Latrine Building

We are in the process right now of completing six new latrines. We received financial support for this project from Rotary, in memory of my first cousin, Steve Gascon. We hope to build 15 more in an area called Buenas Aires, where previously all 64 homes had no latrines or bathrooms. Due to our recent efforts 21 of the homes will now have latrines.

 We have learned from prior experiences and have cut costs on this project. Previously, if the families receiving latrines wanted larger facilities we forgave the difference in cost. During this wave of the project, each family is asked to come up with the money for additional construction costs.

 The rim of the holes are lined with rocks cemented in to form the foundation support.

Platforms are built so they can be moved to new holes when the other is full.

I have hired a man named Bolivar to complete this project. Bolivar is very poor but savvy. I had hoped to have volunteer help, but I guess this type of work is not glamorous enough.

 Bolivar

The huts are built to be moved also and laid on their side in the event of a hurricane.

Children's Global Health Alliance

On June 23^rd Jeff Anderson arrived in the DR. Now a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, Jeff first came to Don Juan on a project three years ago sponsored by his fraternity, Sigma Chi, while he was a student at the University of Rochester, NY. 

His heart was deeply touched by the obvious health needs of the children here in the DR. Since then Jeff and his friends have started their own foundation, Children's Global Health Alliance, to service the health needs of children, pregnant women, and mothers in the Third World. They are in the process of partnering with us in the municipal district of Don Juan.

Jeff spent his week here interviewing mothers, doctors, nurses, visiting homes, area bateyes, local clinics, and health services. Most clinics were very cooperative but not all,  the clinic that deals with AIDS patients was not.

His findings were a mixed bag as a few health services function quite well, and while look great on paper, the actual services provided do not match the description. Children's Global Health Alliance.