International P E A C E Projects

Safe Water to Drink Nicaragua and Zambia

 

Nicaragua and Zambia are located a world apart, separated by approximately 7,940 miles. Desipite the distance in miles and differences in culture, the commonalities are remarkable. Although resource rich, Zambia and Nicaragua's people are the poorest in their respective hemispheres. A majority of the population live at the poverty level; which the United Nations has determined to be an income of $1.00 per day. Many live on less (see notes below).

 

In both countries, contaminated water is the single largest contributor to infant mortality - greater than AIDS/HIV and malaria put together. A child dies every 10 minutes from disease attributable to dirty water.

 

In both countries, contaminated surface water supplies are frequently the only water available for domestic use. 

 

Classrooms without Books - Environmental Education 

 

In both Nicaragua and Zambia, children do not have access to school books in their classrooms or homes. We bring education to the children by using the environment all around them as a classroom. The children may not have books, but our water education curriculum provides teachers with tools to teach by using the nature all around them as an outdoor classroom for science education, creative writing and observation.  Our school yard farms are natural learning laboratories. Our water test kits allow children to experience the wonders chemistry and microbiology.  All these low cost and interactive projects support learning, build awareness of the environment and about the hazards in contaminated water.  

 

Subsistence Economies and Survival

 

In both Nicaragua and Zambia, subsistence farming is practiced by the majority of the population.  In subsistence economies, people meet all or most of their daily needs directly from nature and the cycles of rain that allow cultivation of food for personal consumption. 85% of the Zambian population and 76% of the Nicaraguan population are engaged in subsistence agriculture. The dual aspects the water crisis which are 1) the lack of access to clean water for domestic use and 2) the failure of natural rain cycles to support agricultural production - lock families in a cycle of poverty and increasingly, chronic hunger.

 

Both Nicaragua and Zambia depend on natural rain cycles for water collection, on livestock to prepare the soil for cultivation and on livestock manure to fertilize the land. Climate changes to the rain cycle make water collection problematic. Unseasonable or absent rains damage crops, increase erosion and delay planting. Water scarcity and disease burden families who must devote more time to seeking-out water for domestic use. These water issues have also devastated livestock in large areas of both countries - causing farmers to resort to hand-tilling the soil. Ultimately their crops are insufficient to meet their needs and families are chronically food insecure.

 

In both Nicaragua and Zambia economic development is held back by lack of access to irrigation water, reliable rainfall, soil inputs and basic governmental services such as road infrastructure, transport, markets and other social infrastructure. With surface water contamination and changes to rain cycles brought about by climate change, people in both countries find themselves facing challenges that are a threat to their very survival.