Indigenous communities install safe water and basic sanitation in their schools (toilets, plumbing, drinking fountains, and water purification systems)

Flavia Gómez is the president of the Breakfast Committee at the school that her children attend in the community of San José Yashtinin, in Chiapas, Mexico. In communities like this, schools and homes have no running water and no functioning toilets, and children and adults alike consume sugary drinks, unaware of the negative effects on their health. Flavia is a leader in her community who dedicates her time to raising awareness about hygiene and sanitation.

But then things changed. The school principal of the community school where Flavia’s children attend invited Flavia to participate in the "Safe Water for Children and Adolescents in Rural Schools" Project, with the support of One Equal Heart’s partner organization Cántaro Azul. The principal, along with teachers and other parents like Flavia, are improving their school's water and basic sanitation infrastructure. When they finish, the students and their families will finally be able to access clean water.

They replaced the cistern that was no longer working and installed an electric pump to provide water for the bathrooms. They built a structure for the water purification system. Now, children have access to safe drinking water and toilets with running water every day.

In addition, Flavia is participating in workshops on healthy eating and hygiene practices.  As President of the School Breakfast Committee, she shares what she learns at these workshops with other mothers at the school, including how to use safe water while preparing food, the health consequences of consuming sugary drinks, and the importance of good habits of handwashing and personal hygiene.

Participating in the Project has also positively influenced Flavia’s habits of health and hygiene and those of her family. "Now, my family washes their hands with soap and water before eating. When preparing food, I wash and disinfect fruits and vegetables, so rather than making us sick, they nourish us. they won't make us sick and instead, nourish us. I try to prepare natural drinks such as lemonade so that we don't buy bottled soft drinks and take care of our family finances".

Flavia and her community are motivated to continue learning and improve the hygiene and health of their families. By participating in this Project and applying what they have learned, they hope to reduce the risks of their children getting gastrointestinal diseases and Covid 19.