AHAH Monthly Program Update - Guatemala (October 2021)

GUATEMALA HURRICANE RELIEF UPDATE OCTOBER 2021

TOTAL PROGRAM IMPACT

2,292 43 1,831 81

LIVES IMPACTED VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEER DAYS FAMILIES GIVEN ACCESS TO WATER

Current Activities Four newly completed water systems in Seraxqen mean that the 81 families now have safe and reliable access to water. In a community where women and children often had to walk up to two hours each way to collect unclean water, this is a life-changing development that will impact health, safety, livelihoods and futures for generations to come. Seraxqen’s school, health post and community center now boast metal roofs with guttering, water collection and running water.

Access to water is foundational to health and dignity. Thanks to the wonderful community members of Seraxqen, along with our dedicated local partners, donors, volunteers and staff, these families can count on this resource that is integral to ongoing well-being of the community.

At the Sesajal Community Center, we’ve completed hurricane-resilient metal roofs on the galera and kitchen buildings. With work in Seraxqen complete, all volunteers are now focused on finishing up these Community Center buildings. Beyond completing the structures of the galera and kitchen, volunteers will construct latrines and water systems, all of which will be accessible to the entire community of Sesajal.

Community Water Committee The new water systems in Seraxqen will be maintained by the local Water Committee, along with monthly cleaning and testing by the local Ministry of Health. The Water Committee is a group of five locally-elected women and men from the community who are charged with maintaining and caring for the water systems, liaising with the Ministry of Health, and ensuring the water is equitably distributed within the community.

AHAH facilitated maintenance and use trainings with the Water Committee. The Ministry of Health joined for development of the maintenance manual and demonstrations of tank chlorination and water testing. By partnering locally, we’re ensuring ongoing maintenance and establishing long-term solutions.

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Disaster Profile In November 2020, Hurricane Eta and Hurricane Iota, both Category 4 storms, devastated communities across Central America. First, Hurricane Eta struck on November 3 and slowly moved across northern Nicaragua and into eastern Honduras, before continuing its path into northeastern Guatemala and the Caribbean. Just 15 miles away from Eta’s landfall, Iota then struck on November 17 and followed a similar path. Both storms led to significant flooding and landslides across the region, impacting millions of people. Alta Verapaz was one of the hardest hit regions in Guatemala. Sesajal and Seraxqen are suffering from a severe lack of suitable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) infrastructure, relying on water sources that were compromised by the floods after Eta and Iota.

Our Work All Hands and Hearts launched a remote assessment immediately after the hurricanes in November 2020. Based on our findings and the COVID-19 situation in the region, we transitioned to a ground assessment in Guatemala at the end of January 2021 to explore how we could contribute to the recovery effort. Our relief program is focused on the ground-up construction of a community center in Sesajal, San Pedro Carchá, with the associated WaSH facilities, including latrines, rainwater catchment and water storage. Our work also includes construction of rainwater catchment and storage stations in the nearby community of Seraxqen, Chisec, to increase access to clean water.

About All Hands and Hearts We effectively and efficiently address the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. We communicate directly with local leaders and community members and then deploy our unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, helping to build safer, more resilient schools, homes and infrastructure.

Photos: (top to bottom) A volunteer reinforces the galera roof’s purlins with hurricane straps before installing the metal roof; new water storage tanks in Seraxqen; Seraxqen water committee + AHAH staff discuss maintenance plan.

Our Partners

We have earned a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for the seventh year in a row. This year only earned seven percent of rated nonprofits received distinction forin financial and We have a 4-star rating

by Charity Navigator forthis the seventh year a row. This year only operational efficiency. seven percent of rated nonprofits received this distinction for financial and operational efficiency.

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