Meeting between community aqueducts promotes the exchange of knowledge to keep these systems knowledge to maintain these systems without interruption.
San Juan, June 29, 2019 | In the face of the challenges they face in ensuring to guarantee uninterrupted access to drinking water through their community aqueducts, dozens of residents of several community aqueducts, dozens of residents of several towns on the island, who are part of the boards that manage the boards that administer these systems independent of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (Prasa), today attended the second regional meeting of Saberes the second regional meeting of Knowledge and Experiences of Self-management and Empowerment of Community and Empowerment of Community Aqueducts. The attendees were enriched by the exchange of knowledge and the relationships they forged, which will enable them to improve the operation of their aqueducts. improve the operation of their aqueducts.
The initiative, held at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Aguas Buenas, is part of the strategy of the Alianza Agua Pa'Nosotros, made up of the Puerto Rico Community Foundation Community Foundation of Puerto Rico (FCPR), Hispanic Federation and Oxfam, which strengthens strengthening the island's community aqueducts, of which there are approximately 250, mostly located 250, located mostly in the central zone.
Since 2018, the Alliance has strengthened 30 community aqueducts through technical assistance, of which, 11 have already received donations to strengthen their infrastructure or install solar systems.
“This type of meeting is fundamental and necessary because we learn from the needs of others and the triumphs of others. needs of others and from the triumphs of others we learn. Today, Las Corujas is self-sustainable and we know where to move because we have learned, so we can make ourselves available for the learning of other communities. learning from other communities. With these meetings we get to know each other and that helps because we have a common goal, so we can dialogue and help each other to achieve our goals. dialogue and help each other achieve our individual goals,” Eduardo Sanchez, president of the Acueducto Sanchez, president of the Las Corujas Communal Aqueduct in Aguas Buenas.
Also in attendance were neighbors from Cidra, San Lorenzo, Cayey, Caguas, Naranjito, Adjuntas, and Patillas.
The Alliance is focused on strengthening community aqueducts in order to provide equitable and to provide equitable and sustainable access to potable water in vulnerable communities on the island. vulnerable communities on the island. To achieve this, the Alliance works with the community and its aqueduct in four dimensions aqueduct in four dimensions: infrastructure strengthening, which includes the acquisition and installation of the acquisition and installation of solar energy systems; community organization; aqueduct community organization; aqueduct management; and compliance with water quality regulations. water quality regulations. It also organizes regional learning communities served by these systems, and collects and analyzes information on the gender analyzes information on the gender perspective and intergenerational support within the community organizations that manage these systems. within the community organizations that manage the aqueducts.
Last March, the First Regional Meeting of Community Aqueducts was held in the community of Corcovada in Añasco. in the community of Corcovada in Añasco, where much enthusiasm was generated among the 68 participants 68 participants from 8 towns on the island and representatives of the community boards that manage the systems. representatives of the community boards that administer the systems. “The meetings seek to The meetings seek to strengthen the community aqueducts so that they can continue to provide equitable continue to provide equitable access to water. We are pleased to be part of this alliance, that has made this possible,” said Dr. Nelson I. Colón Tarrats, president of the FCPR. of the FCPR.
“Hispanic Federation is committed to continuing to support the sustainable renewal of the island in different areas of need. sustainable renovation of the island in different areas of need; on this occasion, through the through the availability of resources to promote equitable and sustainable access to safe drinking water equitable and sustainable access to potable water, an essential commodity to which everyone should have uninterrupted access,” said Frankie Miranda, President of the Hispanic Federation. should have uninterrupted access to,“ said Frankie Miranda, executive vice president of Hispanic Federation. executive vice president of Hispanic Federation. For her part, María Concepción, Oxfam's director of Puerto Rico program director for Oxfam America, said that like the FCPR and Hispanic Federation, Oxfam is committed to the Hispanic Federation, Oxfam is committed to ”facilitating access to safe water through initiatives that promote through initiatives that promote long-term solutions and build the resilience of communities. and build the resilience of communities, which we are doing by strengthening community aqueducts. strengthening community aqueducts. We are also collecting information that contributes to the resilience of these systems and enhances women's contributions to the contributions of women in the maintenance of community aqueducts on the island. community aqueducts on the island.
The aqueducts that have benefited from technical assistance so far are the following are: Pedro Calixto Communities, Caguas; Barrio Cedro Aqueduct, Cayey; Parcelas Bayamoncita Community, Juan Asencio Aqueduct Association, and Acueducto Bayamoncito, Aguas Buenas; La Preita Bayamoncito, Aguas Buenas; Sector La Preita Barrio Montaña, and Acueducto Comunal Mogote, Yauco; Barrio Lijas, Las Piedras; Pozo Azul Aqueduct, Ciales; Gripiñas Community Aqueduct, Jayuya; Santa Pascua Sector Community Aqueduct, and Montesllanos Aqueduct, Ponce; Arrozal Los Muertos Community Aqueduct, Arecibo; Comunidad Periche, San Germán; Comunidad Pellejas Las Cruces, and Camino Pagán Residents Association, Adjuntas; Cándido Salva Arriba Sector, Utuado; Los Díaz Sector, San Lorenzo; and Nieves Sánchez Community, Naranjito.
In addition, the following 11 have so far received technical assistance and donations: Rio Chiquito, Ponce; Corcovada, Añasco; Los Oquendo technical assistance and donations: Rio Chiquito, Ponce; Corcovada, Añasco; Los Oquendo, San Lorenzo; Buenos Aires and Pozo Agua, Caguas; Toro Negro, Ciales; Algarrobo and Pozo Lorenzo; Buenos Aires and Pozo de Agua, Caguas; Toro Negro, Ciales; Algarrobo and Cuyón, Aibonito; Jacaboa Cuyón, Aibonito; Jacaboa, Patillas; Juan Hernández, Adjuntas; and Las Corujas, Aguas Buenas.
To make a donation to strengthen community aqueducts community aqueducts, please visit www.globalgiving.org and search for the Water for Us project.
About the Puerto Rico Community Foundation | The FCPR is a nonprofit organization that for more than 34 years has been advising individuals, families, corporations and foundations inside and outside the island on how to channel their philanthropic concerns. The advice seeks to ensure that donors' contributions have an impact on the self-development of Puerto Ricans. In addition, FCPR's strategic plan promotes equitable and sustainable access to clean water, renewable energy, housing, economic development and education. The FCPR is the first foundation of its kind in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, and today the only one in Puerto Rico.
About Hispanic Federation | HP is a non-profit organization founded in 1990, dedicated to providing support to Hispanic families and strengthening Latino organizations in areas such as education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment and the environment. Support is provided through information, referrals, and direct services to the Hispanic community. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, HF established operations in Puerto Rico and has committed over $$30 million to recovery through more than 100 local initiatives and groups.
About Oxfam | Oxfam is a global organization that works to eradicate the injustice of poverty. Its mission is to address the causes of poverty and create long-term solutions. We help people build a better future for themselves, hold power holders accountable and save lives in disasters. Our mission is to address the causes of poverty and create lasting solutions.