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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
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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