The Problem:

With an estimated population of 5,000 residents, the community of Samulali is located about 15 miles southeast of the municipal seat of Matagalpa, which is about 85 miles northeast from the country’s capital, Managua.

Impoverished households in this community are numerous, and it is not uncommon for more than one family to live within the same household. Not to mention, these homes are typically unsafe and unsanitary. The better homes are usually built with walls of packed mud in a wooden frame and clay roof tiles. More commonly, families use bamboo, plastic, and other discarded materials to build their homes. These structures present a great risk for the safety of the families, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, especially during the rainy seasons. People in the community commonly use homemade latrines, jeopardizing their health, and potentially causing water contamination from human waste.

Many families live in extreme poverty, education is limited, and the access to strong, income-producing means are rare. The community relies heavily on agriculture with the main crops being coffee, corn, beans, sorghum, bananas, and fruit trees; and to a lesser extent, livestock.

The community of Samulali is in dire need of safety and security through new housing, new income-producing activities within the community, and easy access to sanitation, which we hope to provide for them.

The Plan:

The Samulali Community Development project first plans to address the issue of housing. This project will construct 30 homes with eco-stoves, furniture, and reforestation components to provide a new start for these families. All 30 homes will be provided with an exterior elevated pit latrine to improve families’ access to sanitation facilities. Subsequently, each home will include an enclosed shower area to give the residents a private space to bathe. Because Samulali’s water system is only able to provide 2 to 3 hours of water per day, beneficiaries will receive a water storage tank with capacity to hold 450 liters and help them safely store water for consumption. Each home will also have a water connection and laundry sink.

This project also plans to address the issue of community involvement in Samulali. The existing community center was built in 1980, which has become ineffective over time. This project will give the residents’ access to a thriving community center where the families will be able to have a safe place to meet and organize community activities. Each household will be given trees and plants, tool kits, and training that will allow them to successfully restore the ecological system surrounding the homes and community center.

This project also plans on giving the residents chicken coops and artisanal incubators. This will not only provide a source of food for the residents, but also will serve as a source of income generation. The families will receive training, technical help, and monitoring by a specialized veterinary technician. With access to the artisanal incubators, the families will be able to hatch about 80 eggs during the months when hens do not yield eggs.

Another main component of this project is addressing the access to clean water in the community. This project will provide safe water to 22 additional homes and the existing school through water supplied by the existing well, powered by a solar pump. The system will also include a water infrastructure, a tower, a water tank, conduction lines, and a distribution network. Additionally, this project will provide access to safe drinking water to all 650 current water connections in Samulali.