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 best and 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.
Discussion with Dr. Alejandro Toledo, Former President of Peru
On December 2, 2008, Jacqueline Chan and Averill Strasser had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Alejandro Toledo, former President of Peru, about the work of Water Charity. Dr. Toledo was the democratically elected President of Peru from 2001 to 2006. He has not denied reports that he may again run for the Presidency in 2011.
Dr. Toledo was in Los Angeles on a leg of a 30-day speaking tour. He is a Goodwill Ambassador of the More Peace Corps Campaign, an initiative of the National Peace Corps Association, to double the present size of the Peace Corps, and improve its quality. He invited a number of former Peace Corps Volunteers who had served in Peru and Bolivia to meet with him informally at his hotel to discuss vital issues.
We told Dr. Toledo about our ongoing projects, as well as the new water and sanitation projects we are developing for implementation in Peru.
The rise of Dr. Toledo to the Presidency of Peru is an unbelievable story. As a child, he worked as a shoe shine boy in Chimbote, Peru. A chance encounter with two Peace Corps Volunteers led to access to education. He went on to receive two Masters Degrees, and a PhD. in Economics of Human Resources, from Stanford University.
Dr. Toledo worked for the World Bank, the Inter-Amercian Development Bank, and the United Nations. In 2001, after developing a broad democratic coalition, he was elected President, the first indigenous person to hold that office in Peru.
Earlier that day, we attended a talk by Dr. Toledo at UCLA entitled “The Global Financial Crisis and the Fight Against Poverty”. Dr. Toledo addressed the battle against poverty, inequality, and exclusion, through health and educational investment, topics upon which he focused during his presidency.
During his presidency, the Peruvian economy grew at an average rate of 6%, making it one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. However, poverty reduction is necessary for sustainable economic growth. “If we don’t reduce today’s level of poverty, we will cause political instability,” he said.
He noted that economic growth alone is not enough. Ways must be found to benefit all segments of society. He specifically focused on the issues of clean water, electricity, health, and jobs, as necessary to bring the people out of poverty. “We need to invest in the minds of the people, and afford absolute human rights to all segments,” he stated.
He concluded by urging the audience, largely composed of UCLA students studying International Affairs, and many originally from Latin America, to return to their countries with their new educations, and join the fight for equal opportunities for all.
Water Charity Partnership with Peace Corps in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador
After Peace Corps Volunteers were evacuated from Bolivia in September, 2008, it became necessary for Water Charity to put several projects which were underway there on hold. We were then left with the capacity to undertake additional projects elsewhere.
In December, we traveled to Central America and met with representatives of the Peace Corps in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In each country, we discussed new procedures for working with Volunteers in the field, and we have developed many new projects to fill the void.
The Peace Corps has a large presence in each of these three countries. At present, the number of Volunteers in each country is as follows:
Guatemala – 184 Volunteers
Honduras – 194 Volunteers
El Salvador – 175 Volunteers
The emphasis and organization of each country office is different, but all of the Peace Corps programs contain elements relating to water, sanitation, and health education.
In general, P eace Corps Volunteers are assigned to communities in outlying areas. They become an integral part of their town, and work alongside the local population. They have a unique ability to determine the specific needs of their own communities.
In many cases, there are projects that were begun at some time in the past, but not completed due to lack of materials or funds. In others, there are simple projects that would complement existing facilities, and greatly impact on the health and wellbeing of the people.
Examples of projects that can be done quickly and easily are pump repairs, handwashing stations, latrines, water storage tanks, water catchment systems, piping systems, pump installation, and water filtration capability.
Often Volunteers are able to identify Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have done work in their community or neighboring areas. With Volunteers on site to plan with and oversee the work of the NGOs, projects can be done without delay.
Volunteers and NGOs are in a unique position to work with leaders of the community as well as other governmental entities that affect the region.
The work with NGOs carries with it the added benefit of stimulating the economy by providing work for local companies that will be there to maintain the facilities and undertake further projects. Supporting local businesses leads to employment opportunities for rural residents, and cuts into the flow of the youth to overpopulated urban areas.
A model evolved for Water Charity to provide funding for rural projects in partnership with the Peace Corps. Two channels are available for use, depending on the individual projects and circumstances.
The first and most obvious is for each Volunteer to “package” his or her project, and submit it to the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP). This program is administered in Washington and is accessible on line. The Volunteer completes a simple description and budget for the project, and uploads it to the national Peace Corps website. Water Charity can then fund the project with a few mouse clicks. You can read about the PCPP here .
The PCPP has had varying effectiveness in the past because of inherent delays. If a Volunteer was nearing the end of his term of service, the funds might not become available for the project before the Volunteer had gone home. Recent developments have sped up the process, such that it has now become a viable solution for funding projects.
The second channel is for the NGO, in cooperation with the Volunteer, to develop the project and submit the proposed project through the Volunteer to Water Charity. We are able to contract with, and provide funds directly to, the NGO. The Volunteer can work with the NGO, assuring compliance and transparency.
We are very excited about these new partnerships, as they allow us to implement real and necessary projects immediately. We will keep you updated as these projects are carried out.
If you are convinced of the efficacy of this model, you can designate that your Donation be applied to our Water Charity Peace Corps program. If you prefer that your donation be used in a specific country, we will honor your request for that as well.
BioSand Filter Project in Guatemala
We went to Guatemala in December to implement the first of a number of BioSand filter projects.BioSand technology has been proven worldwide over many years. It involves a container to hold several grades of sand, plus a biological layer that forms on the top. Once set up, contaminated water can be poured in, and clean water emerges from the bottom.
The filters will be placed in individual households. Up to 75 gallons a day of clean water can be made each day, enough for a family of 8 to 10 people. The filter has no moving parts, requires no maintenance, and will last in excess of 10 years.
Traditionally the container has been made of concrete and poured on site. Our installations will use a new plastic container, and precise layers of various grades of sand.
In the pilot phase, we will train workers in the technology, and install 50 to 100 filter systems. We will also begin design and construction of a sand-making facility, plus several warehouses, in order to reduce shipment costs.
If you would like your donation to be used specifically for BioSand projects, please so designate on the donation form. A $40 contribution will provide for clean drinking water for an entire family for the next decade!
Raise Money for Water Charity
You can raise money for Water Charity by creating your own online fundraising page with Firstgiving . Then organize your fundraising activity, and ask donors to go to your page to contribute.Creating your page takes only 5 minutes. You provide information, describe the event, and set your goals. Email the information to friends and participants, and collect donations online.
Consider sponsoring an event, such as a marathon, walkathon, bike ride, car wash, or auction.
Consider creating a campaign to celebrate an event, or to honor the memory of a person dear to you.
You can create a campaign around whatever you wish, such as your birthday, graduation, or wedding. Tell people to donate to Water Charity through your page, instead of sending gifts or flowers.
Your organization or club can start a campaign to benefit Water Charity, and Firstgiving does all the collection and bookkeeping!
The money you raise can go toward the worldwide work of Water Charity. However, if you wish, you may earmark the funds to be used for projects broadly defined geographically (such as water projects in Honduras), projects using a specific technology (such as rainwater catchment), or projects specifically designated (such as water filters for the garbage dump workers of Guatemala City).
Firstgiving makes if fun and easy. Go there now to set up your fundraising page. Then make your campaign happen!