USDA Invests $1.8M in Safe Water and Hygiene

Ambassador Aponte addressing beneficiaries

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $1.8 million in the Government of El Salvador’s “Safe Water, Food Safety and Basic Hygiene in Public Schools” project, which was inaugurated during a ceremony in Turin, Ahuachapan on October 12, 2012.

The project is being carried out by the Office of the Secretary of Social Inclusion, which has selected the NGO CARE to execute the program. CARE is also investing approximately $300,000 of its own funds in the project.

USDA’s $1.8 million will be used to provide safe water, latrines and kitchens/food storage facilities to approximately 64 public schools in 23 low-income municipalities in the Departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, San Salvador and Chalatenango.  Crews will install cisterns and tanks for the collection and storage of water, construct rainwater systems to provide water reserves for schools, and expand existing distribution networks. Approximately 10,000 school children will benefit from the project.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the project will also provide training to parents, teachers and students in healthy sanitation practices, the correct use of the latrines and the protection of water resources.

Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte joined the Salvadoran Secretary of Social Inclusion, Vanda Pignato, for the inauguration.