Kindness

Water. Clean Drinking Water #AtoZChallenge

Drinking tap water in coastal Ecuador is a great way to get parasites. Or worse.
— EJB

A few weeks after the April 16, 2016 7.8 Ecuador earthquake, Tennessee pastor Gary Vance arrived in Puerto Lopez. He had a suitcase full of water filters and a plan – provide clean drinking water for those who needed it.

Drinking water at earthquake camp
Clean water welcomed in a tent camp
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

 

He offered to install a water filter for the Olon orphanage. We went there the next morning. Gary installed a filter and trained a thrilled staff on maintaining it.

Installing water filter at orphanage
Water filter installed at the Olon Orphanage
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

Gary spent the rest of that trip traveling, making contacts, and installing filters in tent camps and communities throughout the earthquake damaged area.

Water filters in earthquake camp
Filters installed in a camp
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

Gary was already planning his return trip and negotiating bulk filter pricing before he flew home. He founded the Tears2Water charity to “quench the thirst of victims of the earthquake devastation in Ecuador.”

Testing water filter installation
Gary’s suitcase full of filters is behind him in this photo
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

Gary has made six trips to Ecuador since the earthquake, spent 88 days in country, delivered 1000 filters, and documented over 5000 people who have gained filtered water.

Tasting clean water from filter
Clean water!
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

He trains local partners who install filters and train communities on proper use.

Water filter installation
Filter installation
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

Each filter provides enough water for 100 people per day. Small communities may only need one filter for all of their clean water needs.

Portable water filtration systems
Buckets with filters attached
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance
Training people on water filtration
Elizabeth (pink shirt) training people on their filter buckets
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

 

Two boys bringing water filtration bucket home
Bringing new filter bucket home
Photo courtesy of Gary Vance

Gary’s seventh visit is in a few weeks. It won’t be his last. Donate HERE to help.

Did you ever begin a small project that turned into a passion?

2017 A to Z Challenge - W

If you are visiting from the #AtoZChallenge please include your blog link in a comment so I can check it out.

Related posts: Earthquake, Post-Earthquake

I am a US Expat in Ecuador. I grew up on a Minnesota farm, worked in IT in California's Silicon Valley, then moved to a coastal Ecuador fishing village. My goal is to share Ecuador with you, one snippet at a time. Topics include attractions, compassion, ecotourism, Ecuador products, everyday Ecuador, and flora and fauna. Please let me know what you would like to read more about!

42 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

%d bloggers like this: