With the launch of the Veoliaforce LATAM hub in Cartagena and the establishment of a logistics platform in Panama, the Veolia Foundation is strengthening its operational capacity in Latin America.
Over the course of a week, 26 employees from seven countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Panama) gathered in Cartagena, Colombia, to undergo humanitarian response training alongside the Veolia Foundation. Their training is accompanied by the inauguration of the Veolia Foundation’s new Veoliaforce hub for the Latin America region.
Goal: Mobilize the technical expertise of local employees to respond swiftly to emergency situations.
What did they do?
Participants learned to master the emergency technologies developed by the Foundation, notably the Aquaforce mobile water purification unitsParticipants learned to master the emergency technologies developed by the Foundation, notably the Aquaforce mobile water purification units.
On the agenda:
Handling and operational deployment of Aquaforce mobile stations.
Production of drinking water in critical environments to ensure the continuity of essential services.
Field scenarios and practical rapid-response exercises.
To foster exchanges and share field experiences, several major humanitarian partners were also present, including the Colombian Red Cross, UNICEF, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Action Against Hunger.
What’s next?
These 26 new graduates strengthen the global network of Veoliaforce volunteersThese 26 new graduates strengthen the global network of Veoliaforce volunteers. They can now be deployed by the Veolia Foundation to respond quickly across the continent or provide their technical expertise in water treatment, sanitation, waste management, or logistics.
Two strategic sites for maximum responsiveness
To effectively deploy its operations, the Veoliaforce LATAM hub relies on a dual-site setup:
The Cartagena drinking water plant (Colombia): A hub dedicated to training, technical development, and team preparation.
The Panama logistics platform: A storage and dispatch center designed to route emergency equipment to areas in need as quickly as possible.
Thanks to this state-of-the-art equipment and the teams provided by Veolia (note that only one to three people are needed to supply 2,000 to 7,500 people), the hub now makes it possible to produce drinking water just hours after a crisis is triggered.
The Veoliaforce Volunteer
A Veoliaforce volunteer is a Veolia Group employee assigned during working hours to engage with the Veolia Foundation. They can be deployed in the field for several weeks or provide remote expertise. The Foundation coordinates and covers logistics and travel expenses, while the volunteer continues to be paid as if performing their regular jobA Veoliaforce volunteer is a Veolia Group employee assigned during working hours to engage with the Veolia Foundation. They can be deployed in the field for several weeks or provide remote expertise. The Foundation coordinates and covers logistics and travel expenses, while the volunteer continues to be paid as if performing their regular job.