About the Organization:
Rayo de Sol is a nonprofit organization, registered in the state of Georgia. We work with some of the most vulnerable communities in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, where poverty rates are high and social services are extremely limited. Currently, we serve 37 rural and urban communities in Matagalpa, implementing projects in Spiritual Growth, Educational Quality, Community Health, Youth in Action and Community Development. Our program services provide direct benefits to nearly 10,000 children, adolescents and adults. Rayo de Sol has been operating in Nicaragua since 2008 and has developed a reputation as a credible and effective development organization. We work closely with many partner organizations, including governmental agencies and other nongovernmental organizations.
The Need:
Environmental degradation in Nicaragua has accelerated in recent years. The expansion of urban areas, agriculture, livestock and mining have caused extensive forest loss and erosion, which has also greatly diminished local water sources. In many rural communities, where they are fortunate enough to have public water lines, supply has decreased so severely that many families only have access to public water supply once a week for a few hours. They have to store as much water as they can in buckets and barrels. In other communities, where there are no public water systems, families have to walk great distances to find springs or small rivers in the mountains, which are often contaminated by livestock or agricultural runoff. The lack of potable water creates many health risks, particularly for children and adults with chronic illnesses.
The Solution:
We researched the possibility of drilling wells in the most affected communities, but the depth of the aquifers and the difficult soil conditions in the mountains make it a very cost-prohibitive endeavor. Instead, we have designed a low-cost, rain harvesting system that can be easily installed at individual homes or schools. The system is attached to the roof structure, where rain water is captured in PVC pipes and diverted to a sanitary, storage tank with a 660-gallon capacity. The system uses ordinary PVC pipes and accessories, to keep costs low and ensure that there is never a delay caused by access to specialized parts or materials. The system is attached to the roof using brackets that are made with 3/8” steel rebar, commonly found in all hardware stores.
Each family also receives a filter so that the water can be used for
Filters are 99% effective for eliminating contaminant s
drinking and cooking, as well as for cleaning and washing. Although these systems don’t completely resolve the water crisis for families in Matagalpa, they do provide a clean and reliable source of water that greatly reduces health risks and improves quality of life. We have discovered that families may consume water from the tank several times during the rainy season, as it saves them the time and effort to hauling water from springs or rivers. When the rainy season ends, the family has 660 gallons of water that can last a couple of months, when used sparingly. Families in these communities are very accustomed to rationing water.
drinking and cooking, as well as for cleaning and washing. Although these systems don’t completely resolve the water crisis for families in Matagalpa, they do provide a clean and reliable source of water that greatly reduces health risks and improves quality of life. We have discovered that families may consume water from the tank several times during the rainy season, as it saves them the time and effort to hauling water from springs or rivers. When the rainy season ends, the family has 660 gallons of water that can last a couple of months, when used sparingly. Families in these communities are very accustomed to rationing water.
The Impact:
We began to install rain harvesting systems in 2017 and have benefitted a total of 210 families over the past six years. Since we work closely with these families in our other programs, we have been able to interview them and document the impact that the rain harvesting project has had in their lives. Participating families, women especially, have benefitted from improved health and hygiene and have also reduced the amount of time needed for basic chores, as they no longer have to travel long distances into the mountains in search of water.
Our full-time physician has documented a decrease in common illnesses in communities where rain harvesting systems have been installed, particularly intestinal parasites, infections and diarrhea. These are illnesses that affect the most vulnerable members of the family, especially children.
The Finances:
Each rain harvesting system costs approximately $725 and our goal is to benefit 100 families in 2023-2024. Our direct costs in 2022 were $669 per rain harvesting system and inflation in Nicaragua was 10.45% in 2022 and has been estimated at 8.53% for 2023. Although prices may vary in the coming months, we are budgeting accordingly, to allow for inevitable price increases on construction materials.
About Peter Schaller, Executive Director of Rayo de Sol
"Access to water is one of the most critical problems faced in the rural area of Matagalpa, Nicaragua."
Peter Schaller has lived and worked in Nicaragua for 25 years. He has been the Executive Director of Rayo de Sol for 10 years. He has a degree in Community Organization, a master’s in Public Administration, and he is currently working towards a PhD. in Environmental Conservation and Restoration. His work at Rayo de Sol has taught him how to truly live as a disciple of Christ, with unconditional love and compassion.
Rayo de Sol is a nondenominational Christian organization focused on sharing hope with children and their families in Matagalpa, Nicaragua through collaborative, community development programs. Gundersen Global Partners previously collaborated with Rayo de Sol on many education and medical initiatives.
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