Chujupen Potable Water Project
We have been approached by a group of individuals from the indigenous community of Chujupen, Guatemala, a part of the Quiche department just northeast of Chichicastenango. These individuals form the official committee called “El Comité de Operación, Ampliación y Mantenimiento de Agua Potable” and I am in close contact with the secretary of that committee, Diego Xirúm.
In English, the name of the 240-member committee (serving 327 families) is “The Potable Water Operation, Extension and Maintenance Committee”. This may be self-explanatory, but just let me explain briefly…
The community of Chujupen does not have “potable water” to supply all the members of their community — in other words, the supply of clean drinking water is not enough to satisfy the total number of people living there.
The word “Extension” is also very important in their committee name! This project involves the laying of 14 kilometers of pipe from the community with the water source (Chicua Tercero) to the community where the water tank will be, Chujupen. For those of you familiar with Chichicastenango (known for having the largest outdoor market in Central America) here is a map showing the proximity of Chujupen:
They’ve made excellent progress so far, but there is still a long way to go, and with no more funding. To date, the committee has already:
1. Purchased the land where the water comes from: Chicua Tercero.
2. Purchased the land where they will build the tank in Chujupen.
3. Completed almost a third of the pipework.
Their remaining needs are:
A) 6.5 kilometers of plastic 4×4 PVC pipe (qty 1,092 at $42.86 each)
B) 2.5 Kilometers of metal 4×4 HG pipe (qty 420 at $100 each)
C) Build the water tank (cost of $12,692)
Those needs are large, and Guatemala Service Projects is small, but I believe that we have the ability to make a significant dent in the project and am therefore calling on the friends of Diego Xirúm, myself (Jennifer Demar) my partners in the nonprofit (Trent Faith and Jen Scratch) and all of those that support Guatemala Service Projects and the work we do in Guatemala.
The committee will continue seeking support, and continue laying pipe as funds to do so become available.
I will share some photos he has provided me and encourage you to give whatever you can. If you have contacts in corporate America that would like to be a part of the improvements to this committee and its members, or if you know of Rotary Clubs that would be interested in giving access to clean water for a needy village in Guatemala, please share this link!
Many thanks for your consideration and positive thoughts!
The “right” opportunity arose when I learned about a travel opportunity for adoptive families which would include volunteer work and cultural sightseeing. Being members of that team had a profound impact on me, Lillian and Andrew. Not only were we able to make a real connection to our son’s birthplace, but we met incredibly warm and generous people, all of whom we now consider to be a part of our “family.” In addition to the volunteer work I shared with the Team, I also was able to “give back” by performing as my alter ego, “Farfel the Clown” at a barbecue for children of The Backyard School. It will remain one the proudest and happiest memories of my life.