October 2022 Newsletter
Celebrating Community Clean Water in 3 de Mayo
Community members of 3 de Mayo hold a sign reading “Welcome dear CONAPAC friends to the community 3 de Mayo Río Napo.”
October 14th, 2022, was the inauguration of the new water filtration tower in the community of 3 de Mayo on the Napo River.
With the installation of this tower in 3 de Mayo, we are happy to report that 22 families, 2 schools, and 1 church have access to filtered drinking water, representing about 100 people in total!
For CONAPAC, 3 de Mayo was a great candidate for the tower, as the community recently took on a high school that serves students from several nearby communities.
Recognition
We would not have been able to accomplish this construction without the generous donation from long-time friends of CONAPAC, Nancy “Pachita” Kopf, and her husband, Raymond.
Students in the community of 3 de Mayo, Río Napo, Loreto, Perú, enjoy clean drinking water from a community water filtration tower newly completed in October 2022.
Pachita reads a story.
Gratitude For Pachita
A note from our Executive Director, Megan, on the limit-less giving of Nancy “Pachita” Kopf.
When I first met Nancy Kopf in 2019, I was told, “Never call me that; my name is Pachita, and I won’t answer to anything else.” I knew right then that Pachita was a force to be reckoned with! With an infectious laugh, a gregarious sense of humor, and a heart two times bigger than most, Pachita is a woman who has made a permanent impression on me and everyone with whom she interacts.
She first came to this area as a tourist at Explorama Lodges in 2002. On that first trip, she symbolically adopted the community of Jorge Chavez through CONAPAC’s Adopt-A-School program. Pachita kept coming back, often twice a year, including volunteering with our Adopt-A-School school supplies deliveries each year. The number of her visits is in the mid-40s, and now all our communities know Pachita!
When the team and I visited the community of 3 de Mayo to ask if they were interested in receiving a water treatment tower and if they accepted the responsibility that comes with it, we only mentioned who was behind the donation at the end. Michel explained we had received a gift that would cover the construction cost, and we wanted to bring a tower to 3 de Mayo. The community was excited to have the opportunity to gain access to clean water for their families and children.
The community says Gracias to Pachita.
Then, finally, we revealed who the patrons were. The energy upon hearing that Pachita was behind it all was palpable! The community members expressed their utmost appreciation and excitedly asked if we could send a video back to her to say thank you.
I know that what Pachita does is not done for herself. She works seemingly tirelessly for CONAPAC: fundraising by selling various treasures she picks up on her travels and talking about our work to everyone. If you spend 10 minutes with Pachita, you will hear about CONAPAC.
To Pachita: Thank you for your continued dedication and love of our river communities. Working with you has been a highlight for me. Your impact is so profound that it reverberates in the heart of every child and adult in each community.
Megan McDaniel
Exectuive Director, CONAPAC
Want to donate?
We have several long-time donors and partner organizations who work tirelessly for CONAPAC as Pachita does; with her and others like her, we can do so much for our communities.
Our work is only possible with the many other donations, big and small, that we receive throughout the year.
