Connecting water professionals
and donors with communities
in Latin America & Africa
in need of
clean water and sanitation
In 2024, we have directly impacted* over 154,000 lives, and benefited over 2.8 million people in the catchment* areas of our healthcare facility WASH improvement projects.
*The direct impact of community water projects refers to the immediate benefits, such as improved access to clean water and sanitation for the population directly served. The catchment population impact reflects broader, indirect effects on the health and well-being of beneficiary populations served by healthcare facilities (HCFs), including reduced disease prevalence, increased access to water and sanitation improvements in healthcare facilities, and overall improved public health outcomes.
NEWS & HAPPENINGS
WEFTA’s commitment is driven by heartfelt dedication to improving lives
“WEFTA is here to help from their hearts.” - Panamanian community member, February 2025 The post-construction follow-up program of Water Engineers for the Americas and Africa (WEFTA) is a critical component in ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of...
The WEFTA team is in Panama
The WEFTA team is on-the-ground in Panama to check in on completed, ongoing, and potential water projects for over 10 communities. Early last week, WEFTA volunteers Tim, Greg, and Tess headed to Panama to check in on water systems in multiple communities. They visited...
2024 Annual Report
Glancing back as we continue to move forward. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors, partners, volunteers, and the communities we serve for your collaboration and unwavering support in 2024. As we move forward in 2025, WEFTA continues to work toward...
New Hand Pumps for 11 Families in Guallaqueri
WEFTA Partners with Suma Jayma to Provide Manual Water Pumps to Bolivia’s Guallaqueri Community Eleven families are the latest beneficiaries of new manual water pumps in the Guallaqueri community of Bolivia’s Altiplano. Guallaqueri is located in the municipality of...
WEFTA and SAWA Strengthen WASH Services in Tanzanian Healthcare Facilities
Water Engineers for the Americas & Africa (WEFTA) and Sanitation and Water Action (SAWA) have advanced water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts in Tanzania through a focused initiative conducted from September 15 to October 7, 2024. This "circuit rider"...
WEFTA Supports VHP in Advancing Maternal Health in Ethiopia
For six years, the Village Health Partnership (VHP) has worked to improve maternal care in southwestern Ethiopia by strengthening 10 interconnected health facilities. A key partner, WEFTA, has been instrumental in enhancing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)...
Identifying critical WASH needs in El Salvador
According to national statistics, approximately 20% of rural Salvadorans lack access to basic drinking water, and nearly 50% lack access to safe sanitation facilities. In October 2024, WEFTA volunteers Ryan “Reno” Shields and Tim Wellman traveled to El Salvador, where...
WASH Improvement Project is almost complete for Lundu Parish Center
Residents and staff of Lundu Parish Center in Tanzania are the latest beneficiaries of a multi-faceted water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) partnership project between WEFTA and SAWA[1]. The Lundu Parish Center is located in the Nyasa District of Tanzania, and...
Assessing Water and Sanitation for Communities in El Salvador
Along with our in-country partners, Paso Pacífico, WEFTA is visiting 6 communities this week in El Salvador within the Laguna Olomega watershed to assess water and sanitation issues. Infrastructure improvements needed in the area include access to protected...
The Ripple Effect of ‘WASH’ in Catholic Health Care
“Tens of thousands of faith-based health care facilities around the world serve populations in impoverished areas where there might otherwise be no health care. But from maternal and newborn infections and deaths to dozens of illnesses and diseases, from malnutrition...
Spotlight on Scott McKitrick: WEFTA Geologist Volunteer
WEFTA volunteer Scott McKitrick enjoys meeting people in communities wherever his work takes him. A geologist employed by Souder, Miller & Associates in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Scott wants to know how people in various communities live on a daily basis, organize,...
Drinking Water for Cuipa Kahuaya
After generations of relying on dirty river flows and contaminated, open wells, over 70 families of the community of Cuipa Kahuaya finally have access to safe, spring-fed water in their homes. WEFTA volunteers and father son team, Jason and Anthony Gehrig, traveled to...
Spotlight on Jacob Ford: WASH Engineer passionate about making a tangible difference
As an engineer with growing expertise in public health, Jacob Ford brings a unique, holistic approach to his volunteer work with WEFTA. The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Engineer is currently a PhD student in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease at Tulane...
Ensuring Sustainability: Checking in on Water Projects in Panama
Our goal is that completed projects continue providing benefits over time without outside assistance. In February, WEFTA volunteers Fr. Roberto Cumberland, Greg Branch, and Tim Wellman traveled to Panama to check in on ongoing, proposed, and completed projects. The...
Accolades for WEFTA partner, Chief Dom Nwachukwu
Congratulations Chief Nwachukwu! Chief Dom Nwachukwu is founder and CEO of Groundwater Development & Engineering, LTD, a consulting engineering hydrogeological firm based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Chief Nwachukwu has worked extensively in the Niger Delta,...
Improving Lives in Copatamaya
Installation of new wells and hand pumps for Indigenous families in the Andean community of Copatamaya is now complete. Through collaborative efforts with our Bolivian in-country partners, Suma Jayma, and financial support from The Spirit of Christ Church based in...
Working to Improve WASH in Healthcare Facilities in Cameroon
WEFTA is dedicated to promoting water, sanitation, and hygiene services (WASH) in healthcare facilities (HCFs) in the countries we serve. Our projects in 2024 include vital WASH improvements to two HCFs in Cameroon. Collectively, these improvements will impact over...
Spotlight on Hanna Brosky: WASH Graduate Student and WEFTA Volunteer
When the Bajo Algodón community water board proposed clearing a road through the rain forest to bring in materials for a WEFTA water and sanitation project, Hanna Brosky witnessed the Panamanian community mobilize in short order. The University of North Carolina (UNC)...
Circuit Rider making great strides towards WASH improvements in Kenya
WEFTA’s Circuit Rider, David Kurgat, is making great strides towards WASH improvements for health posts and schools in Kenya. WEFTA is working closely with our in-country circuit rider, David Kurgat, on the assessment, repair, and renovation of WASH improvements at...
Remembering Paul Simon’s Water for the World Act
Senator Paul Simon foresaw the global water crisis and was an early leader in seeking solutions, pushing to increase access to water and sanitation to meet the fundamental needs of the most vulnerable communities around the world. Check out this article published by...
WEFTA published in NPCA WorldView
A new opportunity for RPCVs to help deliver clean water, sanitation and hygiene to rural communities. Most people in the developed world would agree with the statement “Water is life.” After all, our hands, lips, food, clothing, and household surfaces come in contact...
On the ground in Panama
Our commitment is to the long-term success of the projects we’re involved with and it doesn’t stop when construction is complete. The WEFTA team is on the ground in Panama checking in on the status of current and completed projects. On their journey, WEFTA volunteers,...
2023 Annual Report
We are committed to improving lives! Thanks to all of you, our donors, sponsors, partners, and friends, WEFTA continues to work hard improving access to water and sanitation resources for communities in need in Latin America and Africa. We are committed to developing...
WEFTA and Suma Jayma: A Partnership for Safe Water and Sanitation on Bolivia’s Altiplano
Introduction Bolivian families living on the highland plateau known as the Altiplano are the beneficiaries of a fruitful partnership between WEFTA and the in-country organization, Suma Jayma. Since 2004, this collaboration has completed numerous groundwater well...
Spotlight on John Vavruska: A Rich History of Volunteering
For decades, John Vavruska has volunteered to help provide clean water and proper sanitation in developing countries around the world. An engineer in the environmental and waste treatment technology field, John finds great satisfaction in making fundamental services a...
Water & Health
Since 2002, WEFTA has been connecting donors, engineers, and communities in Latin America and Africa, all with the common goal of ensuring access to clean drinking water for everyone.
Sanitation & Environment
WEFTA engineers help facilitate community dialog leading to solutions for inadequate sewage treatment, and its environmental impacts.
Development & Sustainability
WEFTA volunteers work with the communities we partner with to develop the local skills needed to maintain and manage the water and wastewater systems constructed.