Mano a Mano staff visited our Wirkini water reservoir project last week and took some drone footage – the reservoir is currently nearly full with water. The reservoir project was started in 2012 and completed in 2016; it provides irrigation water to at least 341 Bolivian farm families in the area and irrigates 269 hectares of land (average family size is 6, for a total number of beneficiaries of 2,046). Water is typically only available in the Bolivian Highlands for the 2-3 month rainy season, and the rest of the year is a struggle for farmers to have water access for their crops and livestock. These water reservoir projects retain water and provide water access year-round, which allows for farmers to grow more and better crops, which in turn increases family nutrition and household incomes.


Wirkini Water Reservoir – More Information

Farmers look on excitedly as water begins flowing.

“As soon as he had done that, all the people who were lined up on the edges of the channel erupted in a cheer as water began to flow out of a hole from the reservoir. They watched the water flow through the concrete, and a few ran down the mountain at top speed, following the water for as long as they could.

For all of those watching and cheering, the water that they now have access to is incredibly important. After Bolivia’s worst drought in 25 years, crops nationwide have been lost. The communities that Wirkini helps are no exception.

Now, that’s all changed.

Mano a Mano volunteer Sam Klein attended the dedication and wrote about it here.

Video Credit: William Wroblewski


Pictures from Construction – 2012-2016

Pictures from Dedication – October 19, 2016