When Nature Calls

While using the bathroom is a private endeavor, it's something everyone does. And for many in rural Nicaragua, that endeavor can be overly daunting, unintentionally public, and sometimes downright dangerous.

Before El Porvenir came to her community of La Sabana in El Sauce, Erce Gray Sevilla and her family had to share her neighbor's latrine. "We may run to use the bathroom, and we get to the neighbor's latrine, and he's busy, so we have to wait," says Erce Gray.

The 24-year-old mother and her family took advantage of the opportunity to work with El Porvenir on a community latrine project. "My family contributed the bricks," says Erce Gray. "We worked hard so that it was done well." She decorated her new latrine, and she plans on keeping it clean and well taken care of.

Over in Limón Dulce, Mercedes del Carmen Montoya Martínez and her family did not even have a neighbor's latrine to relieve themselves, so they went into the woods behind their home.

Thanks to the double-pit latrine project developed with El Porvenir, this mother will no longer be afraid that she or her children will be bitten by a snake, stung by a scorpion, or attacked by some nocturnal animal when using the bathroom.

"Now I feel better because we no longer do our necessities in the field. We are no longer in danger at night, and the children go safely to the new and well-built latrine that we now have," says Mercedes. "We thank El Porvenir for this project."

Like many in her San Lorenzo community that did not have a proper bathroom, Mercedes is proud of her latrine, and she happily shares, "I never thought we would have the opportunity to have a project like this."

Thanks to the contributions of many generous donors, El Porvenir has ensured that more families in rural Nicaragua have their own personal double-pit latrine so that they can use it safely at any time, and they're not taking care of business out in nature when nature calls

Stride Pride: Walk for Water

El Porvenir's staff, partners, families and friends went above and beyond in the 2021 Walk for Water. With over $10,000 raised in 10 days, the outpouring of participation and gifts made a huge difference in making this year's walk a success.

Regional coordinator Mario Garnier Vásquez received $270 in donations from over 25 Waslala residents, many of whom earn about $75/month. They supported the El Porvenir staff Walk for Water teams, making gifts of $3, $5, and sometimes more. When asked why they gave, the answers were all similar: "We know the work of El Porvenir, and we know it's a good cause. We're grateful for the support we've received and are making this donation to help other communities."

El Porvenir's pride in our staff and partners knows no bounds and their actions speak louder than words.

Unlimited Possibilities

Life can be full of restrictions. No entry here. No exit there. Current COVID-19 protocols restrict so much these days, from traveling abroad to being able to simply hug a friend. Living life in rural Nicaragua can have one of the worst restrictions of all--the limitation of clean, safe water.

Want to know something that does not have limits? Donors’ gifts made as a part of the $100k Challenge, that's what.

Underway from August 1 through September 30, the annual $100k Challenge raises funds that cover everything from water systems to new motorcycle tires. During this time, generous donors match donations up to $100,000, dollar for dollar.

The $100k Challenge campaign raises funds for projects and for anything needed for El Porvenir's day-to-day operations: all the things needed daily for our work partnering with rural Nicaraguans on clean water projects.

For instance: we have a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser in need of repairs from traversing rocky roads. The work will cost $700. Your support now will get that truck back to work and our staff out in the field working on projects. The same goes for our 2016 Land Cruiser in need of $1400 in repairs and a full set of all-terrain tires. Truck repair and upkeep is so important in our daily work.

We need your support today to meet the Challenge. Your gifts go a long way in keeping El Porvenir running smoothly in an otherwise restricted world--and the possibilities are endless.

GIVE TO $100k CHALLENGE