WATER
Making A Difference
Making
A Lasting
Impact,
One Drop
At A Time
f
rom cleaning the
dishes, to taking
a shower, or just
having a cool
glass with lunch,
water is something that is
part of our everyday lives.
For many, the process
of receiving
clean water is
as simple as
turning on the
faucet. It is not
anything that
we think twice
about. But for
families in Fiji,
there is a daily
battle with if,
and
where,
they
will
access clean
water for their
daily needs.
Give Clean Water, based in San Diego,
begin in October 2008 when a small
group of volunteers went to Fiji and
installed new, filters for more than 300
families. Since that time, not only have
thousands of lives
been improved, but
Give Clean Water
has
developed
partnerships
with
the Fijian Ministry
of Health, the Fijian
Ministry of Education
and
the
Fijian
Scouting Association.
$48
provides a
sustainable
clean
drinking
water
solution for
a family in
rural Fiji.
Fiji is a place
known for its breathtaking
beaches,
world-class
surfing and high-end
bottled water. But it is also a country
where half the population, nearly 450,000
people, does not have access to clean,
58 GBSAN.COM | JUNE 2018
bacteria-free water. One organization is
working to change that.
“Our goal is to provide
a sustainable clean
water solution to
eliminate waterborne
disease, allow children
to attend school more
and allow workers to
reduce their sick days. By providing a
solution, we are able to keep a family
healthy and in turn improve their overall
life,” Alon Banks, executive director of
Give Clean Water shared with Giving
Back Magazine.
Give Clean Water is committed to seeing
lasting change in families, so they go
back and visit each house two times
over 8 weeks to verify that the filters
are being used and working properly.
“When we go into people’s homes,
we emphasize basic hygiene and how
water becomes contaminated. An
important part of our process is that we
teach them how to assemble, use and
clean the water filter. With proper use,
these filters are meant to last a lifeti me,”
added Alon. “The follow-up visits are
what we do that separates us from
other organizations. It’s the hard work of
going back to villages and making sure
everything is going 100 percent well.”
During these visits Give Clean Water also
collects basic health and financial data
from each family to document health
change and help coordinate follow-ups.
Since Give Clean Water began working
in 2008, they have seen a 98% decrease
in waterborne illnesses within the villages
they have been supporting. Not only
has health improved, but on average
families save $32.96 each month by
not spending money on health-related
issues – a world of change!
www.givecleanwater.org