An unlikely band of water defenders fights chronic shortages in El Salvador. They battle sexism and bureaucracy to bring water to those most affected: women in their communities. “We women were those most in front of the fight”
Assignment for National Geographic.
Women Water Defenders protest
The women's march in the framework of the international women's day in San Salvador on March 7, 2021. The ecofeminist bloc carries banners related to privatization and water quality in El Salvador.
Women Water Defenders
The water tank at Sonia Sanchez's house, she shares this tank with her sister Jenny and her brother. She shares the tank because her sister and brother are not entitled to domestic water. Between the three siblings they have 5 children. Sometimes the water that reaches them is not enough to satisfy all the members of the family. San Jose II, Santo Tomás, El Salvador on March 1st 2021.
Women Water Defenders
Mary Reyes Ramirez' house, 76, in Caña Brava, El Salvador. She is the mother of Estela Ramírez
Women Water Defender
Tatiana Avilés, 23, and Maribel Escobar, 34 wash their clothes in the river in Caña Brava, El Salvador on March 4. 2021. They agree that washing in the river is better than washing clothes in the ''pila'' - the traditional water receptacle.
Women Water Defenders
Sonia Sanchez poses for a portrait in the offices of the Women’s Movement of Santo Tomás on the 26th of February 2021 in Santo Tomás, El Salvador. She is the leader of the Women’s Movement of Santo Tomas, an organization that works to empower local women.
Women Water Defenders
Mary Reyes Ramirez, 76, shows her ''pitos'' - an edible flower typical from Central America. She is the mother of Estela Ramírez
Women Water Defenders
Steven Portillo, 4, grandson of Estela Ramirez, receives a bath in his home on February 26, 2021 in Caña Brava, El Salvador. The only bathroom in the houses Estela's family shares is outside in the open air because inside their homes they have no plumbing or water system.
Women Water Defenders
Jenny Sanchez poses for a portrait in her home in San José II, Santo Tomás, El Salvador on March 1st 2021. She is one of the leaders of her community and a fearless defender of her community's water.
Women Water Defenders
An extra water tank used by Sonia Sanchez, her sister Jenny and her brother. This tank is used when the household water does not arrive. Filling this tank costs 9USD dollars. San Jose II, Santo Tomás, El Salvador on March 1st 2021
Women Water Defenders
Recently washed clothes hang on cables in Sonia Sanchez's house in San José II, Santo Tomas, El Salvador on March 1st, 2021. When Sonia's family has no water, they have to reuse the water they use for washing clothes for other household chores.
Women Water Defenders
Genesis Portillo, 6, granddaughter of Estela Ramirez takes a bath in his home on February 26, 2021 in Caña Brava, El Salvador. The only bathroom in the houses Estela's family shares is outside in the open air because inside their homes they have no plumbing or water system.
Women Water Defenders
Children run after school dismissal in Caña Brava, El Salvador on March 2, 2021.
Women Water Defenders
A 6 meter deep sewage well made by community members in a house in Caña Brava, El Salvador on February 26, 2021. As an obligation to have the right to water, 'ANDA' (Administración Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados) established that every house must have this septic tank. The construction of the septic tank can cost up to 400USD.
Women Water Defenders
Sierra Verde Residences, Santo Tomas, El Salvador on March 1st, 2021. Sonia was sued by the private construction company for protesting against the construction of this residence, but the case was annulled by the judge.
Women Water Defenders
A ''pila'', a traditional household water receptacle made of stone or ceramics in the offices of the Women’s Movement of Santo Tomas, an organization that works to empower local women. The water bins are an essential utensil in the lives of the women of Santo Tomas, because they have no running water. The water bins are where they keep the water.
Women Water Defenders
Tatiana Avilés, 23, and Maribel Escobar, 34 pose for a portrait after washing their clothes in the river in Caña Brava, El Salvador on March 4. 2021.
Women Water Defenders
Aerial shots of San Salvador and Boqueron volcano on February 27, 2021.
Women Water Defenders
The women's march in the framework of the international women's day in San Salvador on March 7, 2021. The ecofeminist bloc carries banners related to privatization and water quality in El Salvador.
Women Water Defenders
Estela Martinez, 48, fills a water bottle from the water hose coming from the 'cantarera' - - a stone structure where the hoses from each house connect - while Danerys Martinez, 26, washes clothes in the 'pila' -- a traditional household water receptacle made of stone or ceramics - at her home on Feb. 26, 2021 in Caña Brava, El Salvador.
Women Water Defenders
Ronald Argueta, 6, receives a bath in the ''pila'' - a traditional household water receptacle made of stone or ceramics - of his grandmother Estela Ramirez's house in Caña Brava, El Salvador on March 3, 2021.
Women Water Defenders
The water system to distribute water to Paco's orchard, 64, in Caña Brava. Paco's family makes a living from planting and selling the vegetables grown on their land. The water system consists of filling the purple waterfall with water from the waterfall and then using a system of hoses to distribute it to other water receptacles.
Women Water Defenders
Esmeralda Sánchez cleans her shoes in her house in San José II, Santo Tomás, El Salvador on March 1st 2021. She is Sonia Sanchez's daughter who has inherited her mother's values and feminist fight.
Women Water Defenders
Water comes out of a hose that is connected meters behind a waterfall on February 26, 2021 in Caña Brava, El Salvador. Paco's family lives from planting and selling the vegetables grown on their land. The water system consists of filling a waterfall and then using a system of hoses to distribute the water to other water receptacles.