Santa Catarina Water Sanitation Campaign

On a recent visit to the communities of Tzanjuyub and Pasacuash in Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá. The precarious living conditions of the inhabitants struck a deep chord with me. The sight of nylon houses, dirt roads, and the biting cold paints a stark, challenging reality.

These communities are grappling with severe shortages, including a lack of clean drinking water, inadequate drainage, and a non-functional sewage system. The unsanitary conditions of the bathrooms, which are essentially rudimentary latrines or septic pits, are particularly alarming. The limited space in these pits and the unbearable stench and toxic fumes inside the huts disproportionately affect women, making their living conditions unsustainable.

The hardships intensify at night when women have to travel long distances in the dark, rain, and cold to reach these latrines. This situation leads to an increase in vaginal infections and severe health issues, further exacerbated by constant exposure to toxic gases. Recurrent infections have resulted in infertility in about 10% of the women in both communities.

Faced with this dire situation improvements in water and sanitation infrastructure are urgent. For this reason, we have developed a sanitation project to support these communities gain access to potable water and ensure improved sanitation and hygiene. Works are about to start but with your contribution we’ll be able to completely finance the project and continue promoting dignified, healthy living conditions.