{

Nicaragua: July 2011

R. Boots, W. Deppe, D. Griggs, L. Li, M. Jungclaus, T. Slack, S. Soni

{ {The trip was:

Unpredictable Challenging Enriching Educational

The team was:

Resilient Adaptable Tough Cohesive

A few words

Location

Team

Photovoice GIS Mapping Water Testing Bridges to Community initiatives

School building Siuna hospital Stovetop renovation

Projects

{Interviewing participants about their images

Photovoice

{Exhibiting photos with community leaders

Photovoice

Key insight: Subjects focused on health and safety, especially for children, elderly, and the poorest residents.

Most common problems: Unsafe creek crossing Unsanitary latrines Trash dump and pollution affecting the most

impoverished families Inaccessible medicine/treatment for elderly Lack of a safe space for baseball, soccer, and other

activities for kids In interviews, residents tended to focus on problems

affecting less fortunate people, rather than themselves.

Photovoice results

What we learned: Skills: engagement, communication, how to

give instructions and host a meeting Issues important to residents are not obvious

to visitors or Norteamericanos. Unequal distribution of resources

What Bridges learned: School project is appreciated, but may not

address problems identified by residents New latrines and bridges may be more

effective Water system does not reach poorest families

—those with contaminated water

Photovoice results

Verdict:successful, but room for improvement

{GPS Coordinate at origin of water system

GIS Mapping and Water Testing

Siuna: old and new systems Old: always on

Very poor quality Campo Uno pictured

New: Intermittent supply once a week Residents fill drums when they can consumable by locals and Meaghan

Hospital: old system with state-of-the-art filters

Filters not connected Rainwater used when drums

emptyWater Supply and Quality

Fonseca: water supply different from family to family

Least-poor families use wells Others use ‘ojos de agua’ New system under construction for

44 households Photovoice: many issues with

dehydration and GI infections Saline and other rehydrants

inaccessible

Water Supply and Quality

{ {Well (our host family) Ojo (Dna. Ramirez)

Water supplies in Fonseca

{• 100 ft. depth• Solar-powered• Pumps water to cistern atop of nearby hill• 44 households included

New system (under construction)

{ {Iron

Presence can indicate larger contamination problems

Secondary contaminant

Significant traces found

Copper

Siuna used to be a mining town

High levels can cause stomach, liver, and kidney illness

No significant traces found

Water Quality: results

{ {Colliform Presence/Absence Indicates

presence of other fecal pathogens

All samples positive

Only control run in U.S. negative

Water Quality: results

{ {pH

Indicates if water is hard or soft

No acidic water detected

Hard water detected

Turbidity

Associated with GI diseases

Affects water disinfection with chlorine

Filtered water better than well water

Water Quality: results

Bridges to Community

{ Fonseca schoolhouse: concrete steps and floor

Bridges’ projects

{ Fonseca bridge; Siuna latrine; Rancho allegre stove

Bridges’ projects

Takeaways: Sustainable architecture and design Community-driven construction

Great experience basic construction Language/communication

Interaction with Don Luis, Miguel, and other Siuna-area locals and BTC employees

Bridges’ projects

An amazing country

An amazing country

BTC did an incredible job getting us better.

Possible illnesses range from mild to very serious

Risks known, documented Keys to prevention: honesty, caution,

vegetarianism, preventative medicine Keys to recovery: rest, hydration, antibiotics

Health concerns

Logistics made difficult by language, lack of cultural understanding, and “Nica Time”

Transportation, translation, safety handled capably by BTC

Nicaraguan staff extremely helpful Awareness, common sense keep you safe Violence, instability not a problem

Logistical concerns

In the works: Nica 2012 Feasibility study for water system in

Rosa Grande, RAAN, Nicaragua Sets up long-term, sustained partnership

with Bridges to Community Students work with NGO staff to develop

projects and systems in the developing world.

Next steps