Water for the indigenous village of Alto Sondoveni
Our project partner "Technik ohne Grenzen e.V." is building a water supply in an indigenous village in Peru. The project "Water Supply Sondoveni" aims to provide a reliable water supply to the village of Alto Sondoveni, an indigenous village in the rainforest near the city of Satipo in Peru. Residents will be able to pipe clean water from a nearby spring to their homes. The project is divided into three phases: Exploration, Implementation and Evaluation. TOOLS FOR LIFE supports the project with 5.870 €.
Current Situation
Currently, the villagers rely almost entirely on rainwater. The rainwater seems to be sufficient during the rainy season from November to April. They collect it in rather simple constructions and use it for cooking and washing. Large water tanks are too expensive for them. During the dry season, however, there is a shortage of water.
In addition to using rainwater as a water source, villagers go to the Sondoveni River to wash. It is about a 15-minute walk from the center of the village.
Our Actions
The project team of Technology without Borders worked closely with the villagers to gain their acceptance and support for the project. A water supply system was built to meet the demand for water in the rainy and dry seasons. To ensure supply, water is collected in two holding tanks and transported through a pipeline to a cistern for storage. The cistern was built at a central one in the village and is located at a sufficient height to provide water also for important buildings and places in the village. To ensure the health of the villagers, it was recommended that the water be boiled before drinking. The project was finally handed over to the local leader.
Conclusion
The project "Water Supply Sondoveni" was successfully implemented. Clean water and a reliable water supply were provided to a large part of the village. The villagers were actively involved in the project, which strengthened their identification with the project. The long-term sustainability of the system is ensured by local responsibility.
Facts and numbers
People helped
EURO Budget
Month
The background to the project
In the rainforest, indigenous peoples live in small scattered villages and have a different lifestyle than non-indigenous Peruvians. These communities often have poorer living conditions and infrastructure compared to non-indigenous villages. They maintain their own languages and hold on to some of their ancestral traditions. Well-known indigenous ethnic groups in the Amazon are the Asháninka, Yahua, Arahuaka, Machiguenga, and Huitoto. Most indigenous communities are agricultural. Alto Sondoveni is one such indigenous community, while the neighboring village of Bajo Sondoveni is inhabited by non-indigenous people. Both villages are named after the Sondoveni River that flows past them. Like most indigenous communities, all families in the village are farmers. The houses and buildings are scattered over an area of 81.7 hectares, along a main road with large distances between them. Many households have their fields next to the houses, and some families own more than one house.
| Country | Peru |
|---|---|
| Human Development Index | 84 |