…through well construction, vegetable and fruit-growing
We barely stop to think about how precious the commodity of having pure drinking water is, when it’s easily accessible and available in abundance. Yet, if it is hard to come by or only attainable after a tedious trek, it becomes invaluable and will only be used for the most important tasks such as cooking and for drinking. Diarrhea and skin diseases are common due to lack of hygiene and clean water. There are still water holes and open wells in use on the island which get contaminated very easily. This must change! E.g. there are pump wells that are rather inexpensive ($170 USD, manual building time approx. 3-4 days), but have the tendency to dry up after a few years, because they don’t reach deep enough. Alternatively, we can build simple, but durable pump wells with a hydraulic drilling rig, which only takes one day. The cost is higher ($1000 USD), but the structure reaches deep into the ground and assures water flow for many years!
Healthy and balanced nutrition is vital for our well being and helps us long-term. This is why we encourage self-sufficiency by growing fruit and vegetables. This is easier said than done and requires education and training about the importance of nutrition. So far, most people make food choices based on “what fills the stomach” and not necessarily on “what is healthy”. Many locals plant rice and casava (a root vegetable) or corn which is their staple food. Beans, cabbage, onions, and tomatoes are planted in smaller quantities. However, cucumbers, carrots, eggplant, and other vitamin vegetables are a rarity on the island or are not planted at all. Our goal is to not only teach the importance of healthy nutrition and growing various types of vegetables but to lead by example. As much as possible, we tend our own fruit and vegetable garden so that we can feed ourselves in a cost-effective and healthy way. Should we have surplus of fruit or vegetables in a prosperous season, we sell our products and give an example of how to make a profit through a mini business.
