The Honduras Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools Project had a team of Rotarians from Concord and Tocoa, Honduras, who worked together, along with each school’s Parent Committee, school principals, education officials and teachers, all contributing to healthy schools, healthy children and healthy communities. All the schools were in the underserved Colon Region of Northern Honduras, a remote area adjacent to the Mosquito Coast, with one road in and out.

Drinking water at this school!

The above photo depicts what the water supply was in the schools before the project was built.  Kids drank from the spigot where the water was usually contaminated.

During Construction

In addition to construction, WASH in Schools involved weekly data gathering via MWater by Parents and Rotarians.

CDM Smith, a large engineering firm, did data analysis of information obtained in our surveys.

Teacher training, where the initial 30 trained teachers served as trainers for the additional 200 teachers on water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual hygiene management, was coordinated by the Education Ministry and Tocoa Rotary. Teachers in all subjects and grades were given tools to use to teach WASH on various subjects, including a customized WASH manual to help develop grade and subject-appropriate curricula for their students.

The actual construction was completed in five of the six schools. We were able to see the results-- especially heartwarming was the assistant principal at a school called “Centro America” proudly showing off the supply cabinet with menstrual materials, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper.

Standing in front of the completed WASH in Schools Project are Michael Barrington, Concord Rotary, Bob Lampson, Past President, Pleasant Hill Rotary Club, Shelly Pighin and Janet Kennedy, Martinez Rotary Club. and Janet Kennedy, Martinez Rotary

Finished Construction (with soap at each sink!)

Internationally, the partnership worked closely together as the host (Concord Rotary) and international (Tocoa Rotary) clubs to radically improve the physical and educational environments of targeted schools in Honduras, with the resulting monitored results demonstrating a sustainable model for schools, communities, regions, and educational systems in this part of the world. Tocoa Rotary thanked Concord Rotary Club for funding and supporting, as well as for helping to assure the success of this monumental project.
Both Concord Rotary and the President of the Tocoa Rotary Club presented various aspects of the WASH in Schools Project in Hamburg to the Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group (WASRAG) on May 31, 2019.
For more information on this project, contact Michael Barrington or Susan Cohen Grossman.

By Susan Cohan Grossman

Photos by Susan Wood Photography