Where We Work / Hondures / Communities / Las Champas «

Las Champas’ educational system includes Kinder and Primary schools (until 6^th grade). There are 30 students, and it is approximated that about 80% of the community knows how to read and write. Carla Martinez is the school director. One current health concern at the school is that the latrines are no longer functioning.

Las Champas has a water system built by the government in 1998 following Hurricane Mitch. The source is an underground well and it is shared by 3 communities. In Las Champas water arrives every day, but the other communities have experienced problems with lack of water. The main problem with the system is that there are many homes with broken faucets. The water is chlorinated once a week¹ and they estimate about 93% of the community is connected to the water system. The Water Council is made up of 7 active members and Liberto Matamol is the president.

Las Champas does not have a health center in the community. The nearest health center is in Hoya Grande, about 2.5 hours walking distance, 8 kilometers uphill. There is a bus that runs every 3 days to Hoya Grande, which takes about 45 minutes. Since Las Champas is located on the side of the highway, it is much easier to take a bus to the health center in Ojo de Agua, however often people from Las Champas are turned away there because they are supposed to be treated only at CESAR-Hoya Grande where they are accounted for in medications, patient history, and morbidity statistics. There is no a community health committee nor access to dental care.   

The most common illnesses seen by community members are dengue, the flu, bone pain, allergies, and diarrhea.  Approximately 66% of the community is estimated to have latrines that currently function. 12% has eco-stoves (estufas justas). Almost 20% is estimated to have cement floors.

Though there is no health data available at the community level for Las Champas, below are some available health center statistics from the CESAR-Hoya Grande² that serves Las Champas:

I. Caserios (small villages) served by CESAR-Hoya Grande, 2009

Centro de Salud Statistics, Centro de Salud Regional-Danlí, 14 Marzo 2010

*Global Brigades also works in these communities with medical brigades.

The average family income per month is estimated to be 1000 Lempiras, which is approximately L200 (US $10.59) per person³. The majority of homes are made of adobe. The main form of employment in the community is agriculture on both rented and owned land. The community has had trouble with self-sufficient agricultural production, like basic grains, and usually is only able to work almost half the year. Las Champas had a community bank, but the group didn’t take full ownership of its development, and so the bank has been managed by one directive member, Rosadalia Caceres who continues to give out loans.

Las Champas is not currently receiving brigades from any other organization than Global Brigades, although they have received medical brigades from partner organization, Sociedad Amigos de los Niños (SAN) in the past. In 2010, FORCUENCAS has been working on projects with the Water Council in relation to forest and water shed protection. Accion contra la Hambre worked from 2000-2005 developing community organization, planting fruit trees, and building chicken coops. In 2005, PRODERCO funded an eco-stove project here, but the stoves did not last long and most are not used any longer.

Las Champas is a small community located near the regional highway. Though the highway allows for easy access to transportation, that does not have any implications for easy access to health care. The health center that serves Las Champas is located very high in mountains, and while it’s easier to take a bus to a different public health center in Ojo de Agua, patients from Las Champas are turned away because Ojo de Agua does not manage their patient records, health statistics, or distribution of medications.

         Total communities evaluated: 97