Water System for Los Regadillos

It was in the evening, at the end of a long tiring day, that the team of United by Friendship volunteers arrived in the village of Los Regadillos, in the northern mountains of Guatemala. UbF had received a special request from the regional mayor on behalf of this village, that it be considered for assistance in the construction of a potable water system. The team was met by a group from the village who gathered around them. They eagerly explained their need for a water system, as their women and children currently spend much of their day hauling water their homes, precluding them from attending school.

Los Regadillos is composed of peasant families who in prior generations had been workers on a large plantation. However, as the plantation fell on difficult economic times, there was no work and they became squatters on plantation lands. Two years ago they had the opportunity to obtain the land, which included a spring and stream. They become an officially recognized village of the county of Uspantan. Los Regadillos is still in its infancy with regard to knowing how to set priorities, work in accord, and how to use the democratic process in electing leaders. The regional mayor hopes that a water project, which they all desperately want, will serve as a way for the people to learn how to better function as a united community.

After considering the recommendation of the UbF volunteer team, the UbF board selected Los Regadillos as its project for 2010 with the condition that the community receive training on how to function as a united community, develop community standards and rules for resolving disputes and form a water oversight committee. The village has complied with these conditions and is ready to move forward with the water project. UbF will provide the construction materials at a cost of $26,000, the county government will provide the engineering and Los Regadillos will provide the manual labor.

We urge you to be part of this worthy project that is building not only a water system but also a united community.