In 2015, 86 families received land titles in San Martín, located in the coffee-growing region of San Ramón. These land titles represent a chance for these families to build a home and invest in a piece of property that they can pass down to their children. They represent building a community network of mutual support, putting down roots, and having a sense of permanence and belonging.

There was only one problem- there was no potable water in the community of San Martín. The few families who had settled had to haul water from far away, often trespassing on private property to obtain drinking water. Other families simply chose not to settle and continued to drift, mainly working as day laborers at large coffee plantations. This lack of permanence means that their children’s education was interrupted, and their day-to-day needs were dependent upon their employers.  A functional water system not only meant health and hygiene for these families; it meant independence, opportunity, and community.

Last year we raised the money to build a water system in San Martín, and as of June 2022, the system is complete. Families now have running water in their homes, and the community has a dedicated Water Committee that is being trained by the municipal water authorities in the maintenance and management of the system. You can see pictures of this project on our Facebook page.

Now we are in the process of raising the money to build a new water project in the community of Esperancita, where 35 families have to haul water to their homes from distant streams, often contaminated by runoff from coffee plantations.

If you’d like to learn more about how we are bringing clean water to rural families, please contact us!