Eusebia Garcia was one of the first residents to dwell in Gavion, a slum area in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She said she remembers the fruit trees that used to grow there. But when Hurricane Mitch displaced 20,000 families a decade ago, the area quickly became densely populated, with no infrastructure or sanitation system. The streams were polluted, and garbage filled the footpaths. The water was now deadly, making Eusebia, her daughter, and grandchildren sick. But the family couldn't afford to buy clean water. When Samaritan's Purse learned of Eusebia's plight, staff members installed a household filter, a concrete structure that uses sand to clean dirty water.
Through the Samaritan's Purse community health and hygiene workshops, Eusebia's daughter, Maria Angelica, is learning the importance of cleanliness. "They taught us hand washing, the importance of wearing shoes all the time, and brushing our teeth three times a day," she said. "It's how you prevent illness. It's important information." Her children now miss fewer days of school because of sickness.
Eusebia said most of Gavion's residents came to the city from rural communities, hoping to find work. Because of high rent and a lack of good-paying jobs, many of the hopeful migrants ended up in the slum. "This is our only option," she said. But since Samaritan's Purse started working here, she has noticed changes. "It has helped unify our community," she said. "When we go to the worksite, we work together with people we have not talked to before who are different from us. We have learned to work together now."
Since many of Gavion's residents are from other regions of the country, many are able to take the education they've received back to their families at home, stressing healthy practices and proper sanitation.
It all started with a cup of clean water.
