Strong hands to work: Alenjandra and Angela build biosand filters for their community
By Emma Condori Mamani, Project Leader of Biosand filters clean 100 Bolivian families’ water project
2 March 2020
Young mothers Alejandra and Angela joined our team and like making biosand filter containers. Since last year, they have been mixing the sand and concrete to build the huge concrete filters.
On a recent Saturday, only one man and these two women made it to our workplace to build the filter containers. That morning I asked them sadly, “Do you think you will be able to work today without the others who were not able to come?” Alejandra looked at me and she said, “I have hands that are very powerful, powerful enough to build even a house. Of course we can do it!”.
That day I understood how meaningful and important it is for them to do this work. Some Saturdays both Angela and Alejandra would bring their kids who, even though they are of elementary school age, would never sit around at the workplace. Instead, they always try to help their moms who are joyfully building the biosand filter containers under the hot sun. I saw one of these kids, aged eight, serving juice to all the people who were working. I told him, “Thank you”, and he replied with smile, “It is very hot weather, isn´t it?”
With the support of all these wonderful Bolivian women and men, making the biosand filter containers is successful. All of us have a dream about a happy Bolivian family who will get this filter installed in their home!
Your support makes this project of neighbors helping neighbors possible. Thank you!
