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Big Projects for San Jose Village

The community of San Jose de Las Lagrimas is in critical condition. Folks are very sick, some dying, due to the fact that they don’t have potable water, latrines and washing facilities, and live in pieces of plastic and sticks for “houses”, sometimes 2 or 3 families to a dwelling. Their one room adobe schoolhouse is crumbling and unhealthy, with walls that house chinches, a very dangerous bug.

We are looking for support in this 4 part restoration process:

– Immediate Care for Urgently Sick Children
– Installing a Potable Water System for the Community
– Building Banos (latrines) and Pilas (washing facilities) at the School
– Building a New School

HEALTHCARE:

The most common diseases in San Jose are dysentery, skin diseases, tuberculosis and diseases related to malnutrition. What they most need are blankets, medications (both prescription and over-the-counter), transportation to doctor’s clinics and hospital, shoes, plastic to cover walls and prevent rain, soap, milk, nutritional supplements, etc.

In these photos, both Evelyn and her little brother have tuberculosis, and Jorge has a lung disease as well. All three are suffering from severe malnutrition.

We already have a team of doctors and nurses who we are working with to carry out a long term plan of good health and health education.

WATER:
There is no potable water in the village. We need help with this very expensive project. Maybe you or a group you know would be willing to fund one of the stages.

PILAS and BANOS:
Once potable water is installed in the vilage. There are no bathrooms or pilas so folks “go” in the fields and the rains carry the excrement back into the village center.. The houses don’t have 4 walls and animals enter easily and leave their excrement. Children have no shoes and walk in this daily.

VILLAGE SCHOOL:
Right now, the school is made of adobe which is starting to crumble. It contains chinches, which are a very dangerous bug that causes the serious disease Chagas. It has a damp, mud floor, and poor light from the one window. The 65 children sit so close together that it is very easy to spread diseases.