Funding required: $40,675
This project will help: 247 children and families
Estimated completion date: April 2027
Country: Colombia
Executive summary
In Magangué, Colombia, children and their families are at risk of contracting waterborne diseases. Most homes in this area have limited access to safe water, sinks and toilets. Sadly, without hygiene education, children are unaware of basic hygiene practices, including hand washing with soap and personal hygiene. Sanitation facilities at the local Compassion centre are inadequate. There are only two sanitation units at the church to serve adults and 247 children and youth, as well as church and centre staff and volunteers on Compassion days. The toilets are not separated by gender, leaving many girls feeling uncomfortable and unsafe using them, especially during menstruation. While the centre is connected to the water grid, there is no water available for toilet flushing and hand washing. The centre also lacks an adequate waste management system. The lack of hygiene education and hand washing stations at the centre has resulted in increased prevalence of infectious and parasitic diseases among the children. In the summer of 2025, medical checkups showed that beneficiaries suffered from cases of skin infections, diarrhea and stomach pain as a result of poor sanitation and hygiene conditions. Compassion beneficiaries in Magangué, Colombia, are living in unsanitary conditions at home and are currently in need of immediate support. Many children do not have sanitary latrines at home and practise open defecation. They also do not have the facilities to practise good hygiene habits such as hand washing with soap and personal care. Compassion’s church partner is working tirelessly to minister to children and families, but with 274 registered children to serve and limited resources, they need assistance to provide improved sanitation and hygiene facilities to help improve children’s health and well-being. Through this intervention, our local church partner in Magangué, Colombia, will provide 274 registered children and their families with improved sanitation and hand washing facilities. This intervention will construct gender-separated sanitation blocks , each with four toilets and hand washing stations and will provide access to safe water for good sanitation and hygiene practices. Centre staff will also provide beneficiaries and their parents with hygiene training to help improve children’s health and restore dignity so they can thrive.Background
Although the local government is making progress with expanding the sewage network and building wastewater treatment plants, many communities in Magangué lack access to adequate sanitation services and safe water. These conditions limit the ability of residents to adopt essential hygiene practices and they contribute to the spread of preventable diseases. Currently, Magangué lacks a reliable aqueduct and sewer system, forcing families to rely on rainwater, wells, ponds and water delivery trucks for water. Unfortunately, many households rely on septic tanks, latrines or open defecation due to limited water and sanitation infrastructure.The need
The families Compassion serves in Magangué, Colombia, live in poverty and struggle to provide for their families. Sadly, the community lacks vital infrastructure such as adequate access to treated water for consumption, bathing and sanitation. As a result, many families lack sanitation facilities, leaving most children to practise open defecation. Sadly, the situation at the local Compassion centre is not much better. The centre only has two latrines—which are in dilapidated condition—and no sinks for hand washing. Sadly, sanitation-related diseases and illnesses are prevalent among the 247 children and youth the centre serves. Compassion Colombia is committed to ensuring that children and families have access to safe water, adequate sanitation units and hygiene education. Your gift will equip our church partner in Magangué with the resources to install hand washing stations and two gender-separated sanitation blocks, providing a total of eight latrines. The new facilities will also provide access to safe water and hygiene supplies such as soap and toilet paper. Children and parents will attend educational sessions on hygiene and personal care to help them practise safe sanitation and hygiene at home. These new sanitation facilities will help meet the immediate needs of vulnerable families, creating sustainable change in the health, well-being and dignity of the children and youth. With improved sanitation and hygiene resources, the church partner hopes to see a sustained reduction in preventable diseases associated with poor sanitary conditions. Gender-separated washrooms aim to improve the comfort and safety of children and youth attending the centre, especially impacting girls. The church partner will form hygiene committees and will deliver ongoing educational sessions with caregivers to ensure the sustainability of the hygiene practices.What your gift will do
Your gift will provide improved sanitation and hygiene facilities at a Compassion centre in Magangué, Colombia, restoring dignity to 247 beneficiaries, including:- Construction of 8 sanitation units and hand washing stations, separated by gender
- Demolition of walls and base slab
- Reinforced concrete structure
- Masonry work (walls and plastering)
- Flooring and tiling
- Ceiling installation
- Concrete countertop
- Supply and installation of plumbing and bathroom accessories
- Wash basin and accessories
- Stainless steel stall doors
- Elevated water supply tank and pump
- Electrical installations
- Labour
- Education in hygiene practices for children, parents and the hygiene committee
- Design fees
- Professional fees
Logistics
- Local contribution: US$1,697.25
- Handling of funds: Compassion Colombia will work with centre leadership to ensure this intervention stays within budget.
- Monitoring and follow-up: A technical expert will provide technical supervision, and centre staff will source quality materials from reliable suppliers. Compassion staff and church leaders will monitor progress by carrying out periodic surveys for parents and children to ensure they are practising good hygiene habits. Staff will also keep records of absences due to health conditions and compile monthly reports on the number of waterborne diseases. A community hygiene committee will be formed to provide maintenance training and implement cleaning protocols.