Project Report
| Aug 3, 2021
Our Haitian Volunteers Are Safe - For Now!
By Tom Carter | Executive Director, Agua Pura
![Our dedicated volunteers.]()
Our dedicated volunteers.
In the last months and years Haiti has suffered a number of disasters, natural and man made. Earthquakes and hurricanes seem like they purposely strike the poorest country in Latin America. Cholera, Aids and now Covid have all punished them as well. Travel restrictions have prevented us from traveling there but through it all Agua Pura’s young Haitian volunteers have gone on with their programs to help their neighbors. We continued to provide them with funds and supplies and other support as best we could and looked forward to the time when we can visit again in person.
Now Haiti has suffered another setback with the murder of its President. With this latest political unrest we have begun to worry about the safety of our young friends. We absolutely do not want them to endanger themselves to carry on our programs. I have personally spoken with them and they tell me that for now they are safe. Most of the political violence occurs in the Capital and not in the rest of the country where they live. I have told them to stay safe and to let us know what we can do to help.
We hope that with time the situation will improve and they will be able to continue their work, but for now we can only stand by and offer support. Agua Pura may try to provide some financial support to these young volunteers and we would welcome any support that our generous GlobalGiving supporters want to give.
Please write to me directly with any questions or concerns you have.
Tom Carter
tom @aguapuraparaelpueblo.org
![Teaching about clean water]()
Teaching about clean water
![Helping one family at a time]()
Helping one family at a time
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Apr 8, 2021
Help Families One Hand Washing Station At A Time
By Tom Carter | Executive Director, Agua Pura
![Hand washing stations for families]()
Hand washing stations for families
What if you had to choose between water to drink and water to wash your hands? What if water was really expensive and difficult to obtain? What if you were trying to protect your family from diseases like Covid-19? This is a terrible choice facing families throughout the world. With water so precious, families can’t afford to waste it.
With the strong support from donors like you, Agua Pura has fought for over 10 years to help families have safe drinking water and the ability to protect themselves against disease. And, when the Covid-19 pandemic started, it only increased the urgency to provide that help.
One simple solution we have provided is a large bucket that families can fill with non-potable water to use for hand washing with soap near a latrine or kitchen. It has a tap so that water can be dispensed slowly and not wasted. Families can then catch that wash water to water their gardens. When these hand washing stations are placed near a latrine they are used and families stay healthier and more protected against disease.
In Mexico we started a campaign last fall to provide hand washing stations to vulnerable families in several parts of the country. Thanks to GlobalGiving donors, over 200 families- with more than 1300 women and children- have received the stations along with soap and locally made face masks. Community health workers distribute the supplies along with health programs for the families. When schools reopen in Mexico, we will expand our program to provide hand washing stations for them as well.
Thank you again for your continued support over the last 10 years, and I hope that we continue working together in the years ahead.
Please let me know your opinions and ideas, I really appreciate hearing from you, our donors.
Tom Carter
tom@aguapuraparaelpueblo.org
![Wash your hands]()
Wash your hands
![clean hands in school]()
clean hands in school
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Dec 14, 2020
Hurricane Relief Update
By Tom Carter | Executive Director, Agua Pura
![Flooding in Southern Mexico]()
Flooding in Southern Mexico
Dear friends and supporters-
I want to share a quick update on our recent hurricane relief work. I recently wrote you about effects of the hurricanes that hit Central America last month. One community in Honduras that we have visited often was especially hard hit with their community water system destroyed and the families drinking water from the local streams., but with your support we were able to start helping rebuild their water system better and stronger than before.
Unfortunately, the hurricanes and flooding damaged many communities throughout the region, including ones that Agua Pura knows well in Southern Mexico. GlobalGiving granted Agua Pura emergency funds to help with relief work and so we applied some of the grant money and $3000 more of your donations to helping families in 3 traditional Mayan speaking communities that were flooded and many homes destroyed. We worked through a local non profit, Diaconia Chiapas, whose members live and work in the area. They were well organized and quickly mobilized to provide emergency help to affected families with children and the elderly, including food aid and sanitary supplies such as soap and face masks. Though this is just temporary aid, it made a huge difference to the families that received it.
After the flood waters subside and the families start rebuilding, Agua Pura will be there with them to assist with clean water and safe sanitation, and your continued support will make it possible. We thank you for your generosity and will keep you informed of our progress.
Tom Carter
![Aid Workers]()
Aid Workers
![Aid for families with children and the elderly]()
Aid for families with children and the elderly
![Food and sanitary supplies]()
Food and sanitary supplies
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