CHRIS:
Such a worthwhile experience! Very moving and unforgettable. I came away with a visceral understanding of the work that is done by the villages and Water1st’s Honduras partner COCEPRADIL, and the impact that Water1st has by leveraging donor dollars in its model.
I was especially impressed (again) with the thoughtfulness of the approach that Water1st takes to ensure the communities are invested in their own water systems and able to maintain them for the long term.
The pride that community members have in the work they have done was on display. The fact that it was their work and not simply an aid gift is critical to the success of the approach.
Little touches like reminding communities of the cash value of their labor contribution are genius. Hearing that you and your village contributed 1.6 million lempira ($65,000) – an inconceivable number for an individual and equal the aid value – would make anyone proud.
LYNN:
I love Water1st’s model of getting the local community’s written buy-in, labor commitment, and ongoing water management so the communities are the true owners of their own water system.
I was awed by the scale of the trenches that the community members dig, by hand, for miles over hilly terrain to lay the pipes to bring water to their homes. They do this as part of their commitment to and ownership of their own water system. You realize, by joining them for only a short while, how physically demanding the work is and how important it is for them to access clean water.
LYNN (continued):
We experienced the walk for water with the community of Las Marias. The women work so hard—getting up at 4 or 5am to go in search of water, in the dark, over rocky terrain, hoping to find water for their family. And they make that journey multiple times a day.
Carrying water was very challenging, insightful, and disheartening at the same time. The “cantaro” of water was so heavy I couldn’t carry even one full container, much less on my head, but the women we were walking with were eager to help me. It really illustrated the effort they make only to end up with dirty water for their families. The water projects funded by Water1st really are life-changing.
Kenya, June 10–18
Visit our newest project communities and learn about our groundbreaking work as the first organization to deliver piped water to homes and schools in rural Kenya.
