Vietnam

IMPACT

224

Water Filters Donated

Schools Supported

1500+

People Impacted

Communities Supported

GOALS

W.A.T.A.’s goal in Vietnam is to expand access to clean drinking water while building a durable, locally led system that can respond to both long-term needs and emergency situations.

1000

Water Filter Systems

5,000+

People Living in North, Central, & South Vietnam

MAKE AN IMPACT

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Water Access To All (W.A.T.A.) works alongside schools, educators, and local organizations across Vietnam to expand access to clean, safe drinking water through sustainable household water filtration systems and community-led follow-up.

The Vietnam program began in September 2023 through a partnership with the Han-Schneider International Children’s Foundation, supporting a school community in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. An initial installation of 10 household filters quickly revealed a much larger need. Community leaders requested support for every family connected to the school, marking the start of W.A.T.A.’s first long-term, completion-focused program.

Since then, W.A.T.A. has installed 214 water filters across Vietnam, completing clean water access for an entire Central Highlands community and expanding into northern Vietnam and Hanoi through schools, orphanages, and urban communities. Vietnam remains a priority country due to ongoing flood and typhoon risk, as well as strong local partnerships that support long-term impact.

GOALS IN VIETNAM

W.A.T.A.’s goal in Vietnam is to expand and sustain access to clean drinking water while building a strong, locally led system that can function independently of constant outside intervention. This includes supporting communities already served, expanding access to additional schools and families in northern and southern regions, and training trusted teachers and community leaders to serve as W.A.T.A. Ambassadors. By strengthening local leadership and preparedness, the program aims to respond effectively to both everyday water needs and emergency situations such as flooding and typhoons, while laying the groundwork for responsible growth and future volunteer engagement.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

PHASE 1: Community Partnership & Initial Access

W.A.T.A. works with trusted local organizations, schools, and educators to identify communities facing limited or unsafe drinking water access. Initial engagement prioritizes schools, orphanages, and community hubs that provide stability, trust, and access to families. Installations are paired with hands-on training, ensuring families understand proper filter use, cleaning, and safe water storage from the start.

PHASE 2: Local Leadership & Ambassador Development

As relationships deepen, teachers and community leaders are trained to take on expanded roles as W.A.T.A. Ambassadors. Ambassadors support ongoing education, conduct follow-ups, assist with surveys, troubleshoot issues, and help guide future filter distributions. This phase focuses on building confidence, accountability, and local ownership so communities are supported year-round, not only during visits.

PHASE 3: Expansion, Disaster Response & System Strengthening

With ambassador systems in place, W.A.T.A. supports broader expansion by providing additional filters, training resources, and logistical support. This phase allows the program to respond quickly during floods and typhoons, deploy filters where they are most urgently needed, and strengthen surrounding systems through hygiene education, safe storage practices, and future WASH initiatives. Structured volunteer trips may be introduced to support, not replace, local leadership.

KEYS FOR SUCCESS

Sustainable impact in Vietnam 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

Teachers, school leaders, and community partners are trained and supported to lead installations, conduct follow-ups, and serve as long-term points of contact within their communities.

Clear, Hands-On Training

Training focuses on understanding how filters work, proper use and cleaning, safe water storage, and realistic expectations, reinforced through hands-on demonstrations and community-based instruction.

Responsible, Phased Growth

Expansion is gradual and adaptive, allowing relationships, leadership, and systems to strengthen before moving into new regions or increasing scale.

Strong Local Partnerships

Collaboration with trusted organizations such as the Tam Ky Project, SOS Children, and local educators 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, data tracking, and continued partnership development, even between trips.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Families gain reliable access to clean, safe drinking water
Teachers and community leaders are equipped to support installations and long-term follow-up
Improved understanding of water quality, hygiene, and safe water practices
Reduced reliance on boiling or unsafe water sources, lowering the risk of waterborne illness
A community-led model that can responsibly expand and respond to flooding or disaster-related needs as capacity and funding grow

LONG-TERM VISION

W.A.T.A.’s long-term vision in Vietnam is to build a resilient, locally led network that ensures access to clean drinking water well beyond any single trip, installation, or emergency response. The program is designed to move from external support toward community ownership, with teachers, school leaders, and trusted local partners serving as the backbone of long-term sustainability.

As ambassador capacity grows, W.A.T.A. aims to support communities across the Central Highlands, northern Vietnam, Hanoi, and future southern regions through consistent training, follow-up, and resource access. This includes maintaining completed communities, expanding responsibly into new areas, and strengthening readiness for floods and typhoons through pre-positioned filters and trained local responders.

Over time, Vietnam will function as a model for ambassador-led growth within W.A.T.A., demonstrating how completion-focused planning, strong partnerships, and locally empowered leadership can create durable water access systems. The ultimate goal is a country program where clean water access is protected, monitored, and expanded by people within the community, supported by W.A.T.A. as a long-term partner rather than a short-term provider.

TRIP LOG

TRIP 0

DATES: 9/1/23 - 9/13/23

COMMUNITY: CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

TRIP RECAP

Before W.A.T.A. was formally established, an initial visit to a school community in Vietnam’s Central Highlands took place through a partnership with the Han-Schneider International Children’s Foundation. Ten household water filters were installed for families connected to the school, alongside in-person demonstrations on proper use and cleaning. Conversations with teachers and community leaders revealed that nearly every family relied on untreated water sources and requested support for the entire community. This visit identified both the scale of need and the importance of school-based partnerships, ultimately shaping W.A.T.A.’s first long-term, completion-focused program.

IMPACT

FILTERS DONATED: 10

PEOPLE IMPACTED: 50+

FUND A FUTURE TRIP

MEDIA

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SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY

Your support helps W.A.T.A. sustain and expand clean water access across Vietnam. Donations fund household water filters, training for local teachers and community leaders, follow-up visits, and rapid response during floods and typhoons. By supporting the Vietnam program, you’re helping complete commitments, empower local leadership, and ensure communities have reliable access to safe drinking water long after initial installations.