Noticias

This season for APPM is about cherishing what truly counts: water, sanitation, families & wonderful people like you & the APPM team who make it possible.

Comayagua, Honduras — September 2025. The Latin America and Caribbean Learning Exchange brought together partners from The Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technologies (CAWST). They came from across the region. It was a dynamic five-day knowledge-sharing event. CAWST and Agua Pura para el Mundo (APPM) hosted this event.

The exchange united key government institutions,including the Secretary of Health and Secretary of Education. It brought together the National Water and Sewerage Service (SANAA) and the National Council for Drinking Water and Sanitation (CONASA). National businesses such as LT Marketing were involved. International organizations like Cántaro Azul (Mexico) and Centro SMART (Nicaragua) participated. Representatives from Business Connect World, El Ayudante, and Global Affairs Canada joined the event. EOS International and Church World Services were there too. CASM and The WASH Foundation (Dominican Republic branch) participated in the exchange as well. The Mamirauá Institute from the Brazilian Amazon and several local NGOs also took part.

Over the first two days, participants engaged in a collaborative WASH learning exchange. They focused on strengthening technical and community capacities. They also worked on scaling proven Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS, known regionally as TANDAS). Additionally, they identified new opportunities for cross-country coordination. The next sessions deepened collaboration across CAWST’s Latin American and Caribbean partner network. They highlighted shared innovation. The sessions advanced policy influence and long-term alliance building. Survey results revealed strong interest in further training on HWTS, Honduran water law, teacher capacity-building, action research and other. This landmark event serves as a powerful catalyst. It strengthens partnerships and encourages future joint action throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Each year, international volunteers join Agua Pura para el Mundo (APPM) . They help bring safe water, sanitation, and hygiene to Honduran families. In this process, they discover the power of teamwork, leadership, and humility. We are filled with gratitude for the Rotary Club of Safety Harbor Noon. We also thank the Rotary Club of New Port Richey, Tierra Verde Rotary, and Stephanie R. Zaragoza, Becky Bennett, Amber Ashford, Nikki Connell, Eric Johnson, and Barry Poppel. We also appreciate other Rotary Clubs and District 6950. Recurrent donors such as Paul Sofka and Stan Gallinsky donated to support the families of La Maquina. They provided water, hygiene, and sanitation in Danlí, Honduras. We are grateful for the committed volunteers who traveled here to serve.

The October 2025 service team volunteer trip was organized in the US. The organizers were Barry Poppel, Eric, and Scarleth Johnson. Rye Thompson and the Honduras APPM team also helped. It brought together volunteers from across the United States. This included Rotarians from several Florida clubs, the Bahamas, and new friends from Michigan, California, North Carolina, and other states.

They came with one shared purpose. To support the continued ASH program of APPM in delivering sustainable safe water, hygiene, and sanitation programs, 52 families. Volunteers accompanied APPM team members. They assisted as they installed bio sand filters. They completed the construction of sanitary facilities at the school. They brought games and pizza for the children. There were also activities for each household. This created a genuine bond—a sense of brotherhood—between families and volunteers.

As volunteer Kyle Poulain shared:
“The journey itself was a reminder of the challenges these families face every day. The reality was overwhelming some homes with collapsing roofs, no doors or windows, and no access to safe drinking water. And yet, despite the hardship, every person welcomed us with warmth, resilience, and gratitude that words can barely capture.
Together, we spent the day cleaning, assembling, and preparing the water filters that so many supporters helped make possible. And when the first clear drops of water flowed from a filter, it felt like witnessing a quiet miracle. Many of us fought back tears. For these families, this isn’t simply clean water it is protection, dignity, and a chance at better health.”
For Kyle, and for most of the volunteers and APPM team, the air was filled with overwhelming emotions. We felt joy and gratitude. There was also humility and a profound realization that human connection truly transcends borders. What began as a service project became a transformation. For us at APPM, it was more than a successful trip. It was a reminder of why we do this work.