Water for People

For us who live in industrialized countries, is access to clean water naturally. But there are still people in the world for whom access to clean water is a precious resource. In many places in Africa and in other poor countries, many girls and women have to travel several hours to reach a lake or sea to fetch water. Such water sources are often contaminated and many people can become ill and even die.
The situation was so alarming, that something had to be done about it. Today there are many organizations that do something about it.

One of such organizations is "Water For People"
The Vision of "Water For People" is to build a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and where no one suffers or dies from a water- or sanitation-related disease. They work with people and partners to develop innovative and long-lasting solutions to the water, sanitation, and hygiene problems in the developing world. They strive to continually improve, to experiment with promising new ideas, and to leverage resources to multiply their impact.


For example "Water For People in Uganda"
Water For People began work in Uganda in September 2008, building relationships with the government and local development organizations, and learning about the population’s water and sanitation needs. Working in partnership with local government’s in the districts of Kyenjojo, Mukono, and Kamwenge, Water For People–Uganda strives to provide sustainable access to improved water and sanitation facilities.

Partners
Lasting water and sanitation solutions can only be achieved when local role-players—the private sector, civil society, and local government—are supported. As such, Water For People is deeply involved with key local stakeholders, including the Ugandan government; the governments of Kyenjojo, Mukono, and Kamwenge; and the local partners Health through Water and Sanitation (HEWASA) and the Uganda Environmental Education Foundation (UEEF).

Work in 2011
Water For People–Uganda’s first water project, together with local partner HEWASA and the Kyarusozi local government, is close to completion. Water user committees have been revived, trained, and mobilized with water point management skills in the 10 communities (3,000 people) that will gain access to safe drinking water through this project. The communities have been very active participants in this process, contributing their time, in-kind materials, and cash to the water systems. By the end of June, construction be complete on the 10 water points, either shallow wells or protected springs, and the project is set to be inaugurated in July. Water For People–Uganda will continue to work with the water user committees and monitor and doc**ent the management of the water points.In addition, a full-scale feasibility study was undertaken for a water system set to serve approximately 20,000 people in Kamwenge, Uganda. Engineers and surveyors from the Ministry of Water and Environment, the local district government, and local partner HEWESA participated in the study, supported by Water For People–Uganda. The study was recently completed and Water For People–Uganda is now collaborating with these key partners on the design of this gravity-fed scheme and implementation plan.