The Power of Helping Hands in Cuba
In 2015, H2O4ALL partnered with Assemblies of God Cuba to bring safe water to Cuban communities in need. Our mission began in the city of Cienfuegos, the capital of the Cienfuegos District on the south coast of Cuba. The public water system in Cienfuegos City was over a century old and falling into disrepair. Families were getting by without enough water for their daily needs, and the water they did have was frequently contaminated and unsafe to drink.
Since then, twenty churches in the Cienfuegos and Villa Clara Districts, empowering them to provide their neighbors with a safe, clean alternative to local water sources. These projects have provided water access their communities could count on, even through times of crisis. During Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Elsa in 2021, people traveled for miles to find water and shelter at our partner churches. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Assemblies of God churches stayed open to provide water to needy families and our Clean Hands Initiative helped fight the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.
Throughout the past decade, the success of these projects came from a dedicated group of volunteers. Every year, volunteers have made the journey to Cuba and helped expand the initiative in a new community, from installing solar panels to educating the locals about water safety.
“It just seems like we’re bringing that hope.” Derek, a veteran of the corporate team, explained in an interview. “Just taking a week off of work, you bring so much to the community.”
Throughout each project, the teams work closely with local churches and their neighbors. Alyssa, another member of the volunteer team, shared how the team built relationships with the community: “Even with the language barrier, (the community was) willing to help us install the project, digging holes and digging trenches. They’re just right in it with us, and it’s inspiring to see the community come together.”
During our regular maintenance trips, volunteers check on their safe water systems, replace old components, and ensure that the systems provide their communities with safe water for years to come. These maintenance trips are funded largely by our annual Taste of India fundraiser, another volunteer effort. Every year for nearly a decade, volunteer Hycinth Gomez has brought her community together to raise funds for Cuba with classic Indian food.
From yearly fundraisers to project maintenance, our Cuba initiatives run on the power of volunteer work. By investing their time and effort in H2O4ALL, volunteers help build initiatives with lasting benefits for the community, improving the lives of thousands of people in water-stressed communities.
If you’re in the west GTA area on June 8th, you can be part of that community by joining us for Taste of India. Join us for an evening of classic Indian food and the chance to support our ongoing partnership with Assemblies of God in Cuba.
