Building Partnerships that Amplify Community Impact and Ownership – Arnd Boekhoff & Lars Braitmayer / Viva con Agua
In this episode, we speak with Arnd Boekhoff and Lars Braitmayer from Viva con Agua. For nearly two decades, a global movement has grown around their mission. United by the belief that access to clean drinking water is the foundation for a good life. More than 4.5 million people worldwide have gained access to water, hygiene, and sanitation through their work. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Viva con Agua works through art, music, and sport – universal languages that open doors, break down barriers, and invite participation. At the heart of it all is a clear intention: to build structures that enable collective responsibility and empower local agency. A community that doesn’t just support the mission but co-creates it. With purpose, with care, with joy.
Arnd and Lars take us inside the evolving ecosystem of Viva con Agua. What does it take to align growth with values? What tensions arise when grassroots meet the complexity of sustaining an organization? And how can we move from speaking about communities to building truly reciprocal partnerships with them?
This episode is a reflection on imperfect action, shared learning and what it means to live a life anchored in engagement.
Episode 06
0:00 – Introduction of Arnd Boekhoff and Lars Braitmayer
6:32 – Painting the picture: What does Community mean?
8:48 – From vision to the practices of Viva con Agua
13:05 – Understanding Community
35:07 – Understanding Scaling
41:51 – Game: Enterprise, Impact or Community?
Episode 06 – Audio Only Version MP3/M4A
00:00:00 – Introduction of Arnd Boekhoff and Lars Braitmayer
05:57:43 – Painting the picture: What does Community mean?
07:55:47 – From vision to the practices of Viva con Agua
11:40:25 – Understanding Community
30:43:26 – Understanding Scaling
36:28:20 – Game: Enterprise, Impact or Community?