Access to clean water and sanitation is a massive, critical problem with relatively easy solutions.

The problem? 2 billion people lack access to clean water. Collecting water often falls on women and girls, who spend up to 5 hours a day on this task. Meanwhile, 4 billion people also lack access to safe toilets. The result of this inequity is often disease—it’s estimated that 50% of child deaths worldwide could be prevented through clean water and proper sanitation. 
 

The solution? Water1st helps build permanent water and sanitation systems for the world’s most vulnerable communities. Since 2005, this nonprofit has proven they’re up to the job, with 4,727 cost-effective projects that have improved the health, economy, educational opportunities, food security, and general well-being of 278,000 people around the world.

Another positive impact of Water1st’s projects? Time back. Water 1st’s efforts have helped free up 123 million hours for women and girls to learn, work, and grow food instead of collecting water. 

Water1st x Cotopaxi 
 

We’re excited for Water1st to join the Cotopaxi Foundation as our newest impact partner! Since we focus our efforts in Latin America, we’ll be supporting their work in rural communities in Lempira, Honduras—one of the poorest, most isolated regions of the country.

“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Water1st empower communities through WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) interventions for nearly a decade,” says Cotopaxi Foundation Director of Philanthropy Charlie Clark, “and I’m thrilled to add this incredible organization as a Foundation partner. Water1st’s commitment to community buy-in and the long-term support of their projects is truly world-class. I can’t wait to see the impact we’ll be able to create together.”

In Honduras, Water1st closely collaborates with COCEPRADIL, which is a cooperative made up of communities that have already completed water and sanitation projects. These water and sanitation projects are not barebones solutions—they’re on par with what a small public utility company in the U.S. would build. 

In the communities served, every home, school, and health clinic receives a water connection, toilet, shower, and water meter. The people in the communities also volunteer their labor to help build the new systems, getting into the literal trenches by digging pipelines. 
 

Water Changes Everything: Dina’s Story
 

Dina grew up in the small mountain town of Los Sorrianos in Honduras. Instead of going to preschool, she spent her days collecting water with her mom. Water1st’s founder and executive director, Marla Smith-Nilson, first met Dina when she was just four years old in 1996, and a year later, broke ground on a new community water system. 
 

Finally, Dina had water piped directly to her home and could walk to school instead of to the nearest river to get water. She thrived in the classroom, finished high school early, and went on to complete a degree in Community Development.

A few years later, Dina was hired by the local partner that helped Water1st bring water to her community. Today, she trains new communities to independently own and operate their water systems. As a member of Water1st’s local partner staff, Dina helps give thousands of children in the mountainside communities of western Honduras access to clean water.

Learn more about Water1st here and find out more about the Cotopaxi Foundation here.