{
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
Top Related