Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to work with Agua Yaku, an organization dedicated to bringing potable water to rural Bolivian communities by teaching villages how to use basic filters and through various drilling projects. With a team of volunteers, the “village drill” was taken to Ibiato, an indigenous community that suffers from the lack of a reliable, clean water source. While it’s one thing to simply give to those in need, it’s another to educate and invest in those who suffer. This drill gives community members the opportunity to participate in the process of bringing clean water to their town, which provides a greater sense of ownership and responsibility to the well when finished. It was heartwarming to see two cultures come together and even though this particular well was not finished, much was gained in the process and in time, this project will be completed with what we learned from the trip.

Here’s a look at the process involved in bringing water to people. Enjoy!

{Agua Yaku and The Village Drill from Jessica Janoski.}