San Luis, Ecuador
Water Room Dedication and Celebration
PN 25-018
September 20th, 2026 – Travel and preparations
Every Agua Viva trip begins with a long travel day and preparations with the community. The team of US Volunteers were welcomed by our hosts in Chimborazo Community at 11,250 ft elevation! The location looked great and the team was ready to get to work!
September 21st, 2026 – First day of work
In country coordinators Mayra Cerda and Mario Akhras conducted our introduction program with the community and then everyone divided into our installation and education groups to start work. In the afternoon, Mayra and a few of the US Volunteers conducted an initial site investigation at the Nitiluisa community for a potential future project. A successful day for the installation team, education team and site investigation team!
September 22nd, 2026 – New sites to explore
The day started with our site investigation team visiting Fundacion Proyecto Salesiano Zona Norte orphanage in Ambato, Ecuador. This was an incredible place that houses 29 vulnerable and disadvantaged youth, and over 100 children from neighboring villages that spend their afternoons (after school) for nutrition and homework help. The orphanage provides individuals who live nearby some space growing crops, which is the main source of income in this part of Ecuador. Fundacion Proyecto Salesiano is a great place with dedicated staff and educators.
After this visit, the site investigation team returned to Chimborazo Community and assisted in the water system construction and observed the teachers teaching teachers the lessons they learned this morning.
September 23rd, 2026 – Visiting old friends and making new friends
The day began with a stewardship visit to Escuela San Gerardo. This school received their system in 2021, one of the first all in-country team installs where we shipped the supplies by boat in response to the travel restrictions of COVID! They are producing water daily for the students to drink at two campuses.
They returned to Chimborazo Community late morning to find the rest of the team was in full build and education mode! At the end of the day we were able to do a leak test on the system, quite the achievement for day 3 of the project! The only remaining hurdle is now completing the tank stand. The operating partner wanted the tanks on the concrete roof of the 2 story building for security. After several of us climbed up the ladder several times, and watching our future operators take materials to the roof on the ladder, we were able to provide a change of plans to an at grade tank stand enclosed by security fencing. This is just one example of how Agua Viva collaborates with communities, providing expert guidance while remaining open-minded about the specific constraints each community has.
September 24th, 2026 – Slight delays and overcoming obstacles
After several days of smooth sailing, the water purification system and health and hygiene project at Chimborazo Community ran into a few bumps. It was a challenging, long day but successful day. The stewardship visit team of Mayra, Gary Minnich and Carlos Pellecer traveled to Llinllin Community, who received their system in October of 2023. The same Community leader was there as well as their lead operator. Great to return to a site and meet friends!
Following our visit at Llinllin we returned to Chimborazo Community to find work on the tanks stalled, as the tank stand was still being constructed and painted. We got started following lunch and had the tanks full for operator training and system shocking by late afternoon, which was successfully completed. Our education team wrapped up their training by going through the record keeping that will allow them to track their progress as a community resource for purified water and health & hygiene education.
September 25th, 2026 – Celebration and a bit of tourism
We don’t spend all of our time working at Agua Viva, we have to set aside time for fellowship and fun as well! In the morning, the team climbed Mount Chimborazo before celebrating a successful new partnership with Chimborazo Community.
