The mission of Water Charity is to implement practical solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation, and meaningful health education to those in need.
Introducing the Appropriate Projects Initiative
In July, 2009, Water Charity kicked off an innovative new initiative called Appropriate
Projects to enable instant deployment of resources to do small but critical water and sanitation projects. In its first months of operation, projects have been implemented in various locations around the world. (See the right column on this page for a current listing.)
While continuing with our successful model of developing and carrying out projects of all sizes, we realize that there is a great need to do some projects without delay. Appropriate Projects cuts the process down to its bare bones.
Every project under the new
initiative:
- Serves a critical water or sanitation need
- Has a great impact
- Can be done for under $500
- Is managed by a serving U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
- Is funded and started immediately
- Is completed in under 30 days
Appropriate Projects offers the public the opportunity to Adopt a Project in its entirety or to make a donation for a project in any amount. If a donor funds an entire project he is given naming rights. A person could, for example, designate a project “in honor of” or “in memory of” another individual.
Please visit the Appropriate Website at http://appropriateprojects.com, and click on the Projects tab to see current projects in need of funding.
Introducing Water Charity - One of the Top Water Charities
Water Charity is a nonprofit corporation, directed toward improving the human rights and dignity of individuals throughout the world by providing them with resources that impact upon their health and wellbeing. With all donations applied to projects in the field, we have become one of the highest-ranked water charities delivering global services.
Water Charity implements practical solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation, and meaningful health education to those in need.
Water Charity, in concert with key partners, surveys the needs, drafts the plans, assembles the resources, implements and manages the projects, and evaluates the results.
We plan for the long term and intermediate future, implement in the present, and react in the short term to crisis situations.
Our core group contains people with decades of experience in engineering, community development, construction, education, and public health. Led by Jacqueline Chan, Dr.P.H., Averill Strasser, and JahSun, we have completed many water and sanitation projects throughout the world in the past year, all on schedule and within budget.
We have implemented several new initiatives, not the least of which is Appropriate Projects, designed to do small water and sanitation projects all over the world, immediately. Each one is run by a Peace Corps Volunteer, starts at once, and is completed in a month!
In addition to our focus on potable water for rural and urban areas, we are engaged in research and education surrounding the human need for water, and the extraordinary health benefits of adequate hydration.
Conclusion of Well Construction Project – Senegal
To read about the beginning of this project CLICK HERE.
A well was built in the primary school in Goudoude Diobe, and is now serving 1,100 people.
Below are some pictures and a thank you card from Marisa.
Coxjac School Latrine Project - Guatemala
This is a project to construct three latrines for a school system in rural Guatemala. The process will also incorporate lessons involving the environment and waste management, hygiene and sanitation, and construction techniques and teamwork.
The project is being carried out in Coxjac, Totonicapan, Guatemala, under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Casey Kittredge.
The latrines will be used by all three groups of students who use the school (elementary, middle school and a weekend middle school program) for a total of 240 students and 12 teachers. The current bathrooms have been deemed unsanitary by the Department of Health due to their proximity to the area where the atol, the morning snack, is prepared for the elementary students.
The walls will be built using filled recycled plastic bottles, covered with concrete. Project funds will be used to purchase materials, including rebar, cement, sand, gravel, wire, chicken wire, wood planks, and corrugated metal sheets.
The community will provide all manual labor during the construction of the latrines.
Planning meetings have taken place with the Mayor, the community, school personnel, and parents. The work will be coordinated by a committee that has been formed. After construction, the committee will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance.
To indicate your desire for your contribution to be allocated toward this project, please click the Donate button below.
Conclusion of School Cafeteria Improvement Project – Moldova
This project has been successfully completed, under the direction of Martin Ellinger-Locke. To see the history of this project CLICK HERE.
The project was designed to be a part of a larger project to improve the kitchen and cafeteria of this school in Petrunea, Glodeni, Moldova. The participation of Water Charity was to provide new fixtures and improve the plumbing and drainage systems.
Martin reports:
At my school there are 385 students, as well as 40 faculty members and staff who all count on the school cafeteria for their daily lunch. Before the implementation of this project the facilities used for food preparation and cleaning were unsanitary and very inefficient.
Project funds were used to pay for:
- A brand new
stainless steel sink
- Repairs to
the drainage system (It hadn't worked in
over 20 years)
- A hand
washing sink and faucet
- Vastly
improved conditions in the dish-washing area
(New tile, wall panels and a window)
- Faucets (A
hose was previously used)
- Piping for
all of the new and old sinks (they were
mostly deteriorated)
- Various other fixtures and equipment to improve the effectiveness of the cafeteria to deliver food services
There was a 30% community contribution that included a new door, cabinet and all of the labor.
Martin concludes:
Thank you so much on behalf of my school and community. The improvements you helped make will continue to benefit the health and well-being of many students for years and years to come.
Family Latrines Project - Benin
Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa, with Togo on the west, Nigeria on the east and Burkina Faso and Niger on the north. It has a short coastline on the south leading to the Bight of Benin.
About a third of the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The main sources of income are subsistence agriculture and cotton.
Bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever are the primary food and waterborne diseases, and malaria and yellow fever are the primary vectorborne diseases in the country.
This project is to construct individual dry-pit latrines for families in the community. Each participant family will contribute the labor to build its own latrine.
The project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer E. Grochal, together with community delegates.
Project funds from Water Charity and other participants will be used to purchase the materials.
Participants must take part in the accompanying educational component to increase their knowledge about health and hygiene, and thus ensure the success of the project in impacting upon disease.
To indicate your desire for your contribution to be allocated toward this project, please click the Donate button below.
Two Water Events for 2-24-10
On
Coping
with Drought & Water Scarcity: Lessons Learned from
Australia & the United States
WHAT:
A lunch/panel
discussion of what actions we need to take to tackle our unsustainable water future
WHEN: 24
February 2010, noon to
2:00 pm
WHERE: Center
for Strategic and International Studies, 1800 K Street NW,
Washington, DC 20006, B-1
Conference Center (link to map)
How About Water: The Catalyst on Nation Building and National Security
On Wednesday, 24 February 2010, from 6 - 8:30 pm the Congressional Water Caucus and the Chronicles Group/Running Dry Project in association with the Embassy of Australia and the CSIS Global Water Futures Project are hosting an event to bring the Executive and Legislative Branches of the U.S. Government together with the public and private sector in order to provide an educational dialogue about drought and water scarcity and its ultimate impact on national security.
Congressional sponsors include Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Rep. John Linder (R-GA), co-founder of the Congressional Water Caucus), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI). Non-Congressional sponsors include the Southern Nevada Water Authority, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, Adduci Mastriani & Schaumberg LLP, Golden State Water Company, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, StableRoad.org, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Acequia, Mesa Elementary School, Oregon State University, Water Charity. A special thanks also go to Water for People for their ongoing support - and to actress Jane Seymour, who will be a special guest at the event which will be held at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.
Sanitary Bathrooms Project – Paraguay
Water Charity is participating in a project to provide sanitary bathrooms in a small rural community in Paraguay. The project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Michelle Pfister.
This project will provide latrines for 21 families, comprised of 120 adults and children. It is a natural extension of a project that was begun in 2008 under the direction of a prior Peace Corps Volunteer working in the community. All construction work will be done by local professionals.
Barrio Maria Auxiliadora, Calle San Francisco, Guayaivi, San Pedro, Paraguay, is home to approximately 112 families, comprised of 650 people. While Guarani is the most commonly spoken language, the majority of the community also speaks Spanish.
This hard-working, well-organized community has an elementary and high school, a successful agricultural cooperative, various community groups/committees, two churches, small family shops, and soccer fields.
Most homes have running water and electricity. The principal economic activity is agriculture. Farmers primarily produce fruit, such as bananas and pineapples, and the average family income is about US $5.00 per day.
Although educational opportunities for children have improved, the average adult has only an elementary school education.
Intestinal parasites are one of the most serious health problems in Paraguay, affecting more than 90% of the country’s children, including most people in this community. According to a recent community census, nearly half the families lack a bathroom, and 85% of latrines are unsanitary.
An unsanitary latrine directly contributes to the presence of parasites, through exposed feces and flies that are attracted. This impacts on the entire community, with children more heavily affected.
The project is being implemented by committee participants, who attend regular meetings, organize fundraisers, pay monthly dues, and participate in Peace Corps-organized health classes.
A Paraguayan NGO is contributing 38% of total project costs. To ensure community ownership and sustainability, participants are contributing one third of the cost of materials and labor. The remaining funds for materials are being provided through donor contributions.
To indicate your desire that your donation be used for this project, please use the Donate button below.
Biosand Filter Project – Haiti
Water Charity is participating in a program to deliver biosand filters to the people of Haiti. A relief effort was begun shortly after the devastating earthquake and is continuing in the aftermath. It will be expanded as quickly as possible to provide safe water to the population over the longer term.
The biosand filters being used for the project are HydrAid BioSand Filters, manufactured in Michigan. The project includes technology, research, installation, education, maintenance, quality assurance and support through a global network of partners.
The HydrAid system is founded on proven biosand water filter technology that has been effectively used around the world for decades. When properly implemented, it filters out 99.9% of the parasites, bacteria, and viruses from dirty water. It is effective in the control of diarrhea, one of the most deadly waterborne diseases, which is estimated to cause 1.5 million child deaths per year.
The biosand filter utilizes specified layers of gravel and sand of specific grades and sizes. In addition, it is topped by a biological layer which assists in the purification process.
The biosand filter is easy to install, delivers high volumes, requires little maintenance, and produces clean water for up to 10 years.
Water Charity began evaluating and using the technology in specific long-term applications, starting in 2008. When the earthquake struck in Haiti, it became evident that HydrAid filters would be the ideal tool for immediate use in the relief effort, especially in light of the close proximity of Haiti to the US mainland.
Various agencies and organizations came together to develop a plan to produce, deliver, and install HydrAid filters in Haiti. The original HydrAid design was enhanced for disaster relief with additional disinfection technology by Amway engineers. The procedure called for treatment of the water, first with chlorine, and then additional filtration through a carbon filter. An important addition was the inclusion of a receptacle for storing the clean water. The additional disinfection serves a number of purposes, including further reduction of pathogens, elimination of the waiting period before the filter can be used, and reduction of the possibility of re-contamination of the treated water.
Amway teamed up with the Safe Water Team, a West Michigan nonprofit organization, Thirsting to Serve, a Michigan Rotary group, and Triple Quest, a Joint Venture of Cascade Engineering and Windquest Group, to supply HydrAid filter systems to Haitian schools, clinics, and other earthquake victims.
The delivery process got underway when a truckload of 22 skids of HydrAid filters, complete with filter sand, was shipped to Jacksonville, Florida. The U.S. Navy then transported the filters to Haiti. The NGO Pure Water for the World is handling the distribution and installation in Haiti.
Your donation towards this project will be used in its entirety for the purchase of the filters, the ground transportation, and the installation of the filters in Haiti.
Flash: Every dollar you donate will be matched by Six Senses Resorts & Spas!
Emergency Water Filtration Project – Haiti
Water Charity has started a project to deliver water filters to Haiti at once. Under the direction of Ryan Sinclair, Dr.P.H, filters are being set up in and near Port-au-Prince to dispense safe water immediately.
The Center for Public Health Preparedness at Loma Linda University has sent a team to assess the needs and deliver emergency relief to the people of Haiti. Dr. Sinclair, Assistant Professor at the Loma Linda School of Public Health, and an expert in water and sanitation, is accompanying the team.
We purchased commercially-available filters and chlorine, and gave them to Dr. Sinclair to take with him.
Urgent and difficult problems demand simple solutions. Using this direct method, we are able to help deliver life-saving filters precisely where they are needed, NOW.
Your donation is urgently requested for this project. 100% of your donation will go to purchase water filters, which are being deployed now. If you are looking for a vehicle to make a donation to the relief effort in Haiti, you will not find a more direct and cost-efficient way to contribute.
Flash: Every dollar you donate will be matched by Six Senses Resorts & Spas!
This summer the Peace Corps community has an opportunity to be part of an extraordinary effort to improve our communities through volunteer service.
President Obama’s summer service initiative, United We Serve, is a call to all Americans to join a volunteer effort this summer and be part of building a new foundation for America, one community at a time. Please visit visit the