Category: Safe Water for Every Child

Our Safe water projects using SkyHydrants

Two Safe Water Projects for the Philippines

by Brian Ashworth, posted in News, Philippines, Safe Water for Every Child

Disaster Aid Australia has decided to commence two ‘Safe Water for Every Child’ projects in the Philippines.

The projects will be carried out with our long-term partner based on the island of Mindanao, the Balay Mindanaw Foundation.

Bangsamoro Health and Peace Project

This Bangsamoro Region of Mindanao is one of the poorest in the Philipppines and in the recent past has suffered from armed rebellion.

The Balay Mindanaw Foundation have been a key influencer in the peace process over the past three years.

They feel that providing communities with better health, through safe water, is key to improving living standards.

This will strongly demonstrate to those communities the benefits of peace.

Our project is based on providing SkyHydrant installations to at least five communities a year for the next five years.

Mindano Safe Water Project

This project is based on providing safe water to the remaining regions of Mindanao.

Past projects have resulted in reduction in illness in the communities of more than 70%

Again this project is based on providing SkyHydrant installations to at least five communities a year, for the next five years.

Timing

Balay Mindanw are currently engaged in carrying out investigations on rural Barangays (villages) to identify 10 locations for installations.

In the next few months the first five Barangays, for each project, will be identified and a full consultation will be carried out.

This will confirm that they accept the SkyHydrant solution, and will participate in the installation, as well as the ongoing operation.

SkyHydrants will be shipped later this year for installation by the end of June 2022.

Sponsorship Opportunities

You can sponsor a SkyHydrant installation for one of these projects for $5,000.

That is less than $1 for every person protected for one year.

All sponsors will be acknowledged with a plaque on the SkyHydrant, photographs of the installation, and a certificate from Disaster Aid Australia.

If you would like to help Disaster Aid Australia continue to help the Philippines with ‘Safe Water for Every Child’ projects click on the link below;

DONATE

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

SkyHydrant in Shipping Container for Timor Leste

by Brian Ashworth, posted in News, Safe Water for Every Child, Timor
During Construction

Disaster Aid Australia have been pleased to play a small part in this project by Rotary Projects Timor-Leste East (RPTLE), based in Western Australia.

The unit is now supplying 10,000 litres of clean filtered potable water every day to the students and the local community of the Don Bosco centre in Comoro, Dhili.

The project of the Rotary Club of Kwinana , led by project manager Max Bird, also involved considerable support from the Rotary Club of Phillip Island and San Remo, in Victoria.

With the problems of COVID the role of Brother Adriano and the students of The Don Bosco Technical Training Centre has been vital in completing the construction.

The Completed Project

Prior to its final installation the SkyHydrant was used in a temporary installation in response to the Dhili Floods in April this year.

If you would like to help Disaster Aid Australia continue to help children in developing countries, such as Timor Leste, have ‘Safe Drinking Water’ click on the link below;

DONATE

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

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.

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.