Video: Banco'i school receives donation of a water purification system

Children at the Yparaguaymí school in Banco’i, Paraguay, now have access to clean drinking water thanks to a private donation of a purification system and solar panels. For decades, the community, located on the border of Cordillera and San Pedro, relied on raw water from the river, leading to frequent health issues.

The initiative came after media coverage highlighted the severe lack of basic services for students and teachers. The new system, installed by private companies, purifies river water and stores it in a 2,000-liter tank, all powered by solar energy. "Yesterday they finished the installation and the water came out clear, drinkable. For us, it is a very important step because the children have never drunk potable water before," said Cirilo Mazacotte, a teacher at the institution.

While the system primarily serves the school's needs, the 22 daily students can take home two to three liters of treated water in containers to share with their families. This addresses immediate thirst but does not solve the community's broader isolation. Banco’i still lacks an electricity grid and all-weather roads, making transportation difficult.

Despite the water solution, the school struggles with other challenges. Food supplies are transported by truck and then by canoe for nearly two hours along the river. However, the community celebrates the opening of seventh grade and the arrival of a "backpack teacher" for early stimulation. The school also continues to operate without a connection to the national electricity provider (ANDE) or adequate infrastructure.

“

Yesterday they finished the installation and the water came out clear, drinkable. For us, it is a very important step because the children have never drunk potable water before.