The Tierra Colorada project started in 2006 with funds donated by Paul Layte and Nancy Cowle and a grant from the Wild Rose Foundation. Sombrilla funds were used to improve the primary school in Tierra Colorada Baja, adding new classrooms to reduce overcrowding and replacing the bathrooms and kitchen, improving sanitation in the school. As an additional part of the project, biosand water filters were built in response to a high rate of absenteeism amongst students, due to illness. The filters provided clean water both for the school and for families in the community.