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ABOUT US Mission To empower economic development through the fundamentals of Water and Sanitation- pure drinking water and sanitary hygiene -in homes, schools, communities. Vision We envision people in remote locations educated, empowered, and inspired to be their own agents for change. OUR CREW "The products are simple, scaleable, and sustainable ; tippy tap home hand-wash stations; Tippy Taps large scale hand-wash stations for schools and public places, and water filtration for home, community and school. The service is continuing education for behavioral change. Visitors are impressed by holistic change in communities where Los Buenos Vecinos does its work. Following a program of teaching the teachers, training the trainers, tracking outcomes, and providing continuing education curriculum for the local WASH CHAMPIONS, change is observable and measurable. - Dave Renfrow, Co-founder, Director of support Organization Buenos Vecinos (USA) Only 17 miles for World Heritiage Site, Antigua, but a world apart is San Andres Itzapa, Chimeltenango, Guteamala. Here workhorses outnumber pickup trucks. Employment for the predominantly Kaqchikel Mayan people is primarily farm work, campesinos, in fields owned by others. Average income in the region is $4.50 per family per day. Contaminated water results in diarrhea which causes malnutrition, and the highest rate of physical and cognitive stunting in the world. Low school attendance is directly related to impure water. Over 80% of the people who migrate come from areas lacking in adequate Water and Sanitation infrastructure and education. Isai Lopez, 16 Production Workshop Manager Isai, “Chino”, is a veteran of the workshop and now workshop manager. In addition to metals, welding, painting, assembling, over the past two years, he enjoys opportunities to assist with teaching WASH in the communities. “I feel satisfied in support of The Good Neighbors Organization because I love to support communities. I see myself growing in knowledge to help the people, through the organization.” Virginia Alverez Martinez 25 Edu cational Workshop Facilitator Virginia is highly organized, steadfastly pleasant professional. Her primary work is Educational Workshop Facilitator for WASH Education. Virginia has been involved with and led workshops at over 100 schools, 12 communities. She looks forward to completing her full WASH certification in 2023. “I see noticeable changes in habits in the communities after each program we teach” she states. Her vision is to perfect the Los Buenos Vecinos model to make it exportable to “empower communities worldwide”. Elmer Arriaga 50 Co-founder and director Los Buenos Vecinos Guatemala Elmer is the powerful heartbeat of Organization Los Buenos Vecinos. His 22 years in the construction trades brought him journeyman level skills in every facet of building construction from concrete to electrical and carpentry, plumbing. But above all, Elmer is a highly inspirational visionary. “This work [helping my people] is what I want to do with my life.” Pamela Arriaga Sequinajay, 19 P amela charms. Kindness with intelligence is her uplifting way. She and her teammates have led scores of WASH Education workshops. She is an agent for change. Her accounting education and general tech knowledge makes her a valuable office manager. Water and Sanitation and Community Health are Pamela’s professional degree goal. Eduardo, Edy, Arriaga 24 Edy holds an undergraduate certificate in law, and bachelor’s degree in medicine. He charms computers and people with equal ease. Dave R enfrow 71 Co-Founder of Los Buenos Vecinos and director of Los Buenos Vecinos USA. About 10 years ago, on a long bike ride, Dave found Guatemala, and much of Latin America, and came back to Guatemala. Again and again. For 10 years Dave has returned and found hard-fought fulfillment in the work of Los Buenos Vecinos. With a background in construction, passion for service, love of people and adventure, Guatemala is a perfect fit. “The needs here are enormous, but the solutions, given thought and study, can be simple. I found an ideal partner in Elmer, and scores of co-workers, eager to be effective, and the 120 year-old knowledge and discipline of Rotary International.” “If we can look beyond the symptoms at the border, we can find the causes and the mitigations for migration” Denise LaFountaine In 1991-1992, Denise LaFountaine began a life of service in the Mayan communities in and around Merida, Mexico. Soon, young Denise was invited to run a house for special needs Guatemalan Refugee children in Campeche, Mx at the Quetzal Edzna Refugee camp in 1993-1994. She has worked over twenty years in adult literacy at Renton Technical College and enjoys travel, biking, dancing, writing, reading and gathering with friends and family in her free time. In 2020 Denise rode the Continental Divide trail from Canada to Mexico, as a fundraiser for school Tippy Taps. In March 2023 Denise returns to revisit old friends and new in Mexico and Guatemala and will be once again, a valuable part of service, at the first Fire For Water Challenge projects. Julia Azurdia "In memory of a dear & gentle friend, and good neighbor" Julia was our meticulous book keeper, and dedicated WASH teacher, translator to Kaqchikel language, a highly respected citizen of San Andres Itzapa. Julia died of covid in June of 2021 LO QUE DICEN LOS PROFESIONALES EN EL CAMPO SOBRE NUESTRO MODELO "El proyecto puntea las i y cruza las t. Ahora, para estar seguros de que esto no va a arreglar todo... estas comunidades tienen grandes problemas con la cantidad de agua y, a largo plazo, necesitamos arreglar eso. Pero, les diré ahora mismo , la primera orden del día es cuidar la calidad del agua, ya sabes, controlar las enfermedades transmitidas por el agua, y luego podemos preocuparnos por las otras cosas más adelante". ​ - Brian Neff, Ph.D. Hidrólogo

CASERO TIPPY TAP Proporcionar un tippy tap domiciliario para una familia + entrega, instalación y WASH (Wash And Sanitation Health) entrenamiento y plan de estudios $20 PAQUETE DE SANEAMIENTO DEL HOGAR Proporcionar un grifo casero y una unidad de filtración de agua para una familia + entrega, instalación y WASH (Wash And Sanitation Health) entrenamiento y plan de estudios $150 ESCUELA TIPPY TAP Proporcionar un tippy tap escolar a una comunidad + entrega, instalación y WASH (Agua y Saneamiento Salud) entrenamiento y plan de estudios $250 PAQUETE DE SANEAMIENTO DEL HOGAR Proporcionar un grifo casero y una unidad de filtración de agua para una familia + entrega, instalación y WASH (Wash And Sanitation Health) entrenamiento y plan de estudios $150 Donate today for clean water clean hands and local empowerment for Guatemala. ​ Support group Organization Buenos Vecinos USA is a 501.c.3 non-profit-EIN 87-1186898 website: losbuenosvecinos.com email:USA buenosv ecinosusa @gmail.com GT info@buenosvecinos.comphone : USA 406.250.9882 GT 502.5977.2301

BIENVENIDOS BUENOS VECINOS LOS BUENOS VECINOS DE SAN ANDRÉS ITZAPA Se estima que 3 mil millones de personas en todo el mundo carecen de la capacidad de lavarse las manos de manera segura en casa; el principal elemento esencial para la prevención de enfermedades. Casi 2 mil millones carecen de acceso a agua potable segura. La pandemia mundial solo ha magnificado la urgencia de estos problemas fundamentales. ​ En marzo de 2020, nuestro pequeño grupo de amigos en las tierras altas de Guatemala se puso a buscar soluciones a los problemas de saneamiento y prevención de enfermedades entre nuestros vecinos. Se inició Los Buenos Vecinos - Los Buenos Vecinos. ​ La misión de Los Buenos Vecinos es simple; prácticas de agua limpia y saneamiento en los hogares. Nuestro enfoque es proporcionar estaciones de lavado de manos y sistemas de filtración de agua. Implementamos sistemas de filtración de agua con bioarena fáciles de usar, así como estaciones simples de "tippy tap" para lavarse las manos. A la fecha se han logrado 650 tippy taps domiciliarios, 120 tippy taps escolares, 170 filtros bioarena domiciliarios, 3 filtros comunitarios bioarena y capacitaciones en lavado de manos a 500 personas. Todavía hay muchas más comunidades a las que servir; y tenemos la pasión y el compromiso de continuar. Continúe buscando en nuestro sitio si desea asociarse, ser voluntario en el terreno, recaudar fondos para nuestra causa o donar a los esfuerzos continuos de Los Buenos Vecinos. ​ Aprende más Los Buenos Vecinos-The Good Neighbors Agents for Change in Guatemala The most fundamental element of economic development worldwide is access to WATER and SANITATION Mission To empower economic development through the fundamentals of Water and Sanitation- pure drinking water and sanitary hygiene -in homes, schools, communities. Vision We see people in remote locations inspired and empowered and inspired to be their own agents for change. The Needs Are Great More than 60% of the Guatemala population lacks access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.​ 74% 0f rural children are stunted physically, and the cognitively-the highest rate in the world Children with chronic diarrhea drop out of school: the average education is 3 years. Those who drop out become trapped in poverty and are prone to migrate. More than 9,000 schools lack adequate sanitation facilities. With a population 38% under 16 years the urgency to find low cost solutions is great. Our Results are Dramatic The Los Buenos Vecinos model costs less than $100 per family The results of Los Buenos Vecinos's approach is up to 85% disease reduction. FILTRO MAYA Los Buenos Vecinos Produces easy-to-use biosand water filtration systems as well as simple “tippy tap” handwashing fixtures. To date, 1200 home tippy taps, 120 school tippy taps, 16 Health Clinic tippy taps, 455 hom e biosand filters, 14 community biosand filters and training in hand washing for 2000 people have been achieved. There are still many more communities to serve; and Los Buenos Vecinos have the passion and commitment to continue. Please continue to browse our site if you would like to become a partner, volunteer on the ground, raise money for our cause, or donate to the ongoing efforts of Los Buenos Vecinos. PROJECTS IN EXECUTION The products: View More Explore our location in stunning detail with Google Earth Explore our location in stunning detail with Google Earth! With just a click, you can zoom in on our address and get a bird's eye view of our neighborhood. See the streets, buildings, and landmarks that surround us and get a better understanding of our location. You can even use Google Earth's 3D feature to explore our location from every angle. Check it out and discover our place in the world!" ​ Explore Our Locations