Living With Clean Water
WATER IS THE MOST BASIC OF ALL HUMAN NECESSITIES. IT MAKES ALL OTHER PROGRESS POSSIBLE, YET OVER 1 BILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE CURRENTLY LACK ACCESS TO SAFE, CLEAN DRINKING WATER.
An estimated 4,000 people die every day as a direct result of contaminated water with children being the hardest hit. Polluted drinking water claims more lives than all forms of violence combined including war, and claims the lives of more children than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined. Each day, women and children walk miles to collect water that is so contaminated it will kill 25% of her family. The countless hours spent collecting water is time not spent in school, often causing girls to fall behind and eventually drop out.
YOU WILL BE PERSONALLY CONNECTED TO THE BOREHOLE(S) YOU SPONSOR THROUGH PICTURES AND VIDEO.
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IHELP SOLVES THIS PROBLEM BY PROVIDING LIFETIME ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER FOR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES IN THE MOST REMOTE VILLAGES IN THE WORLD THROUGH A COMBINATION OF COST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT BOREHOLES AND IN-HOME WATER FILTERS.
WE CAN DRILL A LIFE-SAVING BOREHOLE FOR ABOUT 75% LESS COST THAN MOST OTHER NGO’S, ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE THIS MOST BASIC NECESSITY FOR LITERALLY PENNIES PER PERSON.
The success of our water program, however, lies in realizing that drilling boreholes or providing water filters is only about 30% of the solution. The most critical step in providing water sources that will remain in operation for a lifetime lies in community education.
When a community is evaluated and identified as a possible recipient, the groundwork is established through education before drilling ever begins. The community is taught and demonstrates an understanding of the value of clean water and the health and economic benefits it brings.
Villagers are also taught about sanitation through proper handwashing and how, combined with a clean water source, it can eliminate 95% of illness their family currently experiences. Community health trainers are identified and taught these principles so that they can continue to teach within the community and within the schools.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BOREHOLE IS ESTABLISHED AND PROVISIONS FOR MAINTENANCE ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE DRILLING BEGINS.
Either a community maintenance committee is set up with established rules for villagers to contribute funds and an elected villager takes responsibility for maintenance, or an existing or future school takes ownership of the borehole, charging a nominal fee for use.
The school assumes responsibility for maintenance and any remaining funds are used toward school programs.
Boreholes drilled on school property benefit the kids with clean water during the school day and allow them to carry water home with them for their families in the afternoon.
Complete maintenance training is provided to the responsible party and follow-up on each borehole is completed at 6, 12, and 24 months to assure that obligations are met for education and maintenance.
With this most basic necessity now met, families are capable of progressing in other areas.
Creating access to clean water saves lives, facilitates education, provides hope, and enables prosperity to take hold – it is very likely the most dramatic impact you can ever have at such a low cost!
Thousands die every day as a direct result of contaminated water and women and girls walk an average of 4+ miles per day to collect water that is so dirty, she knows it will kill 25% of her family. The same filthy water they walk miles to access is a breeding ground for insects, is bathing and laundry water for humans, and is filled with human and animal waste. Time spent fetching water by these women and children is time not spent attending school or in income generating activities. Not only does clean water save lives, it makes all other necessities possible – food, education, and economic growth. Without clean water, progress is not possible. The best part is that there is a simple solution. For only $3,000, we can drill a borehole that will serve an entire community – that is about $1 per person for lifetime access to clean water!
CLEAN WATER IS LIFE’S MOST BASIC NECESSITY, YET MORE THAN 1 BILLION PEOPLE STILL LACK ACCESS TO THIS SIMPLE NEED.
