ALPHONSO UGARTE HEALTH POST #1 LORETO, PERU

FUNDED MAY 3, 2023

Community Water Collection

EXISTING CONDITIONS

The families from this [Loreto, Peru] community have collected water from the river for generations. The water is full of rotting wood and many bugs and parasites. The parasites cause extreme vomiting, which cause people to become dehydrated. The parasites move into people eyes and can cause blindness.

Water borne illness such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery and diarrhea are also common illnesses that fill the clinic with sick patients. Cuts and scrapes turn into infections, and are difficult to heal using dirty water.

Drill Site

LIVING WATERS INTERNATIONAL’S PROGRAM

Our implementation through WASH Program Areas is unique, in that it aims to bring lasting physical and spiritual development in communities, through a multi-year program focused on specific regions, thoughtfully integrating and contextualizing principles of water access, sanitation, hygiene, church mobilization, gospel proclamation, and sustainability. Living Water has strong financial
reporting [that] the Houston office oversees for accountability.

SPECIFIC COSTS AND FUNDING INFORMATION

Total Project Cost: $12,000

Funding Requested from Ingomar Living Waters: $8,000
The remaining funds will come from general giving and a grant for the outreach program.

Costs Breakdown:

• Fuel: Fuel is a huge part of this project cost, as the team must travel upriver and back into the smaller tributaries several times prior to the actual drilling work to pave the way for community development and ownership of this project for long term sustainability. The staff will stay in the community until the project has been completed once they begin to drill.
• Materials and Transport: All materials will be loaded into the boat and taken upriver and put together on site. Drill rig, drilling mud, sand, gravel, piping, hand pump, cement, filter pack.
• Labor: Labor for putting the well into place.
• Administrative Costs will be paid for by general donations.
• Evangelism Outreach is covered by a grant.
• Other Costs: A portion of the requested funding will cover health and sanitation education, sustainability training, community development.

WELL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

We will provide training and backstopping support during the first 6 years, until the local water committees and community have gathered enough fees to build a reserve for funding future maintenance.  Water users will pay small monthly water user fees by household and these funds will be collected and managed by the water user  committee, including a staff member from the clinic, for future repairs and maintenance of the system.  The well caregiver will be assigned and equipped to do the ongoing general care of the
project at the clinic.

DISCIPLESHIP

Living Water employs a pastor within each country’s staff. Their purpose is to engage with the local churches/pastors/church members, speaking into unity, spiritual growth and how to be health advocates within their communities. Bible storying training is coordinated within the WPA at several locations and outreach evangelism events, such as the Jesus film, family activities with spiritual influence, or rallies, to name a few. Bibles are given out to new believers or believers who do not have access to a bible in their own language. Other pastoral trainings or pastoral fellowship activities unite Christians throughout the WPA in sharing the gospel and uplifting believers.

FUTURE IMPACT

Any clinic needs to have access to safe clean water in order to provide the best health services. The well will be in a central location within the community [so] that all can utilize the new well and benefit from its safe water. The clinic will lead in educating the community on best hygiene and sanitation practices, and how to collect and store the clean water properly. There should be noticeable improvement in the waterborne illness, and sick patients, school children, will be able to focus on their school work instead of bloated tummies filled with parasites. Simple treatments can be given and when the families utilize the new well, they will not have returning parasites. The need to go into dangerous places where snakes live will no longer be necessary. The time to collect water will be less, which gives parents back time to focus on growing gardens, and children time to study or just be kids.

Clinic Worker

COMPLETED AUGUST 2, 2023

The 189 members of the Alfonso Ugarte native community struggled without a safe water source. Residents had to rely on the local river to supply the water they needed for drinking, cooking, hygiene, and chores. It was a laborious, time-consuming, and even dangerous task when the residents encountered venomous snakes,  mosquitoes, and other disease-carrying insects while collecting water.

The river water itself was full of harmful bacteria, parasites, and contagions: the residents suffered from diarrhea, dysentery, malaria, and other water-related illnesses. Time spent recovering from these illnesses meant time away from their jobs and, in the case of the community’s children, school. But the residents had no other options, so they continued to use the river water and suffered the consequences.

There were also unseen threats: harmful bacteria and contagions in the water made it unsafe for drinking. But the residents had no other options, so they drank the water and suffered the consequences. Diarrhea and dysentery were common. The residents
couldn’t work or care for their families when they were sick with waterborne diseases.

Living Water prepares to drill a
borehole for a new safe water well

The Alfonso Ugarte residents knew they couldn’t let danger and illness continue to mar daily life in their community. They also knew they needed help in ending their water crisis. The community contacted Living Water Peru, requesting a safe water project. Living Water responded to the community’s need by coming to drill a new well at the health clinic in the community. Your gift made this possible!
The Living Water staff also helped the community establish sustainability practices to help ensure a future of safe water access. They guided the community in selecting a water committee to oversee the care and maintenance of the well. Living Water will stay in contact with the committee to monitor the well’s functionality.

The Living Water staff also held a hygiene and sanitation promotion activity to help residents understand how to use the safe water to improve their overall health. These interactive lessons included sessions on proper handwashing technique, how to care for the new hand pump, and how to safely transport and store water from the well.

Thank you for blessing this community with safe water!

The Living Water team shared the gospel with the Alfonso Ugarte community through a screening of the JESUS film, which depicts the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The film was dubbed in the community’s own language. Residents also received gospel literature at the end of the film. Your gift was instrumental in giving the residents of this community a hope and a future in Christ through sharing His living water.

Rosalinda knows that having access to safe water will transform daily life in Alfonso Ugarte: “This water is really going to change many lives, especially the children who are the future of their community, I know that diseases will decrease thanks to this new source of water.  I feel happy, not only for me, but for everyone. They will no longer go to the river and be in danger of snakebites.”
Safe water changes everything!

Your Impact
Ingomar Living Waters, safe water truly has changed everything for those living in Alfonso Ugarte. Because of your gift, the residents now have abundant water mere steps from their homes. They no longer have to rely on the unsafe river water or fear water-related illnesses and venomous snakes. The residents take pride in maintaining their new well, practicing sustainability methods that will passed from generation to generation, and using the safe water to improve their overall health. Through your generosity, the community members have experienced evidence of God’s great love for them, and His concern for both their physical and spiritual needs.