Nueva Esperanza Sachina, Guatemala

          The purpose of the proposed travel is to partner with the Uspantán Municipality in the Department (State) of El Quiché, Guatemala to construct a potable water system for approximately 800 people (175 families) in the community of Nueva Esperanza Sachina, Guatemala. Two faculty, 21 students, 6 alumni and 3 community members from the Aggies Without Limits (AWL) community will spend three weeks in-country constructing the project. The travel and construction logistics are facilitated by the Municipality of Uspantán, Peace Corps Guatemala and the College of Engineering at NMSU. During the construction project, students and alumni from NMSU and community members from Nueva Espanza: 1) lay out and installed piping for potable water project; 2) construct storage tanks; 3) install approximately 50 tap stands; and 4) educate community members in maintenance of the system. Everyone played a part and carried responsibility in this trip, guided and unified by one shared mission.

            The AWL group pitched a picturesque tent camp inside the local church and in the available open field, where days began at 7 a.m. with a wonderful breakfast cooked by a beautiful family of the community. AWL members had the opportunity to interact with the local kids both during these mealtimes and after they finished their duties. We were able to play soccer, paint, and draw, as well as teach them about some of our ways here in the states.

            This trip allowed for new doors to be opened: community members learned new skills, the local children saw that change can be done with hard work, and above all, AWL communicated with new people that hopefully give light to future projects.