Julo Grande, a community found at the head of a valley in the Department of Potosi, is found in the province of Charcas and belongs to the cantón of Julo in the municipality of Torotoro. It is characteristic of the canton of Julo. Its climate is sub-tropical with temperatures rising above 30°C (86°F) in spring and summer. This characteristic is the one that guides the major activity in the region and community: agriculture, mainly producing citrus fruit such as lemons, oranges, and other varieties, in addition to producing peanuts and zucchini. It borders the community of Río Caíne and has in its hillsides quite a bit of fresh water, the product of the natural pouring down of waters from higher altitudes. In addition, it also has a very welcoming landscape along the road leading to the municipal capital of Torotoro. 40 families live in this community with about 182 inhabitants. There is an elementary school that offers 1st through 5th grade. The leadership practiced in the community is that of a labor union, with a director/president and his directing committee. There is neither a Catholic nor an Evangelical church in the community, but there is a group of believers that attend a Baptist church in Calahuta (at 4 km from the community), and among them is Virgilio Espinoza who, together with his family, is the principle character in this story.

The necessity of safe drinking water was a need of the children and women of the community. However, due to the agricultural activity that is a priority for the men, the water project has always been postponed. The people have contented themselves with getting their water from the irrigation canals, even with all that this implies with regards to health. The leadership is strong, and in these last few years, is motivated by the Movement toward Socialism (MAS), a left-wing political movement that rejects every “outside indoctrination or teaching,” including the Evangelical Christianity of the “gringos.”

From the time at which FHI (and specifically the Natural Resources Program) entered the zone in the person of Arnaldo Vargas at the beginning of 2002, one can begin to see the work of the institution, always tied to the VOC teachings shared by the VOC facilitator, Pastor Rodolfo Mallon. These courses, whenever possible, are given in coordination with the church in Calahuta. A small group of 2 families that are from Julo Grande, but that attend the church in Calahuta, were encouraged to begin holding Christian meetings in their own community. At the same time, at the end of 2002, the integrated health facilitator, Roman Gregorio, and 2 FHI biologists entered the community to do a study on the Parabá de Frente Roja, which produces gratefulness in the community for being able to count on an institution that “works in a different way” than other NGO’s. In this way, the institution has gained the confidence and trust of the community.

In 2003, Mr. Virgilio Espinoza took over the position of director of the labor union. He is a leader recognized by the community for his participation for the good of the community and of the canton in union meetings of both the canton and the province. At the same time that all this occurred, Virgilio’s wife, Leonarda, was returning to the way of the Lord and beginning to participate in the Christian meetings. We have also learned that Virgilio had been an Evangelical Christian years ago, but due to the influence of the union leadership, left the faith.

Due to his leadership abilities, Virgilio managed to obtain resources from the municipal government for the construction of a potable water system in Jula Grande and contacted the FHI Infrastructure Projects staff engineer Julio Aramayo and technician Jaime Mamani. The first meeting held with the community revealed that the community holds a suspicious view of NGOs and was unconvinced that a water system would actually be constructed. They were ready to end discussions about it, but Virgilio began encouraging them to pursue the project. His community listened to him.

Preparations began for the water system including digging absorption wells for a bathroom for each of the 36 families participating. When these were ready, the unexpected occurred. One night the youngest daughter of Virgilio fell in one of the wells and suffered triple fractures in her leg which required Virgilio to bring her to Cochabamba for hospitalization. The regional FHI office in Cochabama collected a love offering for the family to help with the high costs this incurred. They also were able to offer a lower amount of counter funding required for the water project. These gestures showed Virgilio and his community that what had happened saddened FHI too and that FHI desired the best for their community just as much as they did. In this way, the families began attending the VOC meetings again. Virgilio’s daughter’s leg is still in the process of recuperation due to the gravity of the fracture. However, when the inauguration of the water system took place on November 10, 2003, she was there with her mother, father, and siblings participating in the filming of a video for the promotion of sanitation projects.

Virgilio is no longer the community leader, but he continues in leadership through the Potable Water Committee of Julo Grande. He is President of this committee. This year he has helped begin a new project of improving housing to help eradicate Chagas disease with Pro-Habitat. He is the promoter for his community, applying Christian principles learned during the difficult time he experienced during 2003.