Water is the source of life yet somehow, in 2020, over 700 million people in the world lack access to clean water. It may be hard to comprehend this, but factors such as poor infrastructure, poverty and pollution contribute to water scarcity for a large percentage of the population, especially in developing regions.
Access to clean water and sanitation is one of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and organisation BLUE Missions Group is helping to reach this goal.
About BLUE Missions Group
For the past 10 years, the BLUE Missions Group has been working to provide families with clean water and sanitary environments through sustainable, community-owned projects that empower progress and transform rural communities for the better.
I had the privilege of interviewing BLUE Missions Group founder, Danny Rodriguez, on my podcast recently and we spoke about the organisation’s mission, as well as their projects in the field that are bringing clean water to the people who need it most.
To date, BLUE Missions has helped over 22,000 people gain access to clean drinking water through innovative solutions such as gravity-driven aqueducts that gather and distribute water from higher-elevated sources. With the help of volunteers, engineers and members of the local community they have completed over 100 water projects in countries including Colombia, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
Their model for aid is focused on sustainability, ensuring local leaders are equipped with the skills to prepare for community-led construction of projects, and the ability to maintain healthy water systems.
“Our team invests in forming strong water committees in each community we work in. It all starts with education. We want to provide the communities with the tools they can use to help themselves,” Danny explains.
How volunteers can help
Since BLUE Missions was founded, over 2,500 volunteers that have travelled abroad to serve on a water or sanitation project. Volunteers participate in service projects that make a long-lasting impact on the benefiting communities. They live in a rural community for 8 days, working, learning, and helping to generate community access to clean water and sanitation.
“We go into communities to make human connections. We show our youth the importance of making human connections, and what that can mean to the future of their lives.”
However, youth is not the only focus for BLUE. “We have service trips for all ages. Anyone who wants to give back has an opportunity to give back,” he continues.
Click here to learn about service trips for 2020.
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How travellers can help
For those unable to give the time to volunteer, BLUE Missions offers travellers the opportunity to trek to the top of Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean, and raise money for water and sanitation projects. Participants travel to a community that BLUE Missions has worked with to overcome the water crisis and spend a few hours connecting with the locals.
Each hiker commits to raising $250 in addition to the cost of their trip. This money will further the impact of the water and sanitation projects undertaken by BLUE missions.
Click here to learn about adventure treks.
Access to clean drinking water is something that many of us take for granted, and I hope that after listening to the interview you are able to alter your perspective on water and the ways that it affects those who suffer from water scarcity.
For more information on the work that BLUE Missions do you can visit their website, or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.
Listen to the full podcast interview here: