El Ocote, Honduras
Click on Programs to learn more about their work in this community
General Information
| Population* | 250 |
| Number of homes | 60 |
| Avg # of people per home | approx. 4 |
| Number and % of children |
80, approx. 30% |
| Primary Occupations |
Agriculture |
| Water System | Yes, constructed with help from Global Brigades |
| Community Bank | Yes |
| % of Homes with Latrines |
<10% |
| Electricity | Yes |
| Corresponding Health Center | CESAMO Cantarranas; 10km, about 2 hours walking |
| Common Illnesses | Diabetes, athritis, diarrhea, hypertension |
| School Access & Distance | Through 9th grade |
| Municipality | Cantarranas |
| Department | Francisco Morazan |
| Distance from compounds | 1hr 30min |
* Population does not reflect how many patients will be seen on medical
brigades as many people from surrounding communities come seeking
Medical Brigades medical attention.
Top Needs Expressed
The top needs expressed by the community members are a health center and better in-home sanitation infrastructure.
El Ocote is a small, tight-knit community tucked into the mountains of Francisco Morazan and surrounded by trees and vegetation. It is 10 km from the nearest town, which most community members travel to by foot.
El Ocote has schooling available through 9th grade, which is more than most rural communities in Honduras have. However, the school is small with less than 45 students. Global Architecture Brigades helped construct a small schoolhouse next to the existing schoolhouse. This additional space is planned to be used for more classrooms or to open a kindergarten.
Water Brigaders from several different universities worked in El Ocote from August 2014 to November 2014. Throughout this time, volunteers will work with community members to build 2 dams, construct a 10,000 gallon water storage tank, and connect over 60 homes to the water system.
The main health concerns of the community are diabetes, athritis, diarrhea, and hypertension. Patients with chronic illnesses in the community now receive better follow-up care thanks to the Community Health Workers, who were trained by Global Brigades starting in October 2015.
The principal economic activity in El Ocote is agriculture: corn and beans are cultivated by both men and women, and some children and teens are also involved in the process. Some community members work in a local sugar cane farm harvesting the plant. The average family income is about $100 per month.
Global Architecture Brigades helped in the construction of an additional school building so that students of different grades can have more classroom space to spread out.
