I have know several of the original founders of The People's Consultants aka Agua del Pueblo for 50 years and been to Guatemala years back and have seen firsthand the incredible work they have done not just to bring potable water to people in desperate need of it. But they do so much more. Through the community-based process it has established for building the water systems that bring much needed water to villages and towns, The People's Consultants and its sister organization AdP have empowered these communities and given them not just drinkable water, but a greater sense of pride, empowerment, and control over their future. It is a truly remarkable and transformative process, one that many NGOs strive to implement, but few as successfully as the People's Consultants/AdP.
Hello. My name is Mike Rabe. I was trained by ADP in 1981 to be a T.A.R. (Rural Water Technician). I got to be involved in planning and construction of different types of water and sanitation projects in Guatemala and El Salvador. We used ADP's special brand of Integrated Technology where you rely heavily on community participation at all levels of the project. (4 stars because there are always ways to improve) I would hope ADP continues its' work long into the future.
Agua del Pueblo has improved the lives of thousands of Guatemalans living in remote villages by installing inexpensive fresh water systems at no charge to the villagers. Agua del Pueble trains Guatemalans to use and maintain the systems, insuring their long-term usefulness.
Thomas C. Gullette, Architect, Houston, Texas
I worked on several water projects with Aqua del Pueblo in the 70's and these people are the real deal. I am convinced that their methodology of working with rural communities brings a positive change for health through potable water systems, but maybe more importantly, is a catalyst for future community development. Thumbs up for a great organization!
Our organization has partnered with Agua del Pueblo in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. They work with highly skilled indigenous engineers in rural communities and have brought water and sanitation to communities that desperately need it. We are so grateful to have partnered with them!
After a 10 day tour of projects in Guatemala we were amazed by the excellent work of Aqua del Pueblo around Lake Atitlan. We viewed water storage facilities and water distribution through very difficult terrain. The participation of the communities is what this group has been able to obtain. Money was only a seed in the success of those projects.
I've worked with the People's Consultants (tPC) since its founding in 1973. Tons of deserving nonprofit organizaations are worthy of our support. However, I feel strongly that donations could not be better used than through the People's Consultants. Everyone at tPC is a volnteer! We have NO paid staff. All of tPC's donations go directly to Guatemala for projects in the field. tPCs efforts have helped Agua del Pueblo (AdP) provide water and sanitation for more than 500,000 beneficiaries in 700 communities!
For the past 47 years the People's Consultants has been a sister organization and supporter of the Guatemalan non-profit Agua del Pueblo. Agua del Pueblo has done incredible work assisting poor rural communities to become organized and undertake projects to gain access to clean drinking water and sanitation. AdP has assisted a total of over 500,000 people in more than 700 rural communities. These projects really change lives! Girls can go to school instead of spending hours each day hauling water home from distant sources that are almost always polluted. Peoples' health improves. And communities are empowered to take on other improvement projects.
The People's Consultants is an exceptional organization focused on delivering clean water and sanitation to communities in rural Guatemala. The organization has a long, successful history and has improved the lives of thousands of Guatemalan families in the Lake Atitlan watershed. Bruce Clemens and Andy Karp are both incredibly knowledgeable about rural water and sanitation as well as community development. Their knowledge of these topics is only exceeded by their tireless commitment to having a positive, sustainable impact on the communities they work to support.
I work for a NGO in Guatemala and I visit a lot of NGO projects every year. The Peoples Consultants and Agua Del Pueblo are top notch outfits. They have successfully provided water to many many thousands of people in ways that empower locals to take responsibility for their own water systems. Their local team is 100% Guatemalan and you won't find a more professional team anywhere. In my mind empowering local people so they can control their lives is the greatest thing an NGO can do.
I highly recommend Peoples Consultants. They make the world a better place.