“This Reservoir is the Inheritance For Our Children”
People standing on the levee wall of Mano a Mano’s water reservoir in Wirkini, Bolivia which was dedicated last week. 347 families – more than 2,000 people – now have consistent access to water, to grow more crops and be able to better provide for their families.
Wirkini water reservoir, October 2016
At the dedication, one farmer talked about waiting for 50 years to see this reservoir project completed. He urged his fellow farmers to care for the reservoir, telling them that this project is the inheritance for their children.
“This reservoir is the inheritance for our children.” – Wirkini farmer that had waited 50 years to see this reservoir completed
More Information about the Wirkini Water Reservoir
Wirkini is a small community located in the Province of Tiraque, Department of Cochabamba, and is about 12,700 feet above sea level in the Bolivian Altiplano.
The reservoir will provide irrigation water to 347 Bolivian farm families in the area and irrigate 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.
- Article from volunteer Sam Klein about the impact of the reservoir for the communities
- Note from Mano a Mano co-founder Segundo Velasquez from the dedication
- Pictures & information from August when construction was being finalized
- Post from volunteer Sam Klein about a site visit to Wirkini in September