Sanitation is more important than independence.
Mahatma Gandhi
There are many organizations working today to bring clean water to impoverished areas of the world. One of these is El Porvenir, providing clean water in Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and approximately 80% of the population lives in poverty, surviving on less than $2 a day. Over half of Nicaragua's population of 5.8 million people lacks access to clean drinking water and sanitation.
El Porvenir helps rural Nicaraguan communities improve their living standards through sustainable development in clean water, sanitation, reforestation, and hygiene education. El Porvenir supports communities to build, operate and maintain their own drinking water and sanitation facilities, implement good hygiene practices to reduce illness and disease, and manage their watersheds in a sustainable manner.
One of the especially appealing ways that El Porvenir brings attention to the needs in Nicaragua is by bringing in volunteers to experience the country, people, and to help provide clean water.
Jo Buescher, Delegations Coordinator for El Porvenir, told us:
"El Porvenir offers sustainable tourism "village work camps" to introduce tourists to the reality of rural life in third world countries, increase awareness of water and sanitation needs and challenges, and allow tourists to participate in both short and long term development of rural Nicaraguan communities.
"Tour groups guided and organized by El Porvenir visit rural Nicaraguan communities to work side-by-side with local families, in the construction of wells, latrines, village washing facilities, or in the reforestation of a micro-watershed.
"As a result of its extensive experience in Nicaragua and its local staff, El Porvenir is able to tailor its tours to the interests and needs of each group, selecting from a wide variety of sites such as coffee farms, volcanoes, lakes, colonial towns, sea turtle nesting areas, and bird sanctuaries.
"Local speakers enrich the experience with personal conversations and anecdotes about their lives and their country. Tourist fees fund the purchase of project materials, and when tourists return to the US, they become part of El Porvenir's awareness and fundraising process, thus enabling the ongoing development of water and sanitation systems in other rural Nicaraguan communities.
"These non-traditional trips appeal as a niche destination for travelers who do not want to visit US style resorts, but rather want to experience another country on a personal basis and to be able to contribute to a tangible improvement in community living standards in the developing world."
Astonishing Statistics:
- 1.5 million children die every year from polluted water and lack of sanitation (UNICEF 2004)
- 2.5 billion people worldwide lack access to basic sanitation (WHO 2008)
- 740 projects completed by El Porvenir since 1990
- 105,000 people provided with clean water and sanitation through El Porvenir
How you can help:
- Make a donation
- Travel through a village work camp tour
- Leave a legacy
- Start a Friends of El Porvenir Group in your area
- Volunteer
- Spread the word about drinking water and sanitation in rural Nicaragua
- Represent El Povenir at alternative gift fairs
- Create a "wishing well" at work or school to raise money
- Donate your used vehicle to El Porvenir
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