Hens Hatching Hope & It Takes Two

I just returned from a trip to Honduras. Everyone in Honduras knows that umbrellas can protect you from the rain and from the sun. I was visiting our Nutrition and Clean Drinking Water project, and met the little girl in the photo above -- Iris. At 2 years of age, Iris knows that an umbrella will protect her from the sun.

But, what is going to protect her from contaminated drinking water? Fortunately, Iris' mother is enrolled in Shoulder to Shoulder's "Hens Hatching Hope and It Takes Two" program. 

Hens Hatching Hope:   If Iris' mother brings her to the health center each month, they receive a coupon for 30 free eggs.  (Locally raised eggs by local women-run hen farms.)  

It Takes Two:  Iris' mother had a training to teach her that 2 drops of bleach, in one liter of water, sanitizes the water and makes it safe to drink.  Through the project, she received a dropper and a 25 liter plastic container to store the clean drinking water. The container has a tap on it, so anyone in the family can easily turn the tap to dispense the clean drinking water.

Contaminated water is a BIG problem.  When we first faced it and tried to figure out what to do, every solution we came up with either was not feasible, was too expensive, or was too complicated.  Dr. Ana Palacios worked with her colleagues at Georgia Southern University, and helped Shoulder to Shoulder to design the "It Takes Two" project.  A simple enough solution, with a reasonable price tag.  We are greatly appreciative of the help of Dr. Palacios and her colleagues. 

And, as always, we thank YOU -- our donors, for investing in this project.  We couldn't do it without your generous donations!

Shoulder to Shoulder's Nutrition project continues to educate families about the hazards of drinking unclean water -- especially for families with children under age 5.  These little ones are especially susceptible to stomach ailments due to impure water.

In the photo above, you can see Sandra (on left) and Gisela (on right) providing education to a group of mothers.  They are being taught that they can purify their drinking water by using bleach.  It is very important that they learn the formula -- 2 drops of bleach per liter of water.  Wait for 30 minutes, and the water is safe to drink. 

To ensure that they remember this formula, each family is given a laminated paper that contains the formula. Each family also receives a bucket with a lid and a tap (the clean water is dispensed via the tap), as well as a small plastic dropper (so that they can count the number of drops of bleach they are putting into the water).  

The project would not be a success if not for the hard work of the Community Health Workers.  Gisela and Sandra provide education to Health Promoters, as well as the buckets, droppers, and laminated education sheets.  Then, the Community Health workers teach the families.  In the photo, you can see the Community Health worker in the center, holding up the instruction sheet.  Sandra is holding one of the buckets that will be given to each family to in which they can store the purified water.  

Four hundred (400) families received their bucket, dropper, and education in the fall of 2025.  Five hundred (500) more families will enter the project in the spring of 2026.

We thank all of our donors who have been sending us donations so we can purchase the buckets and droppers!