Where We Work / Honduras / Communities / Buena Vista «

Buena Vista is located in the Morocelí municipality in the El Paraíso department.

Buena Vista’s educational system includes Kinder, Primary, and Middle schools (until 9^th grade). There are 136 students and Rolando Inestrosa is the school director. It is approximated that about 95% of the community knows how to read and write.

Buena Vista partnered with Global Brigades Water Program to complete a centralized water system. In November 2012, Buena Vista celebrated the completion of their water project. Today over 500 community members have access to chlorinated drinkable water. 

Water Concerns Prior to Partnership

Buena Vista had a non-electric well system that was constructed in 1987. The well system provided water every other day to a tank where community members retrieved water. The water was not chlorinated, and the Water Council struggled with leadership, and controlling the water quality and usage.  Each home was responsible for water retrieval and treatment. Often times the water tank was contaminated by people reaching in to the well. 

Buena Vista has a health center in the community, staffed by nurse Yacalin Suazo. There is a community health committee made of up 7 members that works in conjunction with the health center with a focus on pregnant women and children. Dental care is not available at the health center.

 In 2013, Global Brigades Community Health Worker program began in Buena Vista. 6 Community Health Workers have been trained to support and further the work done by the the local nurse and health center. To learn more about Community Health Workers in Buena Vista, click here. 

Prior to the entrance of Public Health brigades, the most common illnesses seen by community members were respiratory infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites. Approximately 20% of the community was estimated to have an eco-stove, 40% cement floors, and 20% latrines that functioned. Community members expressed that while there were latrines, the majority were in poor condition or had reached their longevity. 

The average family income per month is estimated to be 700 Lempiras, which is approximately L140 (US $7.41) per person¹. The majority of homes are made of adobe. The main form of employment is agriculture on owned land, mostly for subsistence use, not commercial. The main products that are cultivated in the community are coffee, corn and beans. Members of Buena Vista who own land can access credit through agricultural cooperatives outside of the community and their local community bank.  In mid 2015, GB's Microfinance and Business technicians began training the community bank of Buena Vista. 

Buena Vista is a calm, medium sized town up high in the mountains. The village has 3 small surrounding villages that the health center also serves. Both the local school teacher and nurse commented that the people of this community have become accustomed to receiving projects from outside institutions like the government or other NGOs, so there is a need for the community to take responsibility and ownership of its well-being. 

Buena Vista is not currently receiving brigades from any other organization. The government built latrines in the community in 2004. The Zamorano School built a little over 5 eco-stoves in the community in 2008 for people who had presented respiratory problems at the health center.