Atauro Island is a 2-hour boat journey from Dili, Timor-Leste’s capital. It is small, only slightly larger than Phillip Island in Melbourne, and home to about 10,000 people. The island is characterised by a mountainous landscape and a distinct lack of fresh-water rivers or lakes. Community water sources are mostly supplied through fresh-water springs and intermittent rain events and are often poor quality.

To date, Abundant Water has distributed 186 filters to vendors, schools and our partner organisation, Fokupers. Our first vendor training session has also been conducted, equipping selected candidates with the knowledge and skills needed to market and sell filters in their respective communities. Impacts have so far been felt in households and schools that purchased these initial sets, with a reliable supply of clean drinking water while vendors have already begun to see financial returns on initial filter purchases and will be able to use these sales as the beginning of ongoing distribution plan.

Abundant Water has taken a big step forward in its Friendship Grant funded project with its water filters arriving on the ground in Dili. This positive milestone comes as our on the ground Program Supervisor Tom O’Malley has continued engagement with local leaders and community groups.  

Abundant Water has been proudly progressing programs in Laos funded through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Direct Aid Program. The Direct Aid Program is a small grants program funded from Australia's aid budget.

While Abundant Water continues to grow its presence in Timor-Leste our team in Laos ably led by Keith keeps going from strength to strength.

On top of the 100 village partnership with Caritas Luxembourg Abundant Water is also occasionally called upon to help deliver assistance to communities in urgent need. During the wet season late last year our team on the ground in Laos was faced with such a situation.

The Abundant Water team and Fokupers recently undertook a the field visit to Atauro Island. The trip was an opportunity to hold a workshop for the local community about the Fokupers Program and share the benfits of Abundant Water’s ceramic water filter system.