Small Actions That Can Generate Big Changes

Many times, we think about and yearn for the conditions that others have in their living environments and how they manage their resources. We admire how conscious they are of their role in improving the way of life at both family and community levels. We wonder, "Why isn’t the same done in our countries?" and "Why isn’t anyone doing the same in our community?" But how aware are we that we also have a part to play in the process?

It is important to know that every action we take, even if seemingly insignificant, can lead to major changes in the way others think or improve their quality of life.

Through the GEF CREW+ project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and jointly implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), actions have been carried out in both ethnically important communities in Honduras and in areas of growing tourism, generating a significant impact on the quality of life for hundreds of people.

With the help of the GEF CREW+ project, partners, and the Government of Honduras, the sanitary conditions of Indigenous communities in the Honduran Mosquitia region have been improved through the implementation of basic sanitation units in communities like WAMAKKLICINASTA and TRUKTSINASTA. These actions represent improvements in quality of life for families and residents, motivating them to gradually enhance their sanitary conditions, which impacts the reduction of diseases and minimizes medical expenses.

Similarly, a pilot plant for wastewater treatment is being implemented, which includes a sanitation network in the La Playa neighborhood of the municipality of Omoa, in the Cortés department, benefiting local residents and ensuring the safety of water for tourists visiting these areas. All of this represents small actions with significant impacts for the beneficiaries.

It is necessary to empower stakeholders and recognize that actions taken at the local level will gradually contribute to better health conditions and environmental preservation for everyone. It is crucial to understand that for changes to be lasting, the sustainability of those changes must be ensured over time.

Let us always remember that working together and making contributions, no matter how small, are valuable and can create a multiplying impact on others.

Are you willing to do your part to create lasting change?

Author: Victor Pineda. Chief of the Environmental and Food Microbiology Lab. Center for Contaminant Study and Control (CESCCO in Spanish)