This past year has been filled with amazing initiatives that amplify the vision and mission at Viva Con Agua. As we hit the halfway mark of 2025, the Viva con Agua South Africa team is taking a moment to reflect on an incredibly dynamic and impactful first half of the year! Our commitment to ensuring universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) continues to drive every initiative, from empowering young entrepreneurs to fostering essential health practices within communities. Join us as we look back at the significant strides we’ve made, the powerful partnerships we’ve strengthened, and the inspiring moments that have collectively propelled our mission forward in these past six months.
Highlighting just a few: the Umthombo Social Enterprise Program, uplifting communities, and young entrepreneurs; a beautiful weekend at the Reforest annual festival with the Greenpop organisation; plus, a wonderful initiative for Menstrual Hygiene Management through our #LetsTalkPeriod campaign; and providing wellness through our dignity drives with Nina Manzi.
Empowering Change Through Enterprise: The Umthombo Social Enterprise Program:
The Umthombo Social Enterprise Program by Viva con Agua South Africa is off to a dynamic start! This 12-month initiative is actively engaging promising young entrepreneurs who are passionate about developing sustainable social businesses to tackle critical WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) challenges. It is incredibly exciting, the innovative ideas and the dedication of the participants as they embark on this journey to create lasting impact in their communities.
One of the organisations involved is ReCha, a socially conscious company that was founded as a result of a collaboration between RLabs and Third Element Holding, which enables informal waste pickers in underprivileged areas and mentors micro-entrepreneurial “Recycling Champions” (ReChas). In order to create sustainable livelihoods and expand local economies using a circular economy model, they offer training in waste management, health and safety, financial literacy, and business growth. Specialized scales that are linked to an app are given to ReChas in order to prepare waste for upcycling and, crucially, to determine just compensation for waste pickers or people who bring in recyclables.
This program’s core objective is to support entrepreneurs in developing innovative and practical solutions for water and sanitation access. This directly translates to improved hygiene and health standards within communities, particularly those facing infrastructural deficits. It’s a great way forward in creating a clean life for all and amplifying Viva Con Agua’s message of #AllforWater.
For more information about Umthombo read our LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bridging-gaps-wash-innovation-viva-con-agua-south-africa-c7olf/?trackingId=Fai8l%2Fp4T5%2BlDS7QDSXlLQ%3D%3D
Art, Music, and Action: Greenpop’s Reforest Festival:
Over a beautiful weekend in April, Viva Con Agua was involved in Greenpop’s Reforest Festival at the Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat in Stanford, Western Cape. The 2025 Reforest Fest, Greenpop’s staple event, carried on the company’s goal of fusing celebration and environmental action. With the goal of reviving the ecology, the festival concentrated on massive tree planting and forest restoration. In order to promote community and encourage environmental stewardship, attendees took part in a range of events, such as live music, art exhibits, workshops on sustainable living, and environmental education.
The Viva Con Agua Water Bar and Wash Bus made an appearance at the Reforest Festival alongside the extraordinary team, providing the festival goers with a source of clean, safe drinking water for festival attendees. We offer water for a donation and sell reusable bottles; they simultaneously promote sustainable practices (reducing plastic bottle use).
#LetsTalkPeriod: Advancing Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM):
Viva Con Agua South Africa is deeply involved in advancing Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) through the #LetsTalkPeriod campaign, a significant initiative launched to coincide with Menstrual Hygiene Day. The campaign goes beyond traditional WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure by focusing on the social aspects of menstruation, aiming to dismantle stigmas and taboos. VcA leverages its signature approach of using universal languages—namely music and art—to normalise conversations about periods and advocate for a “period-friendly world.”
In 2025, we have taken this initiative and campaign a step further by collaborating with the Minister of Menstruation, Candice Chirwa. Altogether with previous partners such as Qrate and GIZ, a podcast was born where men experience simulated period pain to foster empathy and understanding about the reality of menstruation through a ‘Shock Therapy’ device. Focusing on confronting destigmatising of menstruation and ending “period poverty” in South Africa.
Dignity in Action: Nina Manzi says “Water for All”:
Nina Manzi came through with another wonderful Wellness Day bringing dignity back to the community of Wynberg at St Johns Anglican Church. Providing an extraordinary experience through the WASH bus with the help of Nina Manzi. Our partners also came in full force: Meals On Wheels doing their bit by providing lovely meals for our clients – soup; coffee, bread and packs of essential foods for daily use, like Weetpix, milk, juice and more.
It was a joyous occasion for all involved and brought dignity back to the ones in need, just like many of the projects at Viva Con Agua does, standing for the people who need it the most.
DONATE: https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/nina-manzi-dignity-for-the-homeless
#VivaConAgua #WaterforAll #WaterisaHumanRight #MHM #LetsTalkPeriod #GreenPop
