Drops of change: my Water For People experience in Bolivia

As a client service leader, I never imagined that the simple act of donating to Water For People through our charitable giving campaign would lead to such a profound experience. Through this campaign, donors are entered into a drawing to attend a Water For People Impact Exchange tour, providing the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible work being done. Seeing the lasting impact of clean water and bathrooms in Bolivia was truly inspiring.

My week kicked off with a visit to the Water For People office where I met with their local team of dedicated and talented program members to learn about the orga­ni­za­tion’s mission and structure for project delivery. Our tour guide throughout Cochabamba was a go-to source who helped us explore the area and better understand the culture. And with that, we were off to observe the impact of Water For People’s work on the ground.

I witnessed the lasting effects of climate change in the region, such as drought conditions and dwindling water sources. For the first time, I got to see how communities were affected and how Water For People was advocating with local governments about the importance of addressing these issues. We visited a greenhouse constructed and run by Water For People with the help of donors to grow seedlings with the goal of planting over 1 million trees each year to fight the effects of deforestation. This experience underscored the critical need for water advocacy and sustainable solutions and the need for communities to get involved.

Highlights of the trip included attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a major overhaul of a community's drinking water system, which included a new generator and pump system to obtain, disinfect and distribute water. I participated in the celebration and accepted the thanks of many community members on behalf of all of the donors who make these projects possible.

During the visits, I met bene­fi­cia­ries of Water For People's projects, including school children who now have access to essential sanitation facilities, like a newly constructed bathroom at an elementary school. This bathroom is a critical resource, especially for children without showers at home. I also witnessed a young girl demon­strat­ing handwashing techniques, showcasing the orga­ni­za­tion's educational efforts on sanitation and hygiene, including menstru­a­tion hygiene education.

Another memorable experience was visiting a remote, high-altitude location accessed via a narrow winding road where five families were the last in their community to construct a bathroom, converted from a former storage building, complete with a septic tank and water service.

Reflecting on my trip, I saw how small efforts can collec­tively make a big difference. This experience connected me to the work done at CDM Smith, where we focus on water and the environment, inherently giving back to the community through our projects as well as our charitable giving. 

Although it’s hard to imagine here in the U.S., globally, nearly 1 in 4 people don’t have access to clean, reliable drinking water and nearly 1 in 2 people don’t have access to a bathroom, both critically important for health and hygiene. Orga­ni­za­tions like Water For People are crucial in tackling these issues. Our donations may be just drops in the bucket, but every drop helps to end the global water crisis. Imagine the difference just one drop can make.

To learn more about how Water For People is helping millions of people across nine countries obtain lasting access to clean water and sanitation services – for Everyone Forever – visit water­for­peo­ple.org.

Laura Kelley is an envi­ron­men­tal scientist, program manager and client service leader in our Kansas City, Missouri office.