Water ACcess TO ALL
MYANMAR
IMPACT
119
Water Filters Donated
Ambassadors Established
6
550+
People Impacted
Communities Supported
1
GOALS
Our goal in Guatemala is to expand access to clean, safe drinking water while empowering local leaders to champion this work within their own communities.
500
Water Filter Systems
2,500+
People Living in and near Ngwe Saung
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Water Access To All (W.A.T.A.) works alongside local surf and community organizations in coastal Myanmar to expand access to clean, safe drinking water while empowering youth leaders to support long-term, community-led impact.
In Ngwe Saung and surrounding coastal areas, many families rely on untreated well and surface water sources that are vulnerable to contamination. Limited infrastructure and seasonal changes increase the risk of waterborne illness, making household water treatment a critical need.
W.A.T.A.’s Myanmar program began through a partnership with the Surf Association of Myanmar, an organization deeply rooted in the local community and youth surf culture. Through this partnership, W.A.T.A. was able to responsibly introduce household water filtration systems while building trust, training local leaders, and learning how clean water access can be sustained over time.
The program has evolved across multiple visits, moving from small pilot distributions to ambassador-led training, follow-ups, and water testing. Today, W.A.T.A.’s work in Myanmar focuses on pairing clean water access with education, data collection, and long-term system strengthening to support healthier families and empowered local leadership.
GOALS IN MYANMAR
W.A.T.A.’s goal in Myanmar is to support coastal communities with access to clean, safe drinking water while empowering local youth leaders to sustain and grow the work over time.
Through repeated visits, expanded training, and ambassador-led follow-ups, the program aims to build a durable clean water network rooted in trust, leadership, and long-term partnership. Clean water access is paired with surf-based community engagement and youth empowerment, creating multiple pathways for leadership and impact.
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
PHASE 1: Community Partnership & Initial Access
W.A.T.A. works alongside the Surf Association of Myanmar and local community leaders in Ngwe Saung to introduce household water filtration systems while building trust and understanding local water challenges. The program began with a small, exploratory visit during which a limited number of filters were distributed to families and through the Surf Association. This initial phase focused on learning, relationship-building, and assessing how training, follow-up, and clean water access could be introduced responsibly within the community.
PHASE 2: Local Leadership & Training
Local leadership is central to W.A.T.A.’s work in Myanmar. Members of the Surf Association of Myanmar have been trained as W.A.T.A. Ambassadors to lead filter installations, train families on proper use and cleaning, and serve as ongoing points of contact. Training has evolved over multiple trips to include clearer explanations of how filters work, hands-on practice, structured Filter Day stations, and the introduction of water testing to help communities better understand local water quality and the impact of filtration.
PHASE 3: Long-Term Support & System Strengthening
As the program matures, W.A.T.A. is shifting toward long-term support and system strengthening in Myanmar through ambassador-led follow-ups, digital surveys, and continued training. This phase includes collaboration with more partners, exploration of complementary WASH approaches like safe water storage, hygiene education, and water source protection, and intentional, community-led growth guided by local capacity and available resources rather than fixed distribution targets.
KEYS FOR SUCCESS
Sustainable impact in Myanmar depends on more than filter distribution, it requires trust, continuity, and strong local leadership. The program is guided by the following core elements:
Empowered Local Ambassadors
Members of the Surf Association of Myanmar are trained and supported to lead installations, conduct follow-ups, and serve as long-term points of contact within the community.
Clear, Hands-On Training
Training emphasizes understanding how filters work, proper use and cleaning, and realistic expectations, reinforced through structured Filter Day stations.
Responsible, Phased Growth
Expansion is gradual and adaptive, allowing relationships, leadership, and systems to strengthen together.
Strong Local Partnerships
Collaboration with established organizations ensures cultural understanding, access, and long-term trust.
Ongoing Support from W.A.T.A.
W.A.T.A. remains actively involved through training materials, follow-up systems, and continued partnership development.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
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Coastal families gain reliable access to clean, safe drinking water
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Local youth leaders are equipped to support installations and long-term follow-up
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Improved understanding of water quality through testing and education
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Reduced risk of waterborne illness at the household level
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A community-led model that can responsibly expand as capacity and funding grow
LONG-TERM VISION
W.A.T.A.’s long-term impact in Myanmar is focused on sustained access to clean drinking water, supported by empowered local leadership and strengthened water practices at the household and community level.
Through ambassador-led follow-ups, ongoing training, and water quality monitoring, families are supported beyond initial filter distribution. Over time, the program aims to reduce reliance on emergency or short-term solutions by pairing filtration with hygiene education, safe water storage, and water source protection.
By working alongside trusted local partners and youth leaders, W.A.T.A. is building a community-driven model that can adapt, expand responsibly, and continue improving health outcomes long after each trip ends.
TRIP LOG
TRIP 1
DATES: 3/25/24 - 3/29/25
COMMUNITY: NGWE SAUNG
TRIP RECAP
W.A.T.A. made its first visit to Myanmar in March 2024 as part of a broader trip through Southeast Asia. During this initial visit to Ngwe Saung, the team brought a small number of Sawyer water filters to test whether household filtration and training could work sustainably in the local context. A limited number of filters were installed at families’ homes, with additional filters donated through the Surf Association of Myanmar. This trip focused on learning, relationship-building, and understanding local water sources, needs, and community dynamics before any large-scale expansion.
IMPACT
FILTERS DONATED: 15
PEOPLE IMPACTED: 250+
SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY
Funds raised through this program directly support clean water access in Ngwe Saung and Bugwe. Donations help provide long-lasting water filtration systems, support community training and follow-ups, and strengthen the systems needed to ensure families have reliable access to safe drinking water over time.
Supporters can also create a personal fundraising page to help expand impact. 100% of the funds raised through your fundraiser go directly toward the Myanmar program, supporting the families and community partners involved in this work.
$50 = Clean Water for One Family
All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Water Access To All is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
