80 Colombian families are supported with 50 household aqueducts when they return to their lands
The drama of the displaced in Colombia is one of the most serious problems for millions who have experienced this serious problem, however there are initiatives that make us see a seed of hope for one of the main problems of the country.
A group of professors from the Universidad del Atlántico and chemical engineers are part of the team that is addressing one of the most serious problems of the displaced who want to return to their lands: Access to water.
Ideas for Progress works for the displaced
From Colciencia, a project that has promoted this initiative that brings hope to the people who most need attention to this problem, with the name of "Ideas for Progress", has supported these communities with household aqueducts that currently serve 80 families with several tanks of 2000 liters each.
Chemical engineers Diego Quiñones and Jimena Vargas are working together with the institution's professors, in the quest to help in one of the areas most affected by the armed conflict, the longest in the region and apart from the direct victims, it leaves millions of displaced people who later, when trying to retake their lands and their lives, find unfavorable conditions for it.
Important for planting coffee
The benefited families are residing in the Vereda La Secreta, in this part of the Sierra Nevada (Santa Marta), the planting of fruits such as mango, avocado and also coffee has always been worked, so water is essential for to resume their rhythm of life and the local economy, which thanks to this initiative, they hope to resume, perhaps at a slow pace, but with the security and hope that this idea that is already a reality offers.
The project also includes a filter and chlorination systems that guarantee adequate treatment of water for human consumption.
The importance of this project, what it represents, is very difficult to measure from outside the perspective and drama of the displaced, but the gratitude and collaboration of the villagers with the team of scientific entrepreneurs, along with their smiles, speaks a lot about it.
The most difficult thing about working with communities that have been displaced by the armed conflict is to gain their trust so that they decide to participate and support the project, thanks to the transparency and genuine interest in helping the community, the team from the Center for Water Studies from the Universidad del Atlántico, has succeeded, and today we see the residents of Vereda La Secreta fully involved in this project that is expected to expand to benefit more people.
