Zenú Indigenous Reservation – El Volao
NEACOL Helps Bring Clean Water to Indigenous Schools
by Delia Visbal • August 2024
The 6th edition of our bi-weekly blog features the Zenú Indigenous Reservation – El Volao, a community that has benefited from NEACOL’s support in 2024. This article highlights the organization’s achievements in providing clean water, one of the most crucial resources for human life, to indigenous families in Colombia.
The Problem
One of the most basic necessities of life, and one that is often taken for granted, is clean drinking water. Yet, there are still millions of people that do not have access to clean drinking water.
This is the reality for many communities in the world, especially in Africa, Asia, and South America. Colombia is no exception.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, 1 in 10 people worldwide lack access to safe water. The water crisis disproportionately affects developing countries, and the number of people without access is projected to increase due to climate change.
Even though Colombia has made significant progress in providing access to clean water for its people, many challenges still remain, particularly in rural and underserved areas. about 8% of the population lacks access to basic drinking water services, primarily affecting rural and remote regions, including indigenous communities, one of the most vulnerable populations due to constant displacement.
Providing a Basic Resource for Living: Drinkable Water
The Zenú Indigenous Reservation – El Volao, is one of the Colombian nonprofit organizations that NEACOL has supported through the years. El Volao is located in Necoclí, a small town in the department of Antioquia and its mission is to safeguard the life, culture, tradition, and wellbeing of native communities. It supports 541 indigenous children between ages 6 and 17 in nine indigenous schools: Rio Leon, Caracolí, Bocas de Palmita, Varasanta, Nuevo Caribia, Nuevo Paraiso, Florisanto, Tamarindo y El Volao.
These communities have been affected by violence in Colombia, leading to displacement from their rural areas. For them, rebuilding a sustainable way of life is challenging and returning to their territory often reveals that local resources and traditional knowledge have been dismantled. These communities need many resources, such as school equipment, supplies,infrastructure and, most importantly, access to clean water. Many water reservoirs in the area contain dirty water that is not drinkable. In an area where temperatures reach 37°C, children are at risk of illnesses and dehydration from drinking untreated water, leading to higher rates of school dropout.
History
The 2,557 people in the 9 communities that The Zenú Indigenous Reservation – El Volao supports have migrated from one territory to another after being forced by armed entities to leave San Andrés de Sotavento. They are now displaced in the area of Urabá in Antioquia, having left their roots and adopted other customs. This displacement has led to a loss of identity and weakening of the social and cultural heritage of the communities.
Their Mission and Work
The main objective of the Zenú Indigenous Reservation is to provide water purification filters to the schools, ensuring indigenous children have access to clean water and constant hydration to prevent diseases and promote health.
The “arcifilter” is an ecological technology introduced by OXFAM GB through the Ceramistas Por La Paz organization. It guarantees 99.9% effectiveness and has a capacity of 60 liters, supplying drinking water to 30 children a day or 2 liters per child. The implementation plan includes delivering and installing filters in educational institutions, training teachers, students, leaders, and restaurant staff in managing and maintaining the filters. Students also receive education on water and basic sanitation, learning about diseases and the consequences of drinking untreated water.
NEACOL’s Call for Proposals 2024/2025
El Resguardo Indígena Zenú, El Volao, received grants from NEACOL in 2024 to provide water purification filters to the schools, ensuring the minimum resource for many indigenous children to have a better life and being constantly hydrated.
Every year, NEACOL opens a call for proposals for organizations working to improve the living conditions of Colombian children up to 18 years old in health, nutrition, and education. This year’s call for proposals has already closed as we have received letters of intent and are selecting the organizations invited to submit a full proposal. The selected organizations will receive financial resources from NEACOL to continue their nutrition programs. Visit the NEACOL 2024 Call for Proposals page to learn more.
In conclusion, Zenú Indigenous Reservation – El Volao is dedicated to transforming lives through clean water, providing students in indigenous schools with direct access to drinking water, preventing gastrointestinal diseases, and promoting health and water care.
To learn more about Zenú Indigenous Reservation – El Volao and how you can support their mission, watch this 1-minute video, visit their website, and follow them.
If you’d like to help NEACOL eradicate malnutrition in Colombian children in need, click here to donate.
Thank you for helping us fight Colombian children’s malnutrition.
