Fostering Independence: A Successful Water Pump Project in Chiucutama
One of our favorite things to see at Highland Support Project is a project that has taken off independently in a community. Our methodology includes equipping communities with the technology, skills, or resources they need to then run and sustain a project on their own. Any project that isn’t sustainable in the long run, or creates dependence, is not truly bringing effective positive change.
In Chiucutama, Miguel, the community leader, is successfully implementing and managing a new water pump project. The designs for the project were originally created by Dr. Ray Martin, a volunteer with HSP for over a decade who taught Miguel the systems and mechanisms needed to create a pump of his own.
The pump helps irrigate fields in the community during the dry season, which lasts from November to March. Improving water access during the dry season essentially doubles the output of crops in the community as they can now have two growing seasons instead of one. The project is also a unified team effort, and all families in the community are contributing in some way, whether it be time, money, or resources.
The increased water access now means that families have enough water in their homes to do laundry, instead of doing it communally. The timing of this development is opportune, as the women no longer need to gather in groups and can ensure better cleaning of the clothing during COVID-19.
We love this success story because it is the perfect example of how HSP can help a community help itself. We are proud to provide new skills and resources they will only continue to build upon to become more resilient in the future.
