Throughout the 2011 May – September brigade season, much progress was made in the community of Zurzular, Honduras. During these months, Public Health Brigades saw a total of 26 groups, bringing a total of 301 student participants to Honduras. These students worked in homes throughout the community to realize the construction of 35 water storage pilas, 44 latrines, 43 eco-stoves, and 103 concrete floors benefitting 43 families. In addition to their in-home efforts, students provided an estimated 18 hours of health education in the local primary school. Furthermore, a new education model was piloted with the final two groups of the season that utilizes members of the Basic Sanitation Committee, assisted by brigade participants, to deliver the health education presentations to the community’s primary school students.
This brigade season saw the last students to be working in the community of Zurzular, bringing the total of family beneficiaries to 85. Public Health volunteers are now working in the community of El Canton, however Global Brigades staff members will continue to visit and provide follow up to the families and Basic Sanitation Committee of Zurzular.
Testimonials:
“In just one week, students and the people from Global Brigades have helped me give my family essential things that I’ve never been able to provide by myself. It was not a gift. I mixed concrete with you, I dug holes with you. We all sweated together and much of my savings has gone into paying my share for these projects. But you were the resource that I’ve never had but have always needed.” – Anonymous community member during the final day of construction, May 2011
“The brigade has helped me realize that I really want to be involved in a long-term health development project after I graduate, like Peace Corps or something along those lines.” – PHB volunteer from Johns Hopkins University
