3, 2008
Socially responsible tourism supports clean water, sanitation, and reforestation in Nicaragua.
Learn about Nicaragua by meeting with environmentalists, doctors, artisans, teachers, religious, and political leaders. Experience the natural beauty of this Third World country, with a visit to the colonial city of Granada, driving to the top of a volcano and hiking around the crater, bird watching around the "isletas" on a comfortable, safe boat in Lake Nicaragua.
The tour includes visits to several communities where you will see first hand how El Porvenir's self-help process makes a difference in the lives of rural Nicaraguans. Visit self-help potable water and sanitation projects that are making health education and community action a reality in rural Nicaragua. You will also see village seedling nurseries and the construction of more efficient wood-burning stoves.
Working together we can make a difference!
- Limit 10 people, so sign up now!
- Cost: $1200 per person, plus airfare. $250 deposit will hold your spot!
- Cost includes food, lodging, travel/health insurance, two bilingual guides, all in-country transportation, activity costs, as well as project visits.
- El Porvenir can help find good and economical flights.
- The group would arrive Managua Sunday afternoon and leave Managua the next Sunday morning.
For additional information or to sign up, contact:
Mario Bandes, Delegation Coordinator at mario@elporvenir.org or
Ray Finney at consultray@centurytel.net, or by phone at (office) 970-731-2100, (home) 970-731-6367, or (cell) 970-946-7491
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Additional Information
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information, please contact Tom Green at 608-544-2086 or email
us at info@elporvenir.org.
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