Leif Hansen (Leo), a Peace Corps volunteer [U.S. Federal Government Organization], worked for two years in the district of Cascas (La Libertad) and before leaving he tells us about his work experiences and the learning he acquired about the meaning of Total Coverage Forever.
- First approach with Water For People
After a short training in technical, cultural and language issues (Lima) I arrived in Cascas in December 2014, to begin my volunteer service -in water, sanitation and hygiene issues-. I had the good fortune to arrive in a community where there were very good partners to work with: the person in charge of the Municipal Technical Area of Water and Sanitation – Ángel Zarate and the Water For People technical team.
Before arriving in Cascas, I had no experience working on water and sanitation issues, only the 11-week orientation in Lima as a Peace Corps. My university training is in Political Science; However, I really wanted to learn something new and the topic of sustainable development was something that always interested me.
Coming here, there was definitely a valuable learning curve. At the beginning, everyone was evaluating my capabilities and my contribution to this work team. "What I liked most, despite my inexperience in this field, was the immediate incorporation into the Municipality – Water For People team, a factor that gave me the possibility of refining my skills."
- Acquired learning
My first year in Cascas, I went out into the field a lot to carry out evaluations of drinking water systems and training for the directors of the Sanitation Services Administrative Boards (JASS). Working with Reynaldo Delgado – Water For People consultant, allowed me to learn a lot about the experience in the field, I began to value the role of the JASS as service providers and the role they play in the administration, operation and maintenance of the security systems. drinking water in rural areas.
The second year, I felt more prepared to take on challenges in water and sanitation. We formed a project on "drip chlorine dispensers and health education." The team of educators from the Municipal Technical Area of Water and Sanitation of Cascas carried out house-to-house visits in five communities.
Beatriz Alvarado and Daniela Navarro (Water For People) supported me with the development of the four educational sessions that we used in the project and later we did a training to train health educators in Asunción, Cajamarca. "In addition to the methodology of the educational sessions, they taught me that a well-trained educator has a good chance of making behavioral changes at home. These changes, in my opinion, are the basis for improving the quality of life in the home. rural area."
"Conscious families are healthy families. The development of the country in general begins with a healthy population."
For the drip chlorine dispensers, with Gary Atencio – Water For People consultant, we monitored the chlorination systems weekly to verify that the residual chlorine range was within the accepted standards according to the chlorination standard in the country.
"Water For People taught me that sustainable development is based on achieving strong relationships with our partners"
- Rating of the experience
The impressive thing about the work that Water For People does with the Municipality is its dedication and perseverance to achieve sustainable development. Before working on this topic, I did not understand how difficult it is to make development sustainable - communities and/or municipalities want support on their own terms because they work with limited budgets. Through my work with Water For People, I understood that we have to make contributions together. "Water For People's focus on sustainability is key, because it understands that it will not be here forever, so the management of public services must be strengthened."
This initiative generates commitment in the local government and rural communities in the development of their own area and generates "appropriation" because they feel that, with their own resources and efforts, they are improving the quality of life in their communities.
Water For People has a very striking work methodology. They address the problem of water and sanitation from a comprehensive point of view.
"It has been a tremendous inspiration to work with Water For People. The impact they achieve in the areas where they intervene is incredible. The effort to establish relationships with strategic partners and allies is the "current money" that makes interventions last FOREVER."
in water, The construction of drinking water systems in communities is not enough, it also focuses its efforts on schools, empowering children and youth to wash their hands with soap and water at critical moments, to raise awareness about the proper disposal of solid waste. , let them drink safe water. The interesting thing about this process is when children and young people take this learning home and teach it to their parents.
In sanitation, Water For People together with the Municipality – in urban and peri-urban Cascas – work on sustainable sanitation with health education (house-by-house visit). As a result of this motivation house by house, families have invested their own resources to build or improve their bathrooms with quality toilet service. The achievement of this intervention is the contribution to reducing the rates of illness in children, in addition to family pride when presenting the new bathroom to visiting family and friends.
"Working together with such a dedicated team gives me a lot of hope and, at the same time, the initiative to pursue this line of sustainable development in my career." I congratulate each one of the Water For People-Peru team, led by Eng. Francisco Soto Hoyos, for their impact on the district, on my life and for two unforgettable years.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!