Safe Sanitation and Water - Save Lives

Safe Sanitation and Water Saves Lives is a program to supply clean water to desperate people in underdeveloped countries through a planned system of water catchment, storage and reticulation.

It includes training local people in the construction of concrete tanks, and encourages them to maintain and protect their water supply system. Education in hygiene is also offered.

RAWCS volunteers travel to the various countries to instruct the local people in the skills of concrete tank construction, or other types of tanks, or tube wells.

Something we take for granted; Something we should share with others

SOME SAFE WATER FACTS

More than 5,000 children around the world die every day from diarrhoeal diseases caused by unsafe water and a lack of sanitation facilities.
More than 125 million children under age five live in households without access to a clean water source, and more than 280 million lack adequate sanitation facilities.
Women and children in developing countries often spend as many as six hours each day travelling to retrieve water for their families, a task that adversely affects their health and prevents them from pursuing an education.

The objectives of SSWSL are:

To provide safe, potable water in underdeveloped countries;
To supply and erect rainwater tanks as appropriate;
To install and maintain water wells;
To provide solar water purifiers as appropriate;
To provide education and training in water systems, tank construction and related health programs;
To encourage the community to provide funds, materials and labour to maintain and protect the system.

The People Behind SSWSL

Efficiently bringing safe water to communities overseas involves considerable effort behind the scenes.

Rotarians are committed to International Service as the final of four "Avenues of Service" in Rotary - Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service and International Service.

Project Volunteers works closely with SSWSL in helping send teams of volunteers over to international communities to provide hands on assistance.

These volunteers through SSWSL and Project Volunteers organising committees along with others are the ones that drive SSWSL projects making a healthier, safer world for all.

If you'd like to become a project volunteer, you can click here to find out more .

Practical Responsibilities of Safe Sanitation and Water Saves Lives Volunteers

RAWCS volunteers are responsible for numerous initiatives to promote, fund-raise for and deliver safe water and sanitation projects around the world. Responsibilities undertaken by RAWCS volunteers include:

Carrying out surveys of potential projects to determine their feasibility, cost, resources required and effectiveness.
Raising awareness of SSWSL in Rotary Clubs throughout the Rotary District
Riasing finance for the projects that have been authorised
Assisting District Clubs and members to undertake SSWSL projects. This is in conjunction with the Project Volunteers coordinators.
Advising DIK of requirements for materials and equipment.
Working with the RAWCS Chairman on Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and other grant applications.
Preparing promotional material as required.
Reporting to the District RAWCS Committee.
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Project Examples

Projects coming under the Safe Sanitation and Water Saves Lives banner include:

	Water supply and refurbish School and Health Clinic, Motolava, Torba Province, Vanuatu Includes extension by 2.5km of the water supply. Project 34-2005- 6 Rotary Club of Beecroft Larry Jacka
	Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Provinces, Northern Thailand. Improving health by building water supply plants for potable water in areas lacking suitable communal facilities. Project 54/2008-09 (Rotary Club of Crows Nest) Contact Bjorn Kollberg
	Water Supply at Sengli Village, Oro Province, PNG Repair work to dam and new pipeline to village. Completed project 39-2006-7 Rotary Club of Taree Contact
	Water Supply organisation at Soibada, Manatuto District, EastTimor To organise existing, no-operational water pipes to supply schools and villages. Plumbing and general handy skills required. Rotary Club of Footscray Project 25 - 2008-9 Contact Peter McGrath

You Can Help:

Rotary Clubs and individuals can support this program by donating either to the individual projects listed above, or by donating to the program generally.

Both individuals and Rotary Clubs can assist by contributing to the cost of providing and shipping water tanks to selected locations and through sponsoring Rotarians or non-Rotarians alike on project teams to work as volunteers.

Contact Us About SSWSL

Click here to find the contact details of the SSWSL Coordinator in your Region.