Water, water everywhere, and not a drop unclean

Regina Kruglyak works with an organization in Honduras to help villagers build sustainable water systems but did not predict that one of her first obstacles would be teaching villagers to count.

Kruglyak, a 2005 UCLA alumnus and environmental engineer, and nine other Peace Corps volunteers are part of a nonprofit organization called Water and Sanitation Health, or WASH, whose main goal is to help communities obtain clean water.

“Clean water is the most valuable thing we can bring to any community,” Kruglyak said.

WASH strives to educate community members about maintaining the potable water systems and latrines it installs so the community can continue to have clean water long after Kruglyak and the other volunteers finish their two-year stays.

But Kruglyak said she has found that implementing these systems is not enough, because knowledge of basic skills such as counting and important topics, including hygiene, are lacking.

Having clean water does not prevent people from contracting diseases if they do not know the important of washing their hands and brushing their teeth, Kruglyak said.

Many children in Honduras do not go to school because they cannot afford the mandatory uniforms and shoes.

Those children who do go to school lack conceptual understanding because they are taught by memorization, Kruglyak said.

She teaches evening literacy classes for adults and children and assists a professor at the local university on a class about environmental awareness.

“People still have a great love for learning. They are wonderful students, extremely receptive. They are always excited to learn something new,” Kruglyak said.

Kruglyak became interested in sustainability at UCLA when she was involved in a club that focused on sustainable development. After graduating, she said she joined the Peace Corps to make a difference in an impoverished country.

“I really wanted to make an impact and do something meaningful for a community,” she said.

Eric Harrison, a 27-year-old chemical engineer, said he felt the same way. He started WASH in January 2006 before he joined the Peace Corps to facilitate the collection of donations and to allow volunteers easier access to funding for projects.

In the last four months, the organization has brought clean water to at least 10,000 people, Kruglyak said.

Harrison, who is also the acting project director, explained, “Many nonprofits do not give a lot of their money to local people. I wanted a way for money to go directly to the villagers and fund projects for their communities.”

Besides water projects, WASH also works on other projects based on a community’s interest. Volunteers are currently teaching midwives emergency birth preparation, developing a coffee bean processing center – a major crop in many villages – so villagers can sell their coffee for higher prices, and educating communities about nutrition, Harrison said.

Harrison credits the organization’s success to the hard work and diligence of the other volunteers, especially Kruglyak. When his work at the Peace Corps ends in April 2008, he will pass control of the organization to Kruglyak.

“Regina has been key in the growth of WASH. She not only does her part, but is the first to volunteer to help with other projects if needed,” Harrison said. “There is no one else who I think is more qualified.”

According to Brett Harrison, Eric’s brother and president of marketing for WASH, the organization is currently focusing only on projects in Honduras, but he added that he hopes in the next five years the organization will expand to other countries.

“We take so much for granted. I’m so lucky to come home from work and be able to have a clean glass of water. This organization is a great way for me to help others who are not so fortunate,” Harrison said.