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How a Project is Chosen Guide

All the communities have the same characteristics; they are each well organized, very poor and have a specific need that can be supported by the community itself. With the help of a Dominican Catholic organization any community can submit a proposal of need for the three areas which LIFO supports. Proposals are weighted in the following order; water, latrines and schools.

The need for clean water supply carries the greatest priority, children and women have the responsibility of getting water for their household while the men work the fields. Children are delegated the task of fetching water by their mothers, which is a constant activity of traveling to nearby rivers or creeks. Often these rivers or creeks are contaminated by animals or people who wash cloth and bathe in them. The need for clean drinking water is vital to the health and survival of a community, without it children can not even consider going to school.

The request for a project by a community must meet the following guidelines:

1. The community must be well organized, either a farmers association or a mothers club are good indicators.
   
2. The size of the community is important - the greater amount of people impacted the higher the priority for the project.
   
3. The community must be located or situated in an area where no help or aid will be available to them by any other means due to limited resources.
   
4. The community must show a strong commitment to the project themselves. It must be supported by the entire community in order to ensure it's long term success.
   
5. The community must be specific about the scope of the project's desired intent and purpose.