Empowering change: How our partner is transforming lives in Honduras with safe water solutions

We are thrilled to announce the relaunch of our esteemed partner, Agua Pura para el Mundo (APPM), in Honduras. This marks a significant milestone in our shared mission to provide clean and safe drinking water to communities in need. Read on to learn about the incredible work of APPM, and the journey of one of their dedicated team members: María Regina Inestroza, Executive Director.

About Agua Pura para el Mundo (APPM)

APPM is a non-profit organization, previously affiliated with Pure Water for the World (PWW). It’s dedicated to enhancing access to clean water in rural, underserved areas of Honduras. Emphasizing sustainability and community engagement, APPM strives to carry out numerous water purification initiatives across Latin America. Over the last two decades, their collaboration with PWW has led to innovative solutions that have positively impacted many lives. This experience has fortified their team, enabling them to embrace the new challenge of operating as an independent local entity in Honduras: APPM.

A girl in a school in Trojes using an adaptation of the biosand filter (BSF)- 2017

Their mission in Honduras

Honduras continues to face significant challenges in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), particularly in rural areas. As of 2022, approximately 35% of people in Honduras lacked safely managed drinking water services (World Bank, 2022). The lack of essential WASH services contributes to widespread health issues and environmental contamination. Through our partnership with APPM, we aim to address these challenges by:

• Installing water purification systems: Implementing systems in rural and urban areas to ensure safe drinking water for all.

• Community education: Conducting workshops and training sessions to educate communities about the importance of safe water and proper sanitation practices.

• Sustainable solutions: Promoting sustainable water management practices to ensure long-term access to clean water.

Meet María: A story of dedication and hope

One of the driving forces behind APPM’s success is their passionate and dedicated team. María Regina Intestroza is their remarkable executive director, whose journey embodies the spirit of APPM.

Photo courtesy of APPM

María’s journey

María was born in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. While living in the capital, she had access to essential WASH services in her home. However, the lack of these services became evident to her when she travelled with her family to areas outside the urban center.

Maria recounts her experience:

“I have been privileged growing up, I remember drinking boiled water and always had a toilet inside my parents’ house, except on the weekends when we travelled to our ranch outside the city, where we had a dry pit latrine (very scary, as it was very dark, and you never knew if a spider or cockroach was going to pop up).”

Moved by the struggles of the rural community around her ranch, she felt a strong urge to make a difference. After earning her bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, María spent three months volunteering in La Tigra, a protected area in Tegucigalpa. Her responsibilities included designing a survey, gathering baseline data on 14 water systems in the surrounding areas with WASH technicians, and assisting in training the water board members of these communities. This experience marked the beginning of her professional journey in the WASH sector, deeply integrating her into the industry from that point forward.

Making an impact with PWW

Maria first connected with PWW and CAWST when they needed someone to conduct a biosand filter workshop in Danli. Two years after this training and installation program, an opportunity arose for the position of Country Director at PWW, which Maria accepted.

María's contributions to PWW have been profoundly impactful. She has spearheaded numerous successful initiatives, such as installing water purification systems in remote regions and launching educational programs on water hygiene. Her work has significantly enhanced the health and well-being of thousands of individuals and has empowered communities to manage their water resources effectively.

Looking ahead

PWW decided in June 2024 to close its operations, but chose to pass on its legacy to the local entity, APPM. As they celebrate their inauguration in Honduras, the organization looks forward with optimism and enthusiasm to what lies ahead. APPM is especially excited about the opportunity to create enduring change in communities by equipping them with the knowledge and resources needed to manage their own water and sanitation systems.

Looking forward, APPM aims to expand its reach and impact by providing clean water and sanitation solutions. Future initiatives include developing more comprehensive and sustainable water systems, increasing collaborations with local governments and international organizations, and enhancing training programs for local NGOs.

The continued support from key partners like CAWST, will be instrumental in achieving these goals. Their collaboration, along with support from UNICEF, Association of Water Technologies (AWT), and the Consortium (a group of organizations working together to improve social issues in Honduras), will help drive APPM’s mission to create sustainable and impactful change in communities.

“I see the relationship between APPM and CAWST evolving into an even stronger and more collaborative partnership. As we continue to work together, our shared goals of providing sustainable WASH solutions will drive us to innovate and expand our impact ——not only in Honduras, but throughout all Spanish-speaking countries.”

- María Regina Inestroza, Executive Director, Agua Pura para el Mundo (APPM)

Join us in our mission

The launch of APPM in Honduras is a momentous occasion, and we are honoured to be part of this journey. With dedicated team members like María leading the way, we are confident that our efforts will bring lasting change to the communities we serve. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more success stories as we move forward. Our partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration, and to the incredible impact we can achieve together.

Give now to support our work with partners like APPM.

With your help, we can empower communities, transform lives, and ensure our partners strengthen their capacity to undertake any new challenge to deliver WASH services independently.

Learn more:

CAWST provides support services and resources to over 500 organizations — government agencies, community groups, and local and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) of all sizes — in many countries. Read about our impact in tackling the worldwide water and sanitation challenge.

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