Just in case you had not heard, Agua Viva installed a water purification system in Gompuene, Ecuador, in the fall of 2013. We had a signed covenant, a fantastic celebration, and we had high hopes for a productive installation. Two weeks later, we heard that during a village up-rising, the community demanded that our system be removed or it would be destroyed. Our team was devastated to hear this news. This certainly had never happened before. So, our in-country team immediately travelled to Gompuene and removed the system where it was stored at Maritza Yanez’s home. In every way, life had given us lemons !!
Then, last fall, 2014, Curt Mader travelled to Gompuene to RE-negotiate with the community to see what went wrong (Thank you, Brother Curt). This all underscored the importance of Water Diplomacy. “A New Deal” was reached and Agua Viva agreed to return to the community and RE-install the orphaned system in a Vocational School called 21deAbril Vocational School.
This all left a sour taste in our mouth. Our hopes had been seemingly dashed. Why, why, why?
As it turns out, their reasoning was “arguably” justified. Without getting into the details of “why”, let it suffice to say that, this once abandoned system which only served one single community at Gompuene, is NOW serving 28 communities and it resides in a school with 350 young children. This system is now providing tenfold the benefit. This is just the very surface of this amazing blessing.
Our installation has been such a success at 21deAbril, that Rotary International is considering using this model of “communities feeding schools” as a template for many more installations in Chimborazo; the poorest state in Ecuador.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
We have never had such a celebration. And, so much goodness, all born from sorrow.
