Marmalade Sunsets: My interview with Averill Strasser, COO of Water Charity

On a recent visit to the regions of Mesoamerica in Mexico, I was utterly adrenalized and fascinated by the wealth of history surrounding Mesoamerica civilization. As a dedicated Wynberg Girl (school one’s parents sends daughters so as to produce “fine girls”), I remember being drawn to the precocious innovations of the Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs and Teotihuacan. One of my very good friends, enticed by the piquancy of the ancient Mayan customs, was unquestionably compelled to write a book about his intimate experiences and diagnosis of ancient Mayan inscriptions as he journeyed through Mesoamerica Guatemala. As captivating as these accounts are, these are areas, just like many regions in the world, that are facing unique challenges, including the challenge of safe drinking water, effective sanitation and adequate health education.

I met Averill Strasser on Twitter and was intrigued to hear more of how his organization, Water Charity, is able to deliver safe water and sanitation through their model of “slim organization”. I was extremely impressed by how their groups of volunteers are able to build several hundred latrines over a 2-3 week period, within a very limited budget as part of their sanitation initiative in various regions of Mexico, Central America, and South America. These revolutionary techniques are alleviating the persistent challenges of malaria, diarrhea-related illnesses as well as promoting public education.

I wonder how someone, having practiced law for twenty years in Beverly Hills, as well as worked as an Engineer, had transitioned into the role of COO of Water Charity. Averill gives me a clue and takes me back to Bolivia to 1966 where he worked on various Peace Corps projects. Undoubtedly, he did not have much choice when he left Bolivia at the time, and started traveling throughout Central and South America where he realized the impact his current expertise would have on innumerable communities if he volunteered, one small project at a time. One small project at a time…now saving thousands of lives...

Several volunteer opportunities exist if you’re interested in getting involved with their safe water initiatives as well as finding solutions to effective sanitation projects. For more information, you can reach Averill at mail@watercharity.org
To see our video introduction, please see http://www.travelvolunteersearch.blogspot.com/

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