Water filters to support self-sufficiency in remote communities

In rural areas of La Guajira in Colombia and San Juan Comalapa in Guatemala, many families rely on untreated water sourcesIn rural areas of La Guajira in Colombia and San Juan Comalapa in Guatemala, many families rely on untreated water sources. To address this challenge, the international NGO Water Access To All (WATA) designs and deploys clean drinking water programs based on household water filtration, hands-on training, and long-term technical follow-up.

A participatory model driven by local ambassadors

Since its founding in 2024, the organization has distinguished itself through its "WATA Ambassador Program," which recruits and trains local youth and community leaders. These ambassadors lead the equipment installations, conduct hygiene education workshops, and perform regular monitoring visits using a digital tracking application. They play a vital role in ensuring community ownership and the long-term sustainability of the systems for the users.

Targeted interventions in Colombia and Guatemala

The project backed by the fondation Veolia funds two major campaigns in 2026:

• In Colombia (La Guajira): The installation of 150 filtration systems benefiting 750 people in households and schools that currently lack adequate infrastructure. In parallel, water quality testing (specifically to detect E. coli bacteria) is conducted to raise local awareness about contamination risks.
• In Guatemala (San Juan Comalapa): The distribution of 200 filters in June, leveraging the Long Way Home school community—a partner organization that serves as a central hub to expand the network of autonomous ambassadors throughout the region.

Technical partnership and institutional integration

Beyond the financial grant, this project is integrated into a strong collaborative dynamic with local Veolia teams. On the occasion of an institutional fondation Veolia event hosted in Cartagena, a hands-on workshop is set up to allow the collaborative assembly of water filters and maximize the NGO's visibility. This operational synergy helps raise awareness among a broad network of water stakeholders and supports the large-scale rollout of this community-led health autonomy model.