A group of 10 volunteers from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham recently traveled to Nicaragua to work alongside families in the rural community of El Cebollín, supporting a sanitation project that is transforming daily life for local families.
During their visit, the volunteers partnered with community members and El Porvenir staff to help construct 26 of the 30 latrines planned for the project. Community members worked together to complete the remaining four, demonstrating the strong commitment and collaboration that make these projects successful.
The new latrines provide families with safe sanitation, improved hygiene, and greater privacy. For Yanira Ríos, a community leader in El Cebollín, the project represents the fulfillment of a long-held dream for many families: “We want to express our most sincere thanks for all your support and willingness to work,” she shared in a message to the volunteers. “Thanks to your help, the construction of our latrines became a reality. What was once only a dream is now real for our community.”
Yanira also reflected on the relationships formed during the week the group spent in the community. “It was a pleasure and an honor to receive you. Sharing that week together was a very beautiful experience that will remain in our hearts. We hope you will visit us again,” she said.
The experience also had a deep impact on the volunteers. As shared by the Rev. Jani Wild, “This was a life-changing, grace-filled, and humbling experience—working and learning across cultures and languages. I loved spending time with the community, laughing, sweating, physically working together, and celebrating our successes.”
Community members have also affirmed their commitment to care for and maintain the new latrines, ensuring that the benefits of the project will last. Volunteer trips like this reflect the heart of El Porvenir’s work: communities and volunteers working side by side to create practical solutions that improve health and strengthen local capacity.