Category: DAA Stories

Stories about how Disaster Aid Australia operates

Visit Disaster Aid Australia

by Brian Ashworth, posted in DAA Stories, News

With COVID restrictions easing Disaster Aid Australia has re-opened its office to Vocational Visits.

Find out what it takes to run an international aid charity.

See our demonstration SkyHydrant treating dirty water, and transforming it to clean safe drinking water.

Hear about the aid we have continued to deliver through a pandemic.

We can also provide groups with a great meal for $25/head, with various menu options available.

The office is located, near Dandenong ,Victoria, just off the South Gippsland Freeway at the Princes Highway (Hallam) exit.

For more information contact us at admin@disasteraidaustralia.org.au

Clear Streams Are Not Safe

by Brian Ashworth, posted in Bhutan, DAA Stories, Safe Water for Every Child, WASH

One of the questions we sometimes get asked about our Bhutan project is “There must be lots of clear mountain streams in Bhutan, so why do they need SkyHydrants?”

It’s true that the majority of schools do get their water from clear mountain streams but that doesnt mean there isn’t harmful bacteria!

The below official testing report provides the evidence of the need, from Lhuentse school following our installation on 3rd December.

CFU stands for  Colony-Forming Units, a measure of the number of viable bacteria cells in a sample.

Now the water supply to 468 students and staff of the schools has improved from being an ‘Intermediate to High Health Risk’ to being classified as ‘Safe’

If you would like to sponsor safe water for a school in Bhutan contact Disaster Aid Australia at: admin@disasteraidaustralia.org.au

Charity donations of $2 or more to Disaster Aid Australia are tax-deductible in Australia.

A Unique Celebration of Safe Water

by Brian Ashworth, posted in Bhutan, DAA Stories

The school principal at Dungtse Central School decided to celebrate a Disaster Aid Australia SkyHydrant at his school by building 6 of these impressive tap stands.

These structures, which are called Chortens, are a smaller version of the Stupas (religious hemispherical structures) which are common in this Buddhist country.

The school is located in the East of Bhutan at a place called Phongme in the Trashigang District.

This is just one of the 120 schools in the Butan 2020 project that will be protected under this ‘Safe Water for Every Child’ program.

If you would like to help Disaster Aid Australia make more school principals happy to have healthy pupils click on the link below;

DONATE

Charity donations of $2 or more to Disaster Aid Australia are tax-deductible in Australia.

Safe Water – More Than One ‘Area of Focus’

by Brian Ashworth, posted in DAA Stories, Safe Water for Every Child

Rotary International recently announced that they had added ‘Supporting the Environment‘ as a seventh ‘Area of Focus‘ for Rotary Action.

Although DAA’s Safe Water for Every Child obviously fits into the ‘Water and Sanitation‘ category it actually has an impact on every other areas of focus.

Here is how it makes a difference for each of the other six areas:

Supporting the Environment

Unlike many water treatment systems our SkyHydrants bring essential benefits to communities without increasing energy use.

DAA’s Safe Water for Every Child’s contribution to sustainability was recognised internationally by our success in the Energy Globe Awards in 2017

Disease Prevention and Treatment

Statistics from our recent project in India showed a reduction in illness of 88% for the over 8,000 children receiving water from the SkyHydrant.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the need for safe water in the treatment and prevention from virus transmission.

Economic and Community Development

In developing countries without safe drinking water people either have to lose days of work through illness; or pay a substantial portion of their income to buy bottled water.

We have found a SkyHydrant means communities have more money to spend on better food, and investing in ways to improve their community for all.

Maternal and Child Health

In the first few years of life immunity from disease is particularly low which makes any infection particularly dangerous.

Safe drinking water is a key reason for improved health of both mothers and children.

Basic Education

Teachers tell us that the changes following a SkyHydrant are:

  • Better school attendance;
  • Less teacher time taken attending to children who become ill during the school day;
  • Less time spent helping students to catch up after lost time through illness;
  • Less teacher absence through illness.

Peace and Conflict Resolution

Our aid in the Philippine island of Mindanao has included areas subject to civil unrest due to the feeling of rural people that they are forgotten.

Our partner in Mindanao, the Balay Mindanao Peace Foundation has found that the prospect of a safe water installation encourages the communities to look for peaceful solutions to their other problems.

You can help support all seven areas of Rotary focus by making a donation at the link below:

DONATE

Charity donations of $2 or more to Disaster Aid Australia are tax-deductible in Australia.