Originally founded in 1983 by the Honduran Mennonite Evangelical Church, CASM (or "the Commission") began its work focusing on development issues at the community level. Following Hurricane Mitch in 1988, CASM shifted its focus to relief work for the more than twenty thousand families affected by that disaster. In 2001, CASM returned to its original focus of development work. Currently, CASM works in eleven municipalities in six departments of Honduras. Their programs strive to strengthen the governments and economies in the areas in which they work.

Global Ministries has been asked to help fund the construction of a water system in the community of Chorrerón, Choloma, Cortes. This mountain community is made up of approximately 296 citizens divided into 37 households. Chorrerón is often accessible only by foot or horseback. Some households access water from a gravity-based piped system. For others, women and children must collect water in plastic or aluminum containers for household use. This water collection and storage method leads to headaches, backaches, physical exhaustion, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems -- especially among the women and children responsible for collecting and transporting water for their families. This in turn affects both school performance in children and the family economy as a whole.

CASM has been working in Chorrerón for more than six years, beginning with a post-hurricane reconstruction project. The Commission operates out of its own building where eight technicians coordinate the extensive programming it conducts in the region (examples include HIV/AIDS prevention, business development, education, and support for women).

Among the most notable activities in the community is CASM’s establishment of an agroforestry project. Using conservation techniques, the Commission has worked with members of the community to cultivate fruit-bearing, energy-producing, and timber-yielding plants. These orchards and fields are organically managed (reducing or eliminating the need for chemicals). The plantings also protect against the extensive erosion suffered by this area following Hurricane Mitch, and improve the water quality in the area.

The proposed water project seeks to install a rural aqueduct system to facilitate the access of water to this community. The project will be monitored by CASM every three months to ensure that goals and objectives of the project are being met. The project goals are to:

• Diminish the illnesses suffered by members of the community as a result of their insufficient water collection and storage situation;
• Organize the community for cooperative administration and maintenance of the project; and
• Improve the quality of life for this community through the installation of a common water system.

The community committee organized by CASM to oversee the administration and maintenance of the aqueduct system will be responsible for implementing a just and reasonable water quota for each family. Monthly funds will be collected from each household for maintenance purposes. Furthermore, each family will be required to plant trees on their property to help protect and ensure the safety of the community water supply.