Working in Chaquiri

Developing drinking water in Pata Herra Cancha

Terra is supporting a project directed by Water For People that will connect clean water to each household, protect the community’s water source from contamination, and improve hygiene and sanitation.

Pata Herra Cancha

The Community

Several families live in the small remote rural village of Pata Herra Cancha. The villages are farmers, cultivating oca, lima beans, and potatoes, and raising animals such as chickens and cows. The famlies collectively earn minimal money and fall below the poverty line. They don’t have access to clean water. 

The village is located in central Bolivia, in the municipality of Cuchumuela situated in the department of Cochabamba. The national census in 2001 classified more than 90 percent of the inhabitants of Cuchumuela as unable to meet their basic needs. In Pata Herra Cancha, poverty is staggering. Not a single resident has reliable access to clean water or adequate sanitation. As a result, water-borne illnesses such as dysentery sickens almost everyone and each day women and children spend hours transporting water to their homes from more than a mile away. 

The Collaboration

Pata Herra Cancha

Terra is supporting a project directed by Water For People-Bolivia that will improve the quality of life for the residents of Pata Herra Cancha. The project will protect the community’s water source from contamination, connect clean water to each household, develop stronger local water management, and improve hygiene and sanitation.

This project will not only improve the lives of several families, but will strengthen Terra's relationship with a renowned humanitarian organization. 

Water For People is an ideal partner for Terra. They have an outstanding reputation for international development and have been working in Bolivia since 1997. In this time, they have improved the lives of more than 43,000 Bolivians. Water For People-Bolivia and Terra also have a similar missions—help people improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable water resources.

The Project

The project will consist of constructing of a community wide, gravity‐fed water system that will distribute clean water to each household. The construction efforts will build a spring box to protect the local water source from contamination and lay pipe to distribute clean water to each household. Water For People‐Bolivia will partner with a local nongovernmental organization (NGO) and the municipal government of Cuchumuela to oversee construction of the water system. Water For People‐Bolivia and local partners will also help the Pata Herra Cancha form a water committee that will manage the water system and help organize local labor for construction efforts. These committees will receive several trainings on operation and maintenance and financial management of the water system.

Water For People‐Bolivia and partners will also organize health and hygiene education in order to maximize the health impact in the community. Communities will receive hygiene education training focusing on hand-washing, personal hygiene, and safe water storage.

This project will be completed by early 2010.

Project Brief
Title:
Developing drinking water in Pata Herra Cancha
Financial Support:
Terra contributes $5,000; Water for People and the community contribute additional funds equally
Status:
in progress
Location:
Community of Pata Herra Cancha, Municipality of Cuchumuela, Department of Cochabamaba, Bolivia
Participants:
TERRA, Water For People, the Municipality of Cuchumuela, Pata Hera Cancha