Humans of Partners for Water: meet Carolina Salas

With the Human series, we showcase the people who are involved in and benefit from the Partners for Water projects. The Human series sheds light on the stories of the people with whom and for whom Partners for Water works, and on how water affects their lives. Discover below how Carolina Salas learned that while water is vital, its ever-changing patterns require constant adaptation.

Meet Carolina Salas

This Humans of Partners for Water series focuses on Carolina Salas, a sustainability manager at Agrícola La Quebrada del Ají Ltda, Chile. Her experiences with extreme drought and torrential rains have ignited her passion for understanding the complexities of water, driving her to advocate for sustainable practices that empower her community.

Embracing the unpredictability of water

Carolina Salas, a sustainability manager in Quebrada del Ají, a small and remote town in the Valparaíso region of Chile, has experienced firsthand the dynamic nature of water. In her town, she has witnessed both extreme abundance and prolonged drought. Carolina vividly recalls an event from twenty years ago when she and her neighbors were trapped in the village for a week due to incessant rain. At that time, she had a small baby, adding to the difficulty of the situation.

This period of heavy rainfall was followed by a long stretch of drought, which brought its own challenges. These changes were significant learning experiences for Carolina and her community members, deepening their understanding of the importance of water.

“I’m passionate about water because, obviously, it’s an important resource, but it is also a very dynamic one”.

In recent years, Carolina has noticed increased global attention to the challenges they face regarding water. However, they can never predict what comes next. What they have learned is to no longer be afraid but to adapt. Water, she explains, is a resource that is not stable and creates many realities.