I served on the board of directors of El Porvenir for many years. I was very involved in El Porvenir's policy-making, fundraising, staffing, and planning. I visited Nicaragua every year and lived in Nicaragua for four years recently. I am very familiar with El Porvenir's history, development, and method of operation in Nicaragua, and feel proud of being part of this organization and its work. I have talked with the people of the villages, especially the women, about the changes in their lives brought about by the new well, the new gravity flow water system (the most dramatic changes), the new latrines, the new lavandero. I have seen and heard the pride and ownership the villagers feel in these projects, which they initiated, built, and continue to care for and use. El Porvenir meets a fundamental human need, supports the initiative and strengths of Nicaraguan people, hires Nicaraguans to carry out its work, and operates with minimal administrative expenditure.