Sanitation: new washrooms built in Nicaraguan community
February 26, 2021
“I feel blessed and I’m very thankful to Good Neighbors for helping us” – Dominga Gutierrez Saborio, mom to Mariela (11) and Yancis (10).
In the rural communities of Santa Teresa, in Nicaragua, access to clean facilities is still something not many people have.
Mariela (11) and Yancis (10), pictured above, used to walk to their grandmother’s house in order to use the bathroom. Their dad works in a slaughterhouse and their family lives with only $3.6 a day.
In many communities in Nicaragua, people rely on streams and wells for water. Their sources are often contaminated, as they are shallow, uncovered and shared with animals.
To keep streams cleaner and improve hygiene, Good Neighbors Canada supported our Nicaraguan neighbours in a WASH project. WASH means Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and is an important pillar for our organization.
A 2020 initiative here in Canada raised $2,250 so that Good Neighbors Nicaragua could build three washrooms for families in need in the community of San Jose de Gracias located in Santa Teresa, Carazo.
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Brihanny (5) and Griselda (7) live with their mother, Blanca, and father, Florencio. Their dad is the main source of income for the family.
Before our WASH project, they used a community latrine, in a shed with no door. There was no privacy, and safety was an issue.
The girls are over the moon with their new washroom, especially because they can use it without worrying that someone may see them.
For Lino (7) and his family, it was a relief not having to use their neighbour’s bathroom anymore.
“This is a huge change for us, because now we don’t have to ask for permission to use the washroom”, said his mom, Eveling. “We also feel safer because we don’t need to walk at night time to our neighbour’s house”.
Good Neighbors Canada is happy to have helped Nicaragua with these new facilities, under the Good Water Project. Visit our WASH page to learn about the work we do around the world.
Lino and his family had to use the neighbour’s washroom before our project was implemented