The business sector continues to promote programs aimed at meeting the goals of sustainable development. They are 17 interrelated global goals designed as “a blueprint for achieving a better, more sustainable future for all”. The United Nations General Assembly established the SDGs in 2015.

One of these initiatives is the one implemented by Toyota from Ecuador with its “Safe Water” project, in collaboration with the Raíz Foundation, which seeks to implement actions that contribute to the problem of water pollution in the rural Amazon. With this project, Toyota contributes to SDG 3, Health and Well-being; SDG 5, Gender equality; SDG 6, Clean water and sanitation; SDG 10, Reducing inequality.

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The project, which began last August, was developed based on data from the National Survey on Child Malnutrition ENDI 22-23, which shows that 74.9% of the water consumed in the rural Amazon is contaminated E coli and it is one of the main causes of chronic childhood malnutrition and gastrointestinal diseases in the indigenous communities of eastern Ecuador.

In this context, the company has started the construction of ten water supply systems, ensuring access to this vital fluid that is safe for human consumption in nine communities along the banks of the Aguarico River: Pucapeña, Taikua, Yanallpa, Yamajeth, Charap, Siekoya Remolino, Bellavista, Apokëwira and Nueva Esperanza , of which 560 residents benefited, including 307 boys and girls.

In addition, it contributes to the economic autonomy of women in the communities, because now they will no longer waste time collecting water for their household activities, promoting their bio-enterprises, including: the production of ceramics, handmade jewelry, the production of essential oils, soaps and natural creams, among others.

In addition, Toyota del Ecuador and Fundación Raíz have also committed themselves to the preservation of the environment with this project, since the water systems will use methods of providing clean and self-sustainable energy, such as solar panels that will supply water to water systems for water production.

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“This great initiative was born from a multidisciplinary team and the support of executives and directors of Toyota of Ecuador, who were committed to seeking transformative actions that positively impact society and the environment. We saw that safe water was an urgent need for these families, and that’s why I decided to implement a real, long-term solution for them and their generations,” said Hiroshi Kitahara, CEO of Toyota del Ecuador.

On the other hand, Maricela Piaguaje, the representative of the Keñao Association, which brings together the bioenterprises of women from the community of Siekoya Remolino, commented: “As mothers and entrepreneurs, we received this project with enthusiasm, imagining from now on how much time we will have to recover by having a facility with safe water in our homes, being with our children, creating new products and publishing our ventures, my words would be for some people time is money; For us, water is gold.”