Engineering in the Peace Corps
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Engineering in the Peace Corps. RPCV Jillian Churchill Honduras 2009-2011. About Me. BS Chemistry MS Environmental Engineering No Spanish No Design Experience Water and Sanitation Engineer Honduras. Peace Corps Background. Six to 12 months from application to arrival in country
Engineering in the Peace Corps
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Engineering in the Peace Corps RPCV Jillian Churchill Honduras 2009-2011
About Me • BS Chemistry • MS Environmental Engineering • No Spanish • No Design Experience • Water and Sanitation Engineer • Honduras
Peace Corps Background • Six to 12 months from application to arrival in country • 11 weeks of training • Cultural/ Language • Technical • Live and work in one site for 2 years
Where I Lived • El Paraiso • Town of ~25,000 • On the border with Nicaragua • 72 villages that were served
Overview of Projects • Primary Projects • Potable water systems • Rainwater collection • Improved Stoves • Trainings • Troubleshooting Systems • Latrines • Environmental Conservation • Sanitation Improvement • Secondary Projects • Coaching • Science Day • Clubs • English Classes • HIV/AIDS awareness • Treatment of Animals
Potable Water Systems • Surveyed for 6 systems • Average of 50 household • Get dropped off for unknown amount of time • Designed 5 systems • Used massive Excel spreadsheet • Troubleshooting for existing systems • Pressure problems • Water shortage problems • Additions to systems
Improved Sanitation • 100 Hours of Training for each system • One person from each household must attend • Building Latrines • Give each step at a time • Building Improved Stoves • Improves Lung and Eye Health • Uses 20% of firewood • Becomes Women’s project
Water Board Training • Each community has it’s own Water Board • In charge of: • Setting/ Collecting Fees • Maintaining System • Community Sanitation • Made of community members • Normally Receive Little Training • Book Developed by PCVs
Important Aspects of Community Training • Cultural Differences • Education Level Differences • Continuing Monitoring • Logistics
Other Training • Technical Training La JAM • Basic Surveying • Design Principle Basics • Trainees • Everything they will need to know
What’s Happening in Honduras 2012: Peace Corps pulls out of Honduras Honduras named most dangerous country Agricultural/ Environmental Damage 2009 Coup Drug/ Gang Violence Trash