Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

 

Ding! We’re now in session.

Welcome all – Visitors, fellow Rotarians and guests alike to this E-Club program!

Four-Way Test

At the beginning of each meeting we remind ourselves of the The Four-Way Test.  Therefore, please remember to ask yourself always . . .

 

 

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" - Mark Twain

(Mark Twain certainly was not casting aspersions to a Rotarian!)

 

 

 

 

Rotary’s focus turns to two themes this month. March is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month, and we celebrate World Rotaract Week 11-17 March. Both WASH and Rotaract are near and dear to me.

 

Clean water, basic sanitation, and proper hygiene are fundamental human rights, yet a staggering 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water.

We’re taking action. Over the past decade, your Rotary Foundation has invested more than $180 million in over 2,500 water and sanitation projects worldwide. Rotary is on the ground making a difference through global grant-supported projects funded by your contributions to the Foundation.

 

But Rotary can’t do it alone. We have partnered with organizations like USAID to deliver large-scale solutions. The Rotary-USAID Partnership has helped thousands access water and sanitation services in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, the Philippines, and Uganda.

 

Our Foundation is the connector for other water partnerships, too. This was the case when I worked with leaders from Rotary District 7020 to set up the Haiti National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiative, known as HANWASH. Foundation grants continue to play a critical role in our strategy of working with nongovernmental organizations, municipalities, and government agencies in communities throughout Haiti.

 

Rotary efforts to connect people with clean water go beyond providing a basic necessity. We are paving the way for healthier communities and brighter futures, and doing so in a sustainable manner. With access to water, communities enhance education levels, improve health, and further development.

When we talk about partnerships, we can’t forget our closest ally, right here in the family of Rotary: Rotaract. The engagement, energy, and ideas of Rotaract complement the experience of Rotary clubs and increase our collective impact.

 

Yet many Rotary members still do not know that, as of 2022, Rotaract club activities can be included in district grants, and they are eligible for global grants, expanding avenues for collaboration.

 

I encourage all Rotary and Rotaract clubs to foster closer collaboration and engagement in our Foundation, whether it’s rolling up their sleeves on a project or giving.

 

We all know that in Rotary, great opportunities are always around the corner. When you combine water and sanitation projects, Rotaract, and the Foundation, all will become a big part of your life, as they have in mine — and not just this month, but forever.

 

Posted on March 7, 2024

By Claudia Urbano, Rotary Service and Engagement staff 

 

 

One in four people lives without safe drinking water and almost half lack basic sanitation. This staggering reality impacts health, education, and overall well-being. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on clean water and sanitation encourages us to address universal access to drinking water and sanitation along with improved water management to protect ecosystems and build resiliency.  

 

Your club can help support communities with access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030. Rotary International President-elect Stephanie Urchick, a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, saw the magic of Rotary when she was helping a community in the Dominican Republic access clean water. Two boys were watching as dirty water entered the water filter and then ran out clean at the other end. “One of the boys grabbed my sleeve and said, ‘Show me the magic again,’” she said. Obviously, the water filter wasn’t magic. The project team worked hard to build a strong working relationship with the community, understand their wishes and needs, procure and install appropriate filters, and work with leaders in the area to maintain them while helping the community build healthy habits to ensure the filters and filtered water remained clean. The boys knew that easier access to clean water would change their lives. This transformative power motivates our clubs worldwide: 

Clubs address water scarcity in South African schools 

 

A partnership between Rotary clubs in South Africa and the United States tackles water scarcity, helping transform 11 schools in South Africa into better learning environments for more than 7,200 students. 

Clean water and healthy habits in Thailand 

 

Through a survey, the Rotary Club of Hua Hin found that the school’s drinking water was not up to standards. They also observed that students did not wash their hands during important periods such as after going to the bathroom, before and after eating, and determined there were not enough hand washing points and reinforcements for the school children to improve their handwashing habits. The club helped the school install a new water pump system, as well as installed water filters and trained the teachers and staff in how to use and maintain them. 

Safe water in Peru 

 

The community of Santa Maria de Fatima, located along the banks of the Amazon River, is a frequent destination for eco-tourists visiting the Loreto region. There are approximately 80 families in the community whose only options for drinking water were either directly from the river or rainwater collection. Recognizing how the use of contaminated water affected not only their health and well-being but also the economic potential of the community as a tourist destination, community leaders reached out to Water Mission and the Rotary Club Iquitos Amazonas to pursue a safe water project. Thanks to a global grant awarded by the Rotary Foundation, the club installed a community-managed, solar-powered water treatment system. A local safe water committee was created to ensure the project’s sustainability, as well as to manage its finances and operation. 

 

Are you interested in starting or currently planning a WASH project? Explore these resources: 

How is your club focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene? Post your completed projects on Rotary Showcase or share them in the comments section. Together, we can create a world where clean water, sanitation, and hygiene are fundamental rights. 

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