Las Casillas, Talanga

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Engineering
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Las Casillas is a community in the municipality of Talanga. There are about 70 houses with a population of 300 people. Community members in Casillas experienced a lack of clean water, personal hygiene, sanitation infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Common colds, skin rashes, parasites, and diarrheal diseases are common. Few homes have concrete floors, properly functioning latrines, adequate water storage, or efficient stoves with chimneys. The closest health centre is in Talanga, which is about a 3-4 hour walk from Casillas. It is not consistently staffed nor stocked with an adequate supply of medicine. School is only offered until 9th grade in Casillas. 54 students attend school until 6th grade, and about 60% of the graduating class attend secondary school, which is about a 45-minute bicycle ride from Casillas.

Municipality: Talanga

Department: Francisco Morazán

Homes : 70
Population : 300
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Yes
Homes with Latrines : 15%
Education : Up to 9th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 1 hr 30 min

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Casillas currently does not have a health center. There are Community Health Workers present and they see patients once a month for check-ups. The most common health issues include diarrhoea, intestinal and respiratory issues, colds, and occasionally diabetes. If medication is not readily available, the CHWs must travel to the clinic in Talanga for more medical supplies. The government used to send doctors and/or nurses to the community every month for health check-ups, but lack of funds has discontinued these routine visits.

409

Volunteers

5943

Patient Consultations

596

Vision Screenings Provided

175

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS:

Las Casillas has a total of 7 Community Health Workers who were trained in June of 2017. Casillas was the centralized location, but the CHWs included volunteers from 5 smaller communities, in order to serve community members in all 6. The CHWs help relieve some of the patient load for the staff in the health center.  During their trainings, community members have learned how to treat common illnesses as well as about other health topics such as first aid, caring for pregnancies, and first response in emergency situations.

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical Brigades use both the community center and the local school as their brigade site. The school has 3 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 4-5 educational charlas a day.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 450
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: ZARZALOSA

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN LAS CASILLAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Texas Austin Medical Brigade August 2014 24 New York Medical College Medical Brigade April 2015 22
Explore Medical Medical Brigade & Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Brigade December 2015 44 University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa Medical Brigade & University of Birmingham Medical Brigade May 2016 26
DePaul University Medical Medical Brigade December 2016 30 State University of New York Stony Brook Medical Brigade May 2018 32
Virginia Tech University Medical Brigade January 2019 34 Dalhousie University Medical Brigade May 2019 36
Vanderbilt University Medical Brigade May 2019 36 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade June 2022 19
St. George’s International Medical School Brigade December 2022 11 Eli Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad October 2023 15
Eli Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad November 2024 15

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

DENTAL CARE ACCESS:

In working closely with the Medical program, the Dental program provides fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments as a standard part of Medical Brigades. Most community members do not have regular access to dental care due to the lack of dentists within a reasonable distance.

930

Patient Consultations

746

Number of Extractions

357

Fillings Performed

119

Dental Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical and Dental brigades use both the community center and the local school as their brigade site. The school has 3 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 4-5 educational charlas a day.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 450
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: ZARZALOSA

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LAS CASILLAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Texas Austin Medical Brigade August 2014 24 New York Medical College Medical Brigade April 2015 22
Explore Medical Medical Brigade & Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Brigade December 2015 44 University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa Medical Brigade & University of Birmingham Medical Brigade May 2016 26
DePaul University Medical Medical Brigade December 2016 30 State University of New York Stony Brook Medical Brigade May 2018 32
Virginia Tech University Medical Brigade January 2019 34 Dalhousie University Medical Brigade May 2019 36
Vanderbilt University Medical Brigade May 2019 36 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade June 2022 19
St. George’s International Medical School Brigade December 2022 11 Eli Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad October 2023 15
Eli Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad November 2024 15

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

LAS CASILLAS’ ENGINEERING CHALLENGE:

When Global Brigades arrived in the community of Las Casillas, it did not have a water system that met the needs of the population. The system that previously supplied water to the community stopped working in 2011 due to a partial collapse. This was due in part to the drying up of the well from which water was pumped to a 15,000-gallon tank. After that, the community wasn’t able to find another water source or a way to finance a new water system. As a result, they were forced to carry water daily from a river a few kilometers away. The water carried from the river was used for consumption and other household uses. However, because it was untreated it increased the risk of gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, and parasites.

NA

Volunteers

279

Beneficiaries

5.2

Kilometers of Pipeline Designed

NA

Average Community Volunteers

LAS CASILLAS’ ENGINEERING SOLUTION:

On July 28, 2015, Global Water Brigades signed a construction agreement with the Community of Las Casillas and the Municipal Government of Talanga. A new gravity-based water system was constructed, which is supplied by a natural water source located 5.2 kilometers from the community. Volunteers and community members collaborated to:

– Build a small dam at the water source
– Install a filter to prevent sand and sediment from entering the water system.
– Install 5,200 meters of piping from the dam to storage tank
– Construct a new 5,000-gallon storage tank funded by the local government
– Connect approximately 70 houses to the system
– Provide education seminars to children in the community on water and health-related topics.

To ensure the sustainability of the project, a Water Council and Basic Sanitation Committee were established and trained by Global Brigades staff.

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

LAS CASILLAS’ WATER CHALLENGE:

When Global Brigades arrived in the community of Las Casillas, it did not have a water system that met the needs of the population. The system that previously supplied water to the community stopped working in 2011 due to a partial collapse. This was due in part to the drying up of the well from which water was pumped to a 15,000-gallon tank. After that, the community wasn’t able to find another water source or a way to finance a new water system. As a result, they were forced to carry water daily from a river a few kilometers away. The water carried from the river was used for consumption and other household uses. However, because it was untreated it increased the risk of gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, and parasites.

67

Volunteers

480

Project Beneficiaries

5.2

Kilometers of Piping Installed

20,000

Storage Tank Volume (gallons)

LAS CASILLAS’ WATER SOLUTION:

On July 28, 2015, Global Water Brigades signed a construction agreement with the Community of Las Casillas and the Municipal Government of Talanga. A new gravity-based water system was constructed, which is supplied by a natural water source located 5.2 kilometers from the community. Volunteers and community members collaborated to:

– Build a small dam at the water source
– Install a filter to prevent sand and sediment from entering the water system.
– Install 5,200 meters of piping from the dam to storage tank
– Construct a new 5,000-gallon storage tank funded by the local government
– Connect approximately 70 houses to the system
– Provide education seminars to children in the community on water and health-related topics.

To ensure the sustainability of the project, a Water Council and Basic Sanitation Committee were established and trained by Global Brigades staff.

WATER VOLUNTEERS IN LAS CASILLAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
California State Polytechnic University Pomona Water Brigade & Imperial College London Water Brigade & London School of Economics Water Brigade September 2015 30
Tulane University Water Brigade March 2016 13
University of California San Diego Public Health Brigade 2016 24

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

LAS CASILLAS’ ECONOMIC CHALLENGE:

Agriculture, specifically cultivating corn and beans, is the main source of income in Las Casillas. The income in the community is not fixed as it is dependent on agriculture yield and its weather patterns. Not only do community members grow their own crops, but many men and women work as day laborers on nearby farms.

148

Volunteers

270

Loans Disbursed

25

Savings Accounts Opened

$10,300

Capital Invested

LAS CASILLAS’ MICRO-FINANCE SOLUTION:

In 2016, Global Brigades helped Las Casillas to establish their community bank. The bank has 15 female and 6 male shareholder, and the members meet in the bank’s own every month. They are able to offer loans and savings accounts to community members, so that families can plan and stabilize their finances. This is especially beneficial for farmers so that they can take out loans before planting season and pay them back after the harvest. Loans allow many subsistence farmers to now sell crops and not just use them for consumption.

LAS CASILLAS’ BUSINESS SOLUTION:

Las Casillas is in the process of establishing a new micro-enterprise in their community. Various Business Brigades have partnered with Las Casillas to identify new business. This business would be able to raise chicken that would allow them to sell quality fresh eggs and fresh poultry to community.

BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS IN LAS CASILLAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
London School of Economics Business Brigade 2016 N/A University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Business Brigade May 2016 17
University of Southern California Business Brigade January 2017 20 Johns Hopkins University Graduate School Business Brigade January 2017 7
Pennsylvania State University Business Brigade March 2017 11 University of California San Diego Business Brigade March 2017 15
University Pittsburgh Business Brigade & Rice University Business Brigade May 2017 14 University of Missouri Business Brigade January 2020 11
Lindbergh High School January 2024 13 Cupertino High School February 2024 7
California State University Monterey Bay May 2024 5 11

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

LAS CASILLAS’ PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE:

Most of the houses have dirt floors and open stoves, leading to foot infections and respiratory issues. Only about 18% of the homes have concrete floors. Most houses also do not have latrines. Many community members in Las Casillas lack the resources needed to improve their homes and prevent diseases caused by unsafe living conditions. 

30

Volunteers

5

Eco-stoves Constructed

NA

Latrines Constructed

5

Water Filters Installed

LAS CASILLAS’ PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTION:

So far, only one Public Health Brigade has arrived to Las Casillas to start implementation of the infrastructure projects. Volunteers and staff members will continue to work with community members to encourage the adoption of the public health products, increase cultural sensitivity and awareness by working side-by-side with qualified masons and project beneficiaries, build eco-stoves and latrines, deliver water filters, and conduct educational workshops emphasizing the importance of sanitation and hygiene in the local primary school. Each project will be sold at full cost with a loan offered by the community bank in Las Casillas. This was a great way for community members to invest in the health of their own family and to encourage their use and trust of the newly established bank.

PUBLIC HEALTH VOLUNTEERS IN LAS CASILLAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
DePaul University Medical Brigade December 2016 30

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature

The Largest Movement for Global Health and Holistic Development

“Global Brigades” refers to one or more Global Brigades entities, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity; “Global Brigades, Inc.,” “Global Brigades Health and Development,” “Global Brigades UK,” “GBO Ghana,” “Asociacion Global Brigadas de Honduras,” and “Fundacion Brigadas Globales de Panama”. Global Brigades Health and Development (“Global Brigades Canada”) is a federally registered Canadian charity independent from Global Brigades Inc.

Guidestar 2021