Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricky Ogden.
Hi Ricky, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Agua Viva International is a non-profit organization that began in 2011 in Kansas City. Agua Viva’s mission is to Create Partnerships to Provide Purified Water to Communities in need and supporting gender empowerment. Agua Viva has always been 100% volunteer supported and relies on donations for all operating funds. From 20011-2019, Agua Viva was averaging 1-2 installations per calendar year. From 2021-2025, Agua Viva has averaged over 7 installations per year. To date, 53 water purification systems are operating thanks to Agua Viva’s amazing volunteers and generous supporters.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The growth of Agua Viva has not been without growing pains. During the COVID19 pandemic, Agua Viva modified its operations from solely volunteers from the United States performing installations to identifying In-Country Coordinators who could investigate prospective communities for placement of water purification systems as well as help coordinate installations by in-country teams. From 2009 to 2021, the Agua Viva Board of Directors and Board of Administrators were meeting in volunteer homes and operating out of outdoor storage facility. Today, Agua Viva operates out of a combined office and indoor storage area located in Corporate Woods.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My role as Chairman of the Board of Directors with Agua Viva gives me a special motivation and purpose in my daily life. For most of those who read this article, water is a commodity readily available nearly everywhere in the United States and little thought is given to it’s quality. We use water daily without thinking about how drastically our lives would change without access to not only water but water that is pure and free from bacteria, viruses, and other harmful chemicals. Furthermore, in communities without easy access to water, let alone purified water, its predominately the young girls who have to walk long distances to obtain dirty water and therefore have no chance at an education or a respectable role in the community’s society. As the proud dad of two daughters, it hurts my heart to think that that in a different location on this earth, there are other girls like them who don’t have a chance to be successful in their community. As Agua Viva has continued to expand it’s number of water purification systems, it brings me such joy to know that our friends in these communities are experiencing incredible increases in their health and quality of life.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As Agua Viva International is 100% volunteer supported, it is so critical that we continue to attract great people who have a heart for those who desperately need access to purified water. We also run 100% on donations and greatly desire to partner with organizations who might be able to support Agua Viva International financially.
Pricing:
- Each installation costs approximately $20,000 to install and maintain.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aguavivainternational.org
- Instagram: aguavivainternational
- Facebook: Agua Viva International
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agua-viva-international
