Water
Local Perspectives Lead to Long Term Success
In my last article, I laid out the reasons why the most obvious water source is often not the one that works. So how can we identify the best water source? At Green Empowerment we use a dual approach, weighing technical considerations and simultaneously working closely with the community to address social and political factors.…
Read MoreWhere’s the Water Source? Why the Obvious Solution Isn’t Always the One That Works
Getting safe, drinkable water to rural communities is more challenging than you think. In a previous article, I debunked the myths that boiling water was a safe solution and argued that household filters are not a strong enough replacement. Now, let’s discuss one of the major challenges for designing an effective system that delivers piped…
Read MoreThink Boiling Water is a Safe Solution for Rural Communities? Think Again
Written by: Mohammad Pakravan, Ph.D., Green Empowerment Technical Program Manager Designing infrastructure services with last-mile communities is perhaps the most challenging process in international development. Not only does it require extensive engineering skills to make the most out of the least resources, but it is further complicated by a multitude of factors from financial constraints…
Read MoreSDG 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation: Bringing Global Goals to the Last Mile
Welcome to Green Empowerment’s UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series! The SDGs are a worldwide framework for creating a better and more sustainable future for all. So, how is Green Empowerment part of this global movement? While our work contributes to essentially all of the SDGs, Green Empowerment’s work specifically advances SDG 6 – Clean…
Read MorePotable Water Projects: Supporting Community Unity & Women’s Empowerment in Ecuador
“For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like without it.” – Marcus Samuelsson Lush jungle spills over the muddy banks of the slow-moving Rio Cayapas in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas Province. The communities along the Rio Cayapas depend on this…
Read MoreIt Takes a Village: Honoring Our Partnerships Around the World
You may have heard the proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” At Green Empowerment, we believe that it takes a global village to raise a better future for all. We envision an equitable and sustainable world where everyone has clean water, renewable energy and a healthy environment in which to grow and…
Read MoreNavigating Uncharted Waters: Successes and Lessons Learned in 2020
It seems as if the whole world is taking one deep, collective breath as the end of 2020 approaches. Although we are looking forward to what the new year will bring, the lessons learned in 2020 are crucial for the future of our global community. This year brought much uncertainty, yet one thing remained steadfast…
Read MorePartner Spotlight: Anne Lasimbang of PACOS Trust
Even as a young child, Anne Lasimbang spent time collecting funds from neighbors to support families in need as well as distributed information related to pertinent community matters in support of her mother’s community organizing. Growing up in the village of Nampasan in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah, Anne never envisioned she would eventually…
Read MoreThe Silver Lining of the Pandemic: Virtual Capacity Building
When COVID-19 shut down Green Empowerment projects across Latin America, our staff and local partners were initially devastated. The renewable energy and clean water projects we were looking forward to supporting were put on an indefinite hold at a time when communities most needed those resources. However, we quickly pivoted by brainstorming and then executing…
Read MoreClean Water System in Peru Improves Health, Education & Business
For many years, Doña Noa and fellow residents of Las Tunas, Peru endeavored to persuade their local government to invest in a potable water system and related training for their community. As a last mile community, far from major cities, it’s extremely difficult to find funding for these types of systems. Las Tunas residents decided…
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