Water smiles - Proyecto Santiago, Guatemala

Project name: Water smiles, Proyecto Santiago

Project location: Monjas, Jalapa, Guatemala, Centroamérica

Website: http://www.guateambiente.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GUATEAMBIENT/

Project description:

In Guatemala and Central America there is a huge violence issue and law breaking groups called ‘Gangs”. According to UN sources there were in the year 2007 around 70,000 gang members in Central America. From those 15,000 members were living in Guatemala. That violence issue reaches the families. Kids and young people join day by day the gangs because of lack of education, health and family care.

The Santiago Project in Latin-America through the children home’ Sombras de sus Alas” supports the integral development and protects the right of the children declared in high risk. They developed a reintegration social program for kids and young people, where they have access to education, social and psychological orientation, medical care, respect and love for nature.

The kids learn how to live in harmony with the environment, providing them all the necessary skills to take of the water, renewable energy, conservation and reforestation of natural spaces and been able to reintegrate them into society as productive members.

That is the reason why Guateambiente is promoting renewable energy sources, working together with Proyecto Santiago installing water pumping solar system with a capacity to pump 400 gallons of water daily. The provision of basic services like electricity and drinking water are irregular. The water pumping solar system will improve the life quality of the kids and will promote their self-sufficient lifestyle using properly the natural resources.

Goal and purpose of the project:

Develop an efficient water drinking pumping solar system for the Santiago Project.

The electrical energy in the children home is very irregular causing problems in the supply of drinking water in all three houses where sixty children are living. As well as in the social and psychological areas, nursery, baby house, school and kitchen. The living conditions will be improved. The philosophy of living in harmony with the environment in a sustainable way using properly the natural resources will be enhanced.

Motivation of the applicant / applicant team:

Our motivation is to see a smile on the face of every child who never knew the meaning of love, the meaning of having parents and had a future on the streets becoming gang members. We believe that the social reintegration is possible. To get to know Santiago Project inspire us to work together with them through GuateAmbiente for a more loving and dignify life. A life with more opportunities of sustainable development and enabling people to provide the country with work, education, respect and love to nature.

Use of prize money:

GuateAmbiente and its team of experts in energetic systems will develop an efficient water pumping solar system. The water will come out from a well 55 meters deep and will be direct to a cistern with a capacity of 2500 galons located at a height of 16 meters above the ground.

This equipment will provide drinking water to the center during the sunshine hours. That will allow a cost reduction of the electrical bill up until 50%, will reduce the greenhouse gases emission and will allow the center to invest the saved means in new projects for the benefit of all the residents.
Training is also offered to the inhabitants of the center on the importance of an efficient use of water