WEEKLY PROGRAM - CLEAN WATER & ROTARY
CLEAN WATER is a major focus area of Rotary International. Did you know 5000 children die daily due to water and sanitation Issues? Disease from water and sanitation issues kill more people than all other forms of violence, including war. Our projects give communities the ability to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and support studies related to water and sanitation. To date, Rotary Clubs have donated more than US$20 million to address water issues.
About Wasrag and the World Water Summit:
The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (Wasrag) has more than 1600 members in 90 countries and focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene. Rotarians have delivered sustainable solutions by working within the culture and values of the local communities. They are attuned to political situations while they take into consideration the complex realities of geography, geology and climate. Wasrag provides all Rotarians with the knowhow, consistency and credibility essential to conduct sustainable successful WASH projects.
Wasrag (Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group) was formed on March 22nd, 2007 and recognized by Rotary International.
Wasrag is the response to Rotarians’ desire to have a major impact on the life and livelihood of people by helping to provide lasting and sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions.
The world is discovering that effective programs take 3 to 5 years to be sustainable – local community engagement and appropriate technologies are keys to success. Solutions need to consider complex realities: geography, geology, climate, local culture for example. Ensuring a project is based on best practices isn’t easy, requiring skills often not readily available to Rotary Clubs.
Wasrag was created to provide the know-how, consistency and credibility essential to success over the long term.
Why will this work?
The basis of the Wasrag approach is a comprehensive Needs Assessment for every affected area. Wasrag is coordinating new evaluation methods and universally-accessible tools to help every project use the assessments to be more successful.
The basis of the Wasrag approach is a comprehensive Needs Assessment for every affected area. Wasrag is coordinating new evaluation methods and universally-accessible tools to help every project use the assessments to be more successful.
The key aspects of Wasrag are:
· Large scale needs assessments reflecting local realities such as watersheds, flow issues and political boundaries;
· Wasrag-endorsed project listings that Rotary Clubs,
Districts and even non-Rotarian groups can rely on,
knowing they fit into larger sustainable programs;
· Up-to-the-minute guidance on best practices in water & sanitation work: community participation, needs-driven, sustainable technologies, education, long-term monitoring, evaluation and continuous learning;
· Experts network and technical support;
· Awareness building about the crisis facing the world;
· Sourcing external funding; and building relationships with reliable partners.
· Large scale needs assessments reflecting local realities such as watersheds, flow issues and political boundaries;
· Wasrag-endorsed project listings that Rotary Clubs,
Districts and even non-Rotarian groups can rely on,
knowing they fit into larger sustainable programs;
· Up-to-the-minute guidance on best practices in water & sanitation work: community participation, needs-driven, sustainable technologies, education, long-term monitoring, evaluation and continuous learning;
· Experts network and technical support;
· Awareness building about the crisis facing the world;
· Sourcing external funding; and building relationships with reliable partners.
ROTARY WATER PROJECT IN GHANA:
For over 20 years, Michael Anyekase has crisscrossed Ghana drilling boreholes and installing hand pumps on wells to provide clean water. Water for drinking, washing, and flushing toilets. "There is nothing more satisfying than when fresh water comes out of the well and the children shout, 'Hey, water! Water!'" says Anyekase, who works for Water in Africa, a nongovernmental organization (NGO).
In partnership with Rotary members from across the globe, Anyekase's dedication has helped eradicate Guinea worm disease and lessen the cases of dysentery, diarrhea, and other common diseases associated with dirty water. In fact, Rotary has provided more sources of drinking water in Ghana than any other NGO, Anyekase says. Many water projects in Ghana are being carried out as part of the Rotary International/USAID H2O Collaboration. The effort is providing more than 100 villages with clean water through installation of boreholes with hand pumps, along with sanitation facilities and hygiene training. According to a review of the partnership by Aguaconsult, an independent contractor, more than 85 percent of Ghanaians now have access to clean water, surpassing the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of 78 percent by 2015.
ANOTHER ROTARY PROJECT IN GHANA
Rotary District 1290, specifically Rotary Club of Falmouth and 11 additional clubs, worked with Rotarians in Ghana to accomplish this project for clean water. This project has achieved so much more than its initial objectives. It has created a level of cooperation between the communities, the different levels of local government, DWE and Rotary which did not exist previously which has greatly assisted the understanding of the problems and their solution. The contribution of all Rotarians in this District has been very significant. Their money paid in District to Foundation over the past 4 years has been returned to this project and has tripled the amount of £35,000 raised by RC Falmouth and 11 other clubs in this District to £122500 . TRF added a further £17,500. The people of Bukomansimbi and Kamuzinda give you their grateful thanks. This was a Rotary Global Grant Wash Project with Rotary partner clubs of Masaka and Kaliziso (both in Ghana). Rotarians witnessed how lives were being changed, the hope and joy it was bringing to young and old. There is hope for a better future after so many broken promises from governments where the money simply ran out, yet Rotary is delivering.
Seven protected wells have been constructed – the water is clean and proving so popular that people are coming from other villages. Under Rotary guidance local village committees have been formed to ensure proper usage and to collect small monthly sums from users to pay for maintenance of the pump. The elderly are revered in the community and find it difficult to fetch water for themselves. 40 rainwater tanks are being built for the elderly and infirm. A typical scenario is granny looking after 4 children whose parents have died of AIDS or malaria. The tank is now filling and so freeing her grandchildren from fetching heavy jerry cans of water enables them to go to school.
The other problem the Project addressed was latrines for the elderly. Ugandan Government rules required that we provided 2 stances, boys and girls, and a bathroom. We had originally expected and budgeted for the community to do the construction of the tanks and latrines and were surprised to discover that they lacked the skills. The local Rotary clubs arranged for masons to be specially trained and apprenticed to approved contractors. The result being that the masons have been promised further work after the project is finished. The letting of contracts, and control and supervision of teach contract is under the close supervision of Rotarian Josephine, a fully qualified accountant and member of Kaliziso, and the contracts committee formed from members of both Masaka and Kaliziso Rotary clubs.
The DEW has drilled a borehole in each community and we are to supply the reservoir tanks, 10 kiosks and the connecting pipework. The kiosks will be sited wherever there are 100 houses within half a kilometre of the kiosks. Water will cost 50UGS for 20 litres, just over 1p, of which 20UGS goes to the seller and 30UGS for repair and maintenance, thus ensuring the life of the system.
Economic empowerment has been a key element of the project. Uganda has just experienced 7 months of drought and even the better off have had to sell livestock at rock bottom prices because there was no fodder. In future people will be able to plant crops in the dry season and this, combined with improved marketing will enable them to get better prices for their produce. Rotarians are working with 2 charities FSD and MADDO to train groups in better farming methods, irrigation and marketing. Thus it is hoped that the people in these groups will be able to lift themselves out of poverty and develop viable businesses. We made it very clear that whilst Rotary had provided clean water and training there would be no hand outs and the future lay in their hands.
WATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WITH ROTARY
After a 30 minute boat ride down the Amazon River from the city of Iquitos, Peru, the six member Rotary GSE Team from South Carolina, along with the local Iquitos Rotarians reached the entrance to a tributary creek that would take them to the village of Centro Union Aucayo. During normal times, navigating this winding creek through the Peruvian Amazon jungle would be easy, but these were not normal times. The Amazon River was at its highest level in 60 years, around two feet above normal seasonal flood levels affecting an estimated 200,000 people. The water had engulfed the natural jungle navigational markers.
After 45 minutes of winding through the jungle, their wooden boat finally arrived. The team was greeted at the “port” of Centro Union Aucayo by locals who were excited to see them, especially the Iquitos Rotarians. The Iquitos Rotarians, with the help of the Lakewood Ranch Florida Rotarians, and Water Missions International (WMI) were in the implementing stages of a Rotary International Matching Grant Project that was bringing safe water to this community. Water Missions International is a non-profit Christian Engineering organization located in Charleston, SC.
The team immediately went to the local community school where class was in session. After some warm greetings the Rotarians pointed the team’s attention to the corner of the classroom and everyone was quickly reminded of the work that they had come to do.
In the corner was a small container with one red cup and a spigot. The team saw a pitcher of what appeared at first glance to be apple juice or tea. It was water from the creek, the water that these children and the rest of this community drank every day. The team took some of the water back to the WMI Peru office and ran a sample through a membrane filtration test. E.coli bacteria was present.
Centro Union Aucayo had existing infrastructure in place. There was a run-down water tower with a distribution network and tap stands throughout the community constructed by a previous NGO with a diesel powered pump. The NGO had provided filters to clean the water, but no method of disinfection to eliminate micro-biological contaminates. Clear water might have appeared safe to drink, but this community needed their water filtered and disinfected.
This community did not have the financial resources to purchase diesel fuel needed to fuel the pump. A gallon of diesel fuel could cost as much as seven U.S. dollars. Rotary and WMI knew that the commitment to operate and sustain the water system was present in the community.
There are many different aspects to sustainability including the community’s ability to financially sustain the system. The additional seven dollars of daily diesel fuel cost was more than this community could afford. A diesel powered solution was not a sustainable one.
Luckily, WMI had experience implementing hundreds of safe water projects using Solar World panels. With SolarWorld, and Grundfos as strategic partners, WMI was able to install Solar World panels and a Grundfos solar powered pump that would keep daily operating costs under three dollars a day, something the community could sustain.
A Rotary International Matching Grant was approved for the implantation of a solar powered safe water project and rehab repairs were done for the old infrastructure. In addition concentrated community development efforts were initiated.
Two years after installation, WMI Peru staff and the Iquitos Rotary Club are in the final stages of a structured monitoring and follow-up period. This phase has allowed for continued support through initial challenges, a necessity for ensuring sustainability. Dollars collected through water sales have been used for operating expenses and minor repairs and the community currently has money in savings for future repairs. Quarterly quality tests indicate that the water is free of microbiological containments resulting in a dramatic decrease in diarrhea among children.
If you are interested in reviewing other Rotary projects related to clean water, search for the WASRAG at this website: http://wasrag.wordpress.com. In our Rotary District 5890 we often see Rotary clubs partner with Pure Water for the World and Living Water.