**The Veoliaforce volunteer** is a Veolia employee made available to the Foundation to share their skills with a partner organization. Read stories from several of them: #### Pagination - [ Current page1](?page=0 "Current page") - [ Page2](?page=1 "Go to page 2") - [ Page3](?page=2 "Go to page 3") - [ Page4](?page=3 "Go to page 4") - [ Page5](?page=4 "Go to page 5") - [ Last page 5 ](?page=4 "Go to last page") ![Angela Currie](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/07/Angela%20Currie.jpg.webp?itok=bZlVOKg2)Angela Currie #### Angela Currie: "We crossed the border on foot. It felt almost like a scene from a movie!" Angela Currie: "We crossed the border on foot. It felt almost like a scene from a movie!" [](#) ![Training in a Veoliaforce mission, Ukraine, with Julien de Sousa and Angela Currie, 2026](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/07/2026%2006%20Mission%20Veoliaforce%2C%20Ukraine%2C%20Julien%20de%20Sousa%2C%20Angela%20Currie%20%281%29.JPG.webp?itok=qL5CmNlA) Angela Currie and Julien de Sousa traveled to a country at war for a Veoliaforce mission focused on drinking water production. In Mykolaïv, Ukraine, they trained Ukrainian water technicians to deploy Aquaforces—the Veolia Foundation’s mobile water treatment units. [Read Angela Currie's story](/en/news/first-night-you-dont-sleep-much-and-then-you-get-used-it) ![Julien de Sousa](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/07/Julien%20de%20Sousa.jpg.webp?itok=CnHzJixc)Julien de Sousa #### Julien de Sousa: « The first night, you don't sleep much. And then you get used to it. » Julien de Sousa: « The first night, you don't sleep much. And then you get used to it. » [](#) ![Training in a Veoliaforce mission, Ukraine, with Julien de Sousa and Angela Currie, 2026](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/07/2026%2006%20Mission%20Veoliaforce%2C%20Ukraine%2C%20Julien%20de%20Sousa%2C%20Angela%20Currie%20%282%29.JPG.webp?itok=hzlOKS7a) Julien de Sousa and Angela Currie traveled to a country at war for a Veoliaforce mission focused on drinking water production. In Mykolaïv, Ukraine, they trained Ukrainian water technicians to deploy Aquaforces—the Veolia Foundation’s mobile water treatment units. [Read Julien de Sousas's story](/en/news/first-night-you-dont-sleep-much-and-then-you-get-used-it) ![Muriel Schuller](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/09/Muriel%20Schuller.png.webp?itok=zJpwhYtc)Muriel Schuller #### Muriel Schuller: “A human, physical, and psychological challenge.” Muriel Schuller: “A human, physical, and psychological challenge.” [](#) ![Muriel Schuller tasted the distributed water.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/02/Aquaforce%205000%20deployed%20in%20Sud%20Sudan%20-%20We%20tasted%20the%20distributed%20water-2.png.webp?itok=xGuPwgbt) Research Engineer in Marseille and Veoliaforce volunteer with the Veolia Foundation, Muriel Schuller embarked on a mission to South Sudan. > I have been a volunteer with the Veolia Foundation since 2023, following a training course on Aquaforce units—the Foundation’s mobile water treatment systems. The Veolia Foundation operates across three major areas: environmental protection and biodiversity, social cohesion and pathways to employment, as well as emergency humanitarian relief and development aid. As part of its emergency humanitarian initiatives, the Foundation mobilizes volunteers to provide technical support for the operations of partner organizations (NGOs). When equipment is deployed—such as "Aquaforce" water treatment units—volunteers are dispatched to assist with setup, commissioning, and operator training. It was within this framework that last December, the Foundation called upon me for a mission to South Sudan, working alongside the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency. After three weeks of preparation (safety and security training, vaccinations, visas, clearances, etc.), I met four other Veolia colleagues (from the United States, Australia, and France) at Charles de Gaulle Airport to board our flight to South Sudan via Ethiopia. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 and has been enduring a major humanitarian crisis for over a decade. Political instability and clashes between government forces and armed groups are the primary causes. ![Mission Veoliaforce, Soudan du Sud, décembre 2025](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/default/public/image/2026/03/Aquaforce%205000%20deployed%20in%20Sud%20Sudan%20-%20End%20mission%20photo.png.webp?itok=2_RKCdZS) The mission's objective was to deploy Aquaforces across two sites and train NGO teams on how to operate them: - **Three team members** headed to Bentiu with an Aquaforce 15,000, capable of supplying 15,000 people per day in line with humanitarian standards. - **Two of us** were deployed to Malakal with an Aquaforce 7,500, capable of supplying drinking water to 7,500 people per day. Malakal is a major city in the northern part of the country that appears largely abandoned. A secure zone under military supervision by the United Nations provides humanitarian assistance to the local population. This area, spanning less than one square kilometer, is known as a Protection of Civilians (POC) site and houses approximately 45,000 adults and children receiving healthcare, clean water, and food. The UN agency responsible for this mission aimed to relieve overcrowding in the POC site by setting up clean water access points in other parts of the city. We had two and a half weeks on-site to accomplish the mission. We began by surveying the installation site next to the Nile River, clearing the land, and leveling the ground. This was followed by five days of equipment installation and commissioning. Once the unit was operational, we produced between 30 and 60 cubic meters of drinking water per day. This water was then collected by a tractor-trailer tanker that supplied the airport as well as a camp located two kilometers from the site. Finally, we trained two local operators dedicated to running the unit after our departure. The Aquaforce 7,500 consists of a pumping system drawing directly from the Nile, a pre-filter, an ultrafiltration module, an activated carbon filter, and final chlorine disinfection. The clean water produced is stored in two flexible bladders: one is emptied by the tanker truck, while the other feeds distribution tap stands. While our mission was complete, work on the ground does not stop there; it is part of a long-term sustainability approach. Plans were set for January and February to install solar panels, eliminating reliance on the gasoline generator, whose fuel supply is both difficult and costly to obtain. In March, an underground pipe will be installed to feed the camp directly, ending reliance on the tanker truck. From a personal standpoint, this first mission with the Veolia Foundation was a true discovery of the humanitarian sector, which can be summarized in three distinct challenges: a human challenge, a physical challenge, and a psychological challenge. ![Adam Testagrossa](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/09/Adam%20Testagrossa_0.png.webp?itok=48oDFWPY)Adam Testagrossa #### Adam Testagrossa: “With IOM staff, we strengthened water access in a place where every drop counts." Adam Testagrossa: “With IOM staff, we strengthened water access in a place where every drop counts." [](#) ![Veoliaforce South Sudan Mission, 2025, IOM, Bentiu](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/02/Bentiu-3.jpg.webp?itok=-EtKSr-F) Rhode Island Operations Supervisor Adam Testagrossa Helps Bring Water Security to South Sudan Refugees > This deployment highlighted the value of teamwork between Veolia experts and IOM staff. **In April 2026, Adam Testagrossa, a Veolia Operations Supervisor based in Rhode Island, took a trip from the New England Region to assist with the installation of a filtration system at a refugee village in South Sudan.** “The first morning in South Sudan was unlike any I had experienced. The scorching sun beat down on the busy streets, and I felt completely out of my element,” said Testagrossa. “Stepping out of the vehicle, I was immediately met by the local staff, their warm smiles and friendly greetings instantly memorable. Before we even touched the equipment, I realized that this mission would be shaped as much by the people beside me as by the technology we were installing.” After a training course at Veolia’s Haworth, New Jersey location, Adam learned how to install and operate a Aquaforce 7500 ultrafiltration unit, which uses a prefilter, ultrafiltration membrane, a granular activated carbon filter and sodium hypochlorite. Once selected for the mission, he flew to Paris and met his French colleagues before traveling together to South Sudan. The team split up to cover two sites supported by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM – UN Migration) to improve water access for the displaced residents of those respective communities. “Water access in South Sudan is challenging”, said Testagrossa. “Supplies of chemicals for traditional water treatment, such as aluminum sulfate, are limited and expensive. The ultrafiltration units filter water without the need for these costly chemicals, allowing us to provide safe water reliably.” Adam’s work in the village of Bentiu resulted in a filtration unit producing around 14,000 gallons a day. The Veolia Foundation team trained local staff to manage water more efficiently by integrating an improved solar panel system with batteries for storage. “One of the most memorable parts of the trip was working alongside the IOM and local staff. As we progressed through installation and setup, we spent our days troubleshooting equipment, adjusting operating parameters, and collaborating closely to ensure reliable water production,” said Testagrossa. Adam took a lot away from his Veolia Foundation mission, and went back in South Sudan for 3 weeks to install new Aquaforce 2000 units in the country for displaced populations. “This deployment highlighted the value of teamwork between Veolia experts and IOM staff. Together, we strengthened water access in a place where every drop counts,” he said. “The experience reinforced how technical preparation, collaboration, and simple human kindness can make a real difference in communities facing hardship.” ![Raphaël Laplane](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/04/Rapha%C3%ABl%20Laplane.png.webp?itok=CEYnfKf_)Raphaël Laplane #### Raphaël Laplane: « I wanted to get involved, but I wasn't sure I could be useful. » Raphaël Laplane: « I wanted to get involved, but I wasn't sure I could be useful. » [](#) ![2026 03 Bangladesh, Raphaël Laplane avec MSF](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/04/Premi%C3%A8re%20r%C3%A9union%20sur%20site.png.webp?itok=L8KQdEi7) With the monsoon season imminent in Bangladesh, wastewater management in refugee camps is an absolute health challenge.To secure the infrastructure of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the Cox’s Bazar camps, Raphaël Laplane, an engineer at Veolia | Water Tech, deployed his expertise in two stages: a strategic technical analysis performed remotely, followed by a field mission. Explanations and testimony. [Read Raphaël Laplane's story.](/en/news/bangladesh-veolias-sanitation-expertise-service-doctors-without-borders-msf) ![Christine Delettre](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/09/Christine%20Delettre.jpg.webp?itok=PzbzTmfW)Christine Delettre #### Christine Delettre: “We weren’t there to shake everything up, but to build.” Christine Delettre: “We weren’t there to shake everything up, but to build.” [](#) ![Christine Delettre, Mayotte, 2025](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/09/Christine%20Delettre%2C%20Mayotte.jpg.webp?itok=CuiMUZDF) Laboratory and Testing Technician Christine Delettre is a Veoliaforce volunteer with the Veolia Foundation. Here is her reflection on the experience. ## **COMMITMENT** **Christine, how were you brought onto this mission in Mayotte?** It all started with a phone call from the Foundation. When you are offered a mission like this, it is an honor, but it is also an organizational challenge: you need approval from management and, above all, a solid team behind you. I owe my colleagues a huge debt of gratitude—they reorganized themselves with incredible efficiency so that the department could keep running without me. It was thanks to their support that I was able to leave with peace of mind. My journey played out in two acts. First, in mainland France. Having signed up with the Foundation in June 2024, I was called upon in mid-2025 for my first mission at the Foundation's logistics platform to test, inspect, and package equipment before it was sent to a humanitarian setting. However, the real turning point happened a year after Operation Chido. The Foundation called me back for a mission that was more human-centered this time. On-site, the Red Cross staff operating the Aquaforce 2000\* units needed more than just equipment—they wanted an open dialogue and expert perspective. They were eager to refine their practices and validate their skills. It was for this intensive week of knowledge transfer, tailored closely to their needs, that I packed my bags. ## **ON THE GROUND** **Describe a typical day in Mayotte. What did your mission concretely look like or consist of?** The Red Cross manager determined which teams would be trained each day, mixing volunteers and paid staff. We would then meet at one of the Red Cross sites in teams of 6 or 7 staff members and volunteers, which changed every day. The Aquaforce units were stored at these sites because they are mounted on trucks, which are then moved to different production locations. Next, we would head to a production site that the Red Cross team knew well, and for which they had the required or requested authorizations. Local populations living in informal settlements or extremely precarious neighborhoods would be waiting for us, queuing up with their jerrycans. **You were training the Red Cross teams on using the Aquaforce 2000. What turned out to be the most difficult thing to pass along?** The challenge wasn't so much technical, as many of the workers had already been operating the Aquaforce for a year and knew the machine well. The real challenge was aligning laboratory practices and instilling safety reflexes—like wearing safety shoes or adhering to hygiene protocols during breaks. Regarding knowledge sharing, rather than telling them what to do top-down, we chose to let them practice so we could adjust techniques together. They truly appreciated this approach based on mutual exchange rather than lecturing. We weren’t there to shake everything up, but to build on what they already knew how to do. **Is arriving several months after a disaster different from stepping in during an immediate emergency?** During the initial phase, the priority was absolute urgency: we had to produce water, and fast! By the time we arrived, the context had evolved. The emergency response in the most vulnerable neighborhoods was already underway, allowing us to transition into a calmer phase dedicated to training. This is a crucial step because, even in a difficult environment, we remain in a French department. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) keeps a very watchful eye on water quality. Our role was no longer just to keep machines running, but to ensure local teams mastered every protocol to meet long-term health requirements. During my week of training the teams, our mission touched on the most critical aspect of this crisis: extreme vulnerability. Where I was, in the middle of makeshift housing, urgency takes on a different face. The water we produced with the Aquaforce units wasn't for general comfort; it was a vital lifeline reserved for those who have nothing. It is there, in the areas where shortages are most severe, that our work took on its full meaning. We weren't just producing water; we were offering a survival solution for families who, between infrastructure work and a lack of resources, can go days without water. ## **THE IMPACT** **The Aquaforce 2000 remained on-site and continues to operate. Why was it so important for it to stay?** Simply because the needs do not stop when we leave. The immediate emergency has passed, but access to water remains a daily struggle for many. By leaving the Aquaforce on-site, we didn't just leave behind a machine; we left a working tool that the teams now master. Today, the Red Cross continues to operate it across at least three different sites on a weekly rotation. That is the clearest proof of the mission's success: seeing the equipment continue to serve the local population and knowing that the handoff was handled effectively. ## **INSPIRATION** **If you ran into a colleague tomorrow who was hesitating to become a Veoliaforce volunteer, what would you tell them?** I would tell them that, above all, it is an encounter that leaves a profound mark on you. You find yourself face-to-face with people who have a genuine thirst to learn, and sharing your expertise in that context gives concrete meaning to what you do. You feel useful simply because a relationship of trust is established right away. Furthermore, the Veolia Foundation offers ideal conditions to get involved: you are well-supported, you feel confident, and you know you are making a contribution. In fact, it was hearing a colleague share her story upon returning from a mission that made it click for me. It is a deeply rewarding personal commitment, and the great thing is that anyone can contribute, regardless of their area of expertise. It doesn't demand your time constantly, but when you are there, it is truly fulfilling. On my end, retirement is fast approaching, so I might not be able to go on another mission. **If you had to summarize this mission in one sentence?** “A total field immersion that begins with technical discovery, mutual sharing, and ends with immense personal enrichment.” \--- *\*Aquaforce 2000: A mobile water treatment unit capable of providing 20 liters of drinking water per person per day for a population of 2,000 people.* *Colilert: A method that allows the detection of coliforms and E. coli in water samples within 18 hours.* *\*\*\*Enterolert: A test used to detect the presence of enterococci in water.* ![Edmond Li](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/03/Edmond%20Li_2.jpg.webp?h=9ae53a3f&itok=SH-sPyLY)Edmond Li #### Edmond Li: « My mission was to check the feasibility and define the implementation solution. » Edmond Li: « My mission was to check the feasibility and define the implementation solution. » [](#) ![Mission Veoliaforce au Cambodge d'Edmond Li](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/03/2026%2001%20Mission%20Veoliaforce%20Cambodge%2C%20Edmond%20Li%20%286%29.jpg.webp?itok=c0GFvcgO) Edmond Li, a Veoliaforce volunteer based in China, took part in a mission in Cambodia, near the Angkor site. The goal was to ensure access to water for a community in Phnom Kulen. [Read his story](/en/news/global-veoliaforce-mobilization-support-thma-chruonh) ![Caroline Streib](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/02/Caroline%20Streib.JPG.webp?itok=vb-gExta)Caroline Streib #### Caroline Streib: « To take part in my first mission in my own country. » Caroline Streib: « To take part in my first mission in my own country. » [](#) ![Aquaforce 2000 and Canadian truck](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/02/2026%2001%20Veoliaforce%20Assignment%2C%20Romain%20Verch%C3%A8re%2C%20Daryn%20Watson%20and%20Caroline%20Streib%2C%20Canada%20%281%29.jpeg.webp?itok=JRMguMZp) Caroline Streib, Veoliaforce volunteer, laboratory coordinator and water treatment operator (Veolia Canada), was called upon in January 2026 for a mission in the far north of Canada, in temperatures of -35°C. This was an unprecedented technical challenge to secure the community's water supply in extreme conditions. [Read the story](/en/news/veoliaforce-expertise-takes-challenge-canadian-deep-freeze) ![Daryn Watson, Veoliaforce volunteer on a assignment](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2026/02/Daryn%20Watson%20%282%29.jpeg.webp?h=f5656e16&itok=tFVOoEcn)Daryn Watson #### Daryn Watson : « An even closer Veolia family. » Daryn Watson : « An even closer Veolia family. » [](#) ![Daryn Watson deploying an Aquaforce 2000 ](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2026/02/2026%2001%20Veoliaforce%20Assignment%2C%20Romain%20Verch%C3%A8re%2C%20Daryn%20Watson%20and%20Caroline%20Streib%2C%20Canada%20%286%29.jpeg.webp?itok=bvxYQvGt) Daryn Watson, Veoliaforce volunteer and production manager at Swan Hills (Veolia Canada), was called upon in January 2026 for a mission in the far north of Canada, where temperatures reached -35°C. It was an unprecedented technical challenge to secure the community's water supply in extreme conditions. [Read the story](/en/news/veoliaforce-expertise-takes-challenge-canadian-deep-freeze) ![Guy de Sainte Claire et Emmanuel Corbel en mission Veoliaforce au Malawi, juillet 2025](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2025/09/WhatsApp%20Image%202025-07-24%20at%2020.56.00%20%282%29.jpeg.webp?h=e18aaf0c&itok=zwQz7gFw)G. de Sainte-Claire, E. Corbel #### Guy de Sainte-Claire and Emmanuel Corbel: « More than half of the mission takes place upstream. » Guy de Sainte-Claire and Emmanuel Corbel: « More than half of the mission takes place upstream. » [](#) ![Mission Veoliaforce Malawi, UNHCR, Emmanuel Corbel et Guy de Sainte Claire, juillet 2025](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2025/09/WhatsApp%20Image%202025-07-25%20at%2018.29.20.jpeg.webp?itok=M6P3BEKo) From July 15 to 26, 2025, Emmanuel Corbel (Seureca) and Guy de Sainte-Claire (Veolia Water) conducted an audit of the drinking water infrastructure in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, as part of the partnership between the Veolia Foundation and the UNHCR. However, this mission began well before their departure. [Find out more](/en/news/more-half-mission-takes-place-upstream) ![Séverine Arnaud](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2025/09/S%C3%A9verine%20Arnaud_0.jpeg.webp?itok=sDCginLN)Séverine Arnaud #### “Only half of the 3,000 tons of waste generated every day in Yaoundé is treated.” “Only half of the 3,000 tons of waste generated every day in Yaoundé is treated.” [](#) ![Décharge à Yaoundé, Cameroun](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2025/09/2025%2007%20Mission%20Cameroun%20S%C3%A9verine%20Arnaud%20et%20Richard%20Nana-Dwanang%20%281%29.JPG.webp?h=1eb549fc&itok=l6xF5C6H) Séverine Arnaud and Richard Nana-Dwanang, Veoliaforce volunteers, traveled to Cameroon from July 1 to 9, 2025. Their mission focused on visiting the Yaoundé landfill and assessing street cleanliness, and ultimately expanded to include extensive participation in World Habitat Days on solid waste management, which took place in Bafoussam. [Read Séverine Arnaud's testimonial](/en/news/only-half-3000-tons-waste-generated-every-day-yaounde-treated) ![Paul Sagot](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_thumbnail/public/image/2025/04/Paul%20Sagot.jpg.webp?itok=_IQL1H_n)Paul Sagot #### Paul Sagot: "We're going to hear about Saniforce!" Paul Sagot: "We're going to hear about Saniforce!" [](#) ![Le Saniforce déployé dans le camps de réfugiés de Kyangwali (Ouganda), Paul Sagot, janvier 2025](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/gallery_popup/public/image/2025/04/2025%2001%20Saniforce%20Kyangwali%20%28Ouganda%29%20Cr%C3%A9dits%20Fondation%20Veolia%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=LFZAnELs) Technical Studies and Projects Engineer, Paul Sagot, has hastily left for Uganda for a mission of a few weeks. The goal: to deploy Saniforce, the fecal sludge treatment solution designed by the Veolia Foundation for humanitarian aid, in a refugee camp. [Read Paul Sagot's story](/en/paul-sagot-were-going-hear-about-saniforce) #### Pagination - [ Current page1](?page=0 "Current page") - [ Page2](?page=1 "Go to page 2") - [ Page3](?page=2 "Go to page 3") - [ Page4](?page=3 "Go to page 4") - [ Page5](?page=4 "Go to page 5") - [ Last page 5 ](?page=4 "Go to last page")