The communities that HydrateLife works with are the foundation of all of our projects. They are involved in every aspect of the project, from collaborating on the project design in the first days, to maintaining it for years after completion, and everything in-between.

Prior to the start of the project, several community meetings will be held to discuss the problem in the community, and what solutions are available. During this time people can ask questions and voice their opinion on the matter. It is through these meetings that the community will get the information needed to make informed decisions about their future.

And make informed decisions they will. The community members are involved in all decisions that are made during the project, either directly, or through their Community Water Council. They are also intimately involved in the construction of the project, providing general labor and any specialized skills towards the project’s completion.

This is very important because when you are involved in something, and really have your hands in it, you develop a sense of pride in that thing. And when a community feels pride in their project, a couple of things happen; one, they feel responsible for it, they want it to succeed, and last for as long as possible. This translates into the community actively maintaining the project, increasing its longevity, and overall success.

And two, because the community is proud of the project, they want to tell everyone about it. With the knowledge the community will gain throughout the project they can share exactly what they did, and how they did it, with other communities, spreading the knowledge and increasing the potential for similar projects in communities around them.

All of this, coupled with our education program, ensures that when we leave a community we are leaving a happier, healthier community that understands the importance of clean water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene, and know how to provide it for themselves for generations to come.