It takes three hours to travel from Cochabamba, a city in central Bolivia where the Water For People team is based, to Puka Puka, a community within the municipality of Pocona. The road this time of year is pleasant – small springs between hillsides reflect an array of greens in the surrounding vegetation. It’s impossible to resist pausing to appreciate the stunning landscape.
Doña Jhobanna has lived in Puka Puka for 10 years. In her opinion, the vista isn’t always this pleasant. From August to December, the surroundings change. The browns of dry leaves overtake the green, and worryingly, the water becomes scarce. This seasonal water scarcity has continued to intensify, leading people to migrate to other communities and municipalities.
“Teníamos dos manantiales que utilizábamos para obtener agua, pero se secaron. El alcalde traía agua en una cisterna una vez por semana, pero no era suficiente. Para lavar la ropa íbamos al río, pero estaba lejos”.
Today, Jhobanna is the president of the local council in Pocona and represents over 9,000 people. She doesn’t want any of them to experience what it’s like not to have water.
Una inversión conjunta entre el gobierno municipal de Pocona, la comunidad de Puka Puka y Water For People permitió la construcción de un sistema de agua. Con capacitación y apoyo, Jhobanna y los habitantes de Puka Puka son responsables de la operación, el mantenimiento y la protección de las fuentes de agua del sistema.
Jhobanna now sees a different type of change, starting with right in her home. "My daughters feel very happy," she shares. "They can just open the pipe and use the water!"
Climate change affects water and sanitation access for people through more devastating weather events – such as the intensifying dry seasons and droughts in Puka Puka. Water For People partners with communities and governments to ensure water sources are protected, infrastructure can handle more extreme weather events, and funds are set aside for ongoing operation and maintenance.
Water For People promueve una gestión y protección sólidas de los recursos hídricos. En Bolivia, esto incluye equipos que lideran la plantación estratégica de árboles nativos para promover entornos fuertes, sostenibles y resilientes de modo que las fuentes de agua estén protegidas y se pueda seguir teniendo acceso a ellas en el futuro.
It’s through this work and partnerships that communities like Puka Puka are transformed – for generations to come.
