Transforming Lives - Bringing hope to Nicaragua

By Sharmane Adams  |  The Catholic Compass  |  November/December 2022

At age 14, Olivia Hepworth, daughter of Kim and Randy, was intrigued by a story her father shared with her when he returned from a surf trip to Nicaragua in 2014. While visiting Aserradores, a small fishing village, he learned that residents there desperately needed reliable sources of safe, clean, life-giving water.

During Randy’s trip, he met a well-connected, trusted community leader in the area, Yerling Tercerro-Ramos. He explained that he had always wanted to help his community but it would be difficult to establish any form of infrastructure due to the poverty level.

Olivia, a recent graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi who is now 22 years old, was astonished when she learned about the area’s lack of resources for obtaining clean water. “I had no idea there were places in the world where people couldn’t just turn on a faucet and have clean water. I told my dad that I wanted to raise money for some water filters to help the people in the village.”

A letter-writing campaign spearheaded by Olivia brought in $2,500, which enabled her family to purchase 50 water filters. In 2016, Olivia and her dad, brother and cousin traveled to Nicaragua to deliver the filters to 50 families. They spent time with the community holding implementation sessions on how to improve water sanitation.

“When we were speaking to different people, we found out there are a lot of water-borne diseases and infants in particular who struggle with really bad stomach pain. We collaborated with other nonprofits in different countries and different areas in the country to find out the ultimate solution to the problem. They all said that drilling deep-water wells would solve many problems,” Olivia said. 

When Olivia and her family returned home, they began researching and obtaining estimates from well-drilling companies. Yerling secured the project while working with villagers to set up a volunteer board to oversee their endeavors. Olivia kicked off another fundraising campaign through letter writing, babysitting, a community fish fry and a silent auction. She set a goal of $20,000 to purchase land, complete the drilling and cover additional expenses. The campaign exceeded her expectations by $2,000.

In 2017, Olivia and her family traveled back to the village to install the first well. “We helped build the tower, dig trenches and hoist the tank on the tower. It was really cool working alongside the locals and seeing that it provided temporary employment for people in the community. Also, there were a lot of elements in trying to get them to take ownership in the project,” Olivia said. The well was built to serve 500 people in the area. 

In four years, 14 wells costing $25,000 each have been built. Olivia credits the dedication of family, friends and her church community at St. Ann’s in Gulf Breeze and Our Lady of Assumption in Pensacola Beach for the fundraising efforts — raising more than $375,000.
 “The fact that everyone has been so supportive has affirmed for me that this is an incredibly generous community. Monsignor Luke Hunt has been incredible in helping to promote our fish fries to parishioners at St. Ann’s and Our Lady of Assumption,” Olivia said. 

The majority of the funds raised now are from fish fries. As Jesus provided fish for 5,000, his followers in Northwest Florida fry fish to provide water for his people in Nicaragua. In July, volunteers fed 500 people at a local park in Gulf Breeze, raising more than $22,000. 

Olivia thinks back to eight years ago when her father first shared the story about him meeting Yerling — a friendship and partnership extending across geographical boundaries. 
“We are so blessed to be working with Yerling. If we had not met him, none of this would be happening.  It’s crazy that the first guy  my dad met on his surf trip is the one that manages all  of these projects.”

“It has been inspirational to work with other Christians from different upbringings. We have continued to trust in the Lord, who has continually protected and provided for these projects to make them successful,” Yerling said.

Since graduation, Olivia has joined FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) as a missionary at Texas A&M University.  

To contribute to Live Well Water, LLC, sent tax-deductible donations to St. Ann's Catholic Church, 100 Daniel Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, and note "Live Well Water, LLC" on the check's memo line.