When Vasanna Persaud installed a water refill station at school, she was not expecting to trigger a national movement known as Project FLOW. She was simply trying to attack an everyday problem. Despite having the fastest GDP projection in the world and sizable freshwater reservoirs, Guyana has long struggled to provide consistent access to potable water for all of its citizens. While Guyana now nears the universal clean water access benchmark, recently reaching the 98.3% milestone, this was not always the case.

Simultaneous environmental pressures primarily caused this deficit. The first is rising tides that cause saltwater intrusion and heavy rains that contaminate or flood existing supplies, resulting from global warming. In addition, booms in oil extraction and agriculture pose a higher risk of chemical, sediment and oil runoff— which can compromise coastal waterways.

Piloting Her Project

Persaud recognized the water insecurity issue early on as a Queen’s College student, where she witnessed both limited access to sustainable drinking water and a growing reliance on single-use plastic bottles. This constraint was more than a mere inconvenience. For many youth, water insecurity at school contributes to health decline, lower grades and reduced school attendance— factors that ultimately hinder educational attainment and economic opportunity.

After winning the SHOUT essay competition, Persaud secured nearly $4,000 to pilot a refillable water bottle station at her school. This initiative provided students with reliable access to clean drinking water throughout the school day while encouraging sustainable consumption habits.

Her work made a splash. Within eight months, the project eliminated the use of more than 30,000 plastic bottles at Queen’s College and proved a dependable source of in-school hydration. This success garnered the attention of local leaders, environmental organizations and government agencies that saw potential that exceeded a single campus.

National Implementation of Water Refill Technology

That momentum inspired Project FLOW, a national initiative that is projected to provide safe and sustainable water access for 58,000 students. Through partnerships with Recover Guyana NGO and Guyana’s Ministry of Education, the program has installed water stations at 141 primary and secondary schools.

And the effects go far beyond hydration. Schools reduce plastic waste output, families face less pressure to buy bottled water and students spend more time in the classroom. By addressing public health, sanitation, environmental footprint, hydration and education, Project FLOW demonstrates that one intervention can help eradicate many drivers of poverty at once.

Conclusion

Now a college student continuing this work remotely, Persaud has faced unexpected challenges surrounding media recognition and ownership of Project FLOW as it continues to take off. While these disputes remain unresolved, Persaud is staying true to her initial goal: ensuring access to clean water for every student in Guyana by 2030. Regardless of existing tensions, she continues to lead others with impact and integrity, creating a replicable model and refusing to accept the status quo. Upon receiving her SHOUT Essay Award, Persaud shared, “Growing up… I was a girl who had a lot of opinions. But that’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s something to be heavily empowered by,” which she continues to live by.

– Natasha Agarwal

Natasha is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash