Clean Water — Solar-Powered and Community-Led

Imagine taking a drink of water, turned muddy from season to season. That once was the reality for families in San Miguel, a fishing village on Isla Zapatera, off the coast of Nicaragua.

But that’s changed with the pioneering work of Asofénix Nicaragua, a partner organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) engaged with the community to develop solar-powered water systems that are transforming life in communities across Nicaragua.

Also integral to this community’s progress is Don Lorenzo Zambrana, a 66-year-old resident who has dedicated his life to fishing and agriculture.

“Many people here do not recognize that the water we drink is affecting our health,” he told neighbors at one of the project’s first meetings. “It is terrible how the water turns to dirt in the winter, and we calmly drink it because there is no other choice. But it is time for that to change. I want to drink clean water, even if it is for the last years of my life, so count on me for whatever it takes in this project.”

And his commitment is real.

Lorenzo attended every training session, supported Asofénix’s technical team and quickly emerged as a leader as the system was installed. Thanks to his dedication, he now oversees the water system’s day-to-day operation — checking the well and solar panels each morning and visiting households to ensure the system is running smoothly.

“I am interested in the water system working well and lasting for many years,” he said. “So, I said to myself, 'I can contribute my grain of sand and help it to be managed well.' And that is why I am here, doing my best to guarantee that the water system works.”

Today, 30 families — more than 130 people — in San Miguel have access to clean, safe drinking water. The water system additionally supports families planting vegetables and fruit trees in their yards to support nutrition in the village and has also inspired neighboring communities to seek out the system and start their own initiatives to improve water management.

When you give through the Presbyterian Giving Catalog, you support sustainable, community-led solutions that help meet essential needs like clean water, health and dignity — and empower local leaders like Lorenzo to help their neighbors thrive.