Water filter distribution in Tagucigalpa, Honduras
Agua con Bendiciones mission is to provide clean water to those who lack it…especially families with young children. They specifically target women and empower them as family and community leaders, so they are able to provide clean and safe water for their family as well as their neighbors. The unique approach they take has been extremely successful in creating community acceptance of Sawyer’s pointONE Filters™.
How they do it
Each water project starts with a community meeting led by a representative from Agua con Bendiciones. At this meeting the importance of clean water and the expectations for the program are discussed. Next, women from the community are selected to participate. These women are grouped in “ministry circles” that consist of 10-15 people. The expectations of the ministry are as follows:
A ministry led by women. All women must expect to participate in a ministerial capacity: sharing the pure water, teaching clean water habits to their families and neighbors. The ministry will begin with a group of ten women. If it is successful during a six month trial period (all systems maintained and correctly used) then the program will be expanded, according to purchasing and training capacity. During the first 6 months, the systems are the property of the community. Personal ownership of the filtration is awarded based on successful participation, after a 6 month trial. One woman will be chosen as the group leader with the following responsibilities: 1. Motivator/Animator 2. Visit the systems and review their use. 3. Be available for concerns. 4. In concert with the community’s pastoral leadership, make decisions as to removal of systems if they are not being maintained.All participants must attend training. In special circumstances, they may be represented by their husband or a mature daughter/son. They must still meet at a later point with the trainer, to review and sign the contract.
How it's going
To date Agua con Bendiciones has trained over 60 women to use Sawyer pointONE Filters™ and these women have successfully been filtering water for their family members and their neighbors since February, 2009. The first group that was trained has already completed the 6 month trial and a special “graduation ceremony" was held for them. All ten were reported to be using the systems correctly, and to be generous in sharing the clean water with their neighbors. There was a high degree of excitement and celebration, especially when we declared these systems to now be the personal property of this first group of women. In fact, one woman who was in the first "circle" has already begun assisting with training other participants. This is a critical aspect of the program: that local women themselves become trainers, so the ministry is self-sustainable.
Agua con Bendiciones is partnering with multiple Catholic and United Methodist churches in the US to make this possible.