Our Work

Water For Latin America

Samaritan’s Purse and our partner organization in Brazil continue to build and install BioSand Water Filters throughout this Latin American nation of nearly 200 million. Samaritan’s Purse water interns have worked alongside our partners, helping with construction, installation, and providing health and hygiene training to every family that receives a filter.

The physical and spiritual impact of the Samaritan’s Purse household water program in Brazil is far-reaching. Over 7,000 filters have been installed in homes throughout Brazil, and in each of these communities health teams educate on health, hygiene, and sanitation.

“ Now they don't suffer anymore.  ” - Brazilian mother on the impact of filtered water on the health of her children.

Through these efforts, many Brazilians have also been introduced to the love of Christ and have become new believers. Families with BioSand Water Filters have seen positive change due to drinking filtered water.

Maria Elena dos Santos, 45, has ten children ages three to 20. A BioSand Water Filter was recently installed in the family home. "We used to have a lot of diarrhea, stomachaches, and vomiting among the children,” she says. "After beginning with the filters, there was no more diarrhea in the children."

Ana Alice Marques Ferreira, a 31-year-old mother of five, says her family has been using their filter for over a year. "The filter had been really good, especially for the kids,” she says. “Before the filter, there was always someone in the family sick, usually the children. Now they don’t suffer anymore."

El Salvador

Samaritan’s Purse and our partner organization are working to dramatically improve the drinking water in El Salvador. Over 2,000 BioSand Water Filters have been built and installed in just three years, with work continuing to provide more families with filters.

The Rodriguez family knows how the BioSand Water Filter can positively improve health and well-being. The family lives on an island named Pasajera, approximately 1.5 kilometers off the coast of El Salvador. The people of Pasajera draw their water from shallow freshwater wells located around the island. These open wells are susceptible to contamination from the many animals that live on the island. Although the water appears clear, with few visible contaminants, it is full of parasites and bacteria.

Pasajera resident Rodriguez explained that his family recently received their filters, and instantly noticed great improvement in the drinking water. "The water from the well would turn green when we left it out in the sun, but the water from our filter doesn’t," said Rodriguez, a fisherman. "The water tastes very good now and my grandchildren’s health has improved; they aren’t sick all the time with diarrhoea and stomach aches,” he said.

The BioSand Water Filters, along with other projects, are practical examples of God’s love, and the way by which Samaritan’s Purse is reaching the people of El Salvador, Brazil, and other Latin American nations.

You can help. Turn on the Tap to safe water.

Ways You Can Help
Pray Please pray that God will continue to provide direction to Samaritan’s Purse, as we respond to people’s needs, share the love of Christ, and serve the church worldwide.		Give The need is urgent. A child is dying every 20 seconds in the developing world from diarrhoeal diseases caused by polluted water. Donate Here.