Having access to safe water and covering basic needs was not a simple task for the residents of Wayúu. During 2017, we worked to bring this resources to their homes.

The lack of water was not only due to economic conditions of the region where 83% of the population lives below the poverty line. The geographic conditions act as obstacles because communities like Kasichi or La Parcela are far away from each other therefore hamper the construction of the distribution network.

With Fundación Aguayuda, we built a universal model that will enable 525 people to have access to safe water. It will diminish time in terms of its quest and its collection. The high level of participation of the communities was an essential element because the ownership of the project will guarantee its own sustainability.

This is not the first time we work in the region. Between 2013 and 2015, we impacted the communities La Parcela and Wayumana’ana due to the drilling of a well during the first phase of Water Links (Lazos de Agua).

The Valle de Bravo-Amanalco watershed supplies over 2 million people in the metropolitan zone of Mexico City everday. Nonetheless, in cuenca arriba where Teresa Estrada and more than three thousand families live lack access to this resource.

Walking long hours to collect water is a common task for Teresa and her neighbors. Additionally, having access to sanitation and hygiene seemed impossible due to geographic conditions.

Since 2008, we’ve worked to improve the quality of water in the region with the installment of green technologies. In 2017, we installed rain harvest to store water for months of drought. Moreover, we built bathrooms to avoid open defecation (it’s a factor that plays a key role in the pollution of water sources).

When the inhabitants of the community (like Teresa) get involved, they not only develop new capacities to keep the infrastructure working, but they feel empowered and compelled to apply them in other aspects and take charge of their development.

In March we launched the second phase of Lazos de Agua (Water Links) We started with the construction of water access infrastructure in Guatemala, Mexico, rural areas of Nicaragua and Paraguay. In 2018, we will carry out the project in Colombia and urban areas of Nicaragua.

In order to achieve sustainable interventions, the inhabitants must take ownership of them. We will focus on catalyzing behavioral changes through the use of local customs and traditions so they can modify their habits, improve their relationship with water, promote hygiene practices and empower themselves to take charge of their development.