News — 2026

The first working prototype of our applied water filtration unit has been assembled and has passed bench testing.

The unit was engineered and built by Erik Sargsyan, engineer-physicist and founder of SHANI NGO, at his own workshop and at his own expense — a partnership that reflects how HOVAK works: engineering talent and charitable resources joining forces, with HOVAK’s role to carry the project from a working prototype to funded field deployment.

The design philosophy is deliberately unglamorous: simplicity and durability first, so the filter can be installed, understood, and maintained where it works — in schools and rural communities — rather than depending on distant specialists and imported parts.

Next step: field testing in a real community setting, for which we are currently preparing grant applications. If you fund water and health projects, or know a school that should be first in line — write to us.