Dadaab Help put on hold

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Geraint Burrows unfortunately could not go to the Dadaab refugee camp to help Oxfam with the water supply issues due to recent security issues related to some volunteers being abducted.  Instead Geraint helped out in the DRC and then moved on to the Turkana region of Kenya (also with Oxfam).

Success in Cameroon!

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Dr Fred Michel has been working with the village of Kombo Lake in east central Cameroon to get two water wells up and running.  Recently the pump in the bedrock well was repaired and now the borehole is functioning properly.  Now these people do not need to climb the 100+ metres to access water from a stream.  The other well will need to be redrilled, which unfortunately will not be done until the nearby mine requires a drill rig for their resource delineation drilling.

Dr Cathy Ryan Appointed to CAWST Board of Directors

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The Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technologies has appointed Dr. Cathy Ryan, acting-Secretary to the HWB Board of Directors, to their Board of Directors.  This action by CAWST is part of a larger vision of increased collaboration between these two organizations.  CAWST and HWB share a vision of improving lives in the developing world by increasing assess to safe drinking water.

$14,020 Matched by CIDA

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In July 2011, five members of HWB conducted a Shower Strike fundraiser in support of the Boston Children Centre water well project.  As this project is aimed at allieviating the devestating effects of drought in the Horn of Africa, it contributed to the matching funds that CIDA has offered to donate for projects in that area.  Thanks to all who participated and our generous donators!

Of particular note, HWB would gratiously like to thank the organizers of the World Heavy Oil Congress, and the attendants, for their donation of $7,000 to this cause.

“Groundwater: A source of life in Bolivia”

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I recently did an internship with CARA Water Resource Training Network as a part of their Bolivian project. I spent three months in Bolivia where I helped coordinate the final filming for a documentary called “Groundwater: A source of life in Bolivia”. Taking part of this project has allowed me to travel to mayor cities across Bolivia, meet new people, expand my knowledge of important issues in the country and best of all get to know the culture. Along the way I learned a lot about myself and have grown in many ways that I never anticipated. Now I’m home in Calgary, Canada working on the final editing for the video and I cannot wait for the video to be distributed across junior high schools in Bolivia. Considering that 80% of the water supply across Bolivia is obtained from groundwater sources, an educational video is paramount in helping create awareness about this water resource among the youth and the general public.

I truly believe CARA is making a real difference in developing countries across Latin America by providing and supporting educational projects such as master programs and educational videos. I feel so honored to have been a part of this and I will be forever grateful to CARA for this incredible, enriching opportunity.

Sally Gonzalez, University of Calgary

To Donate to the Shower Strike Fundraiser

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For Canadians wishing to donate to our Shower Strike fundraiser and benefit from some tax relief, we suggest donating via this website by clicking the DONATE button to the right.  Once on the CanadaHelps website please select ‘Shower Strike’ as the donation fund option.  You will be issued a tax receipt that can be used to lower your payable income tax.

Alternatively, if you have an income in US funds, you can certainly donate using the www.Showerstrike.com/HWB website.  HWB is collaborating on the BCC School well project, as well as other Kenyan-based water projects, so either way the donation will be used for the benefit of this project.

Thanks,  from your smelly fundraisers!

Update from Tim Van Dijk on Marakwet Spring Assessment (Kenya)

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Children watch as HWB's Tim Van Dijk samples a spring

My one-month adventure in Kenya was a fantastic experience.  During my time there, I was able to experience life in rural Kenya, explore and hike the amazing Great Rift Valley, and experience the great hospitality of the Kenyan people.  Not always an easy experience but for me it was the ultimate vacation.  My work for HWB was to conduct a spring inventory/assessment in the area of the Marakwet people in the Great Rift Valley with my companion/translator William.  Each morning, we would  arrive at a location in the Rift Valley and embark by foot up the Rift Valley escarpment (which is over 1000m high) to evaluate the natural springs in the area with the help of a local guide.  Overall, we were able to assess about 100 springs for potential development to supply the local people with easily accessible clean drinking water.  One of the most enjoyable aspects was the reactions of the local children who were so excited to see a mizungo (white man) in this remote area.  The Marakwet people were very gracious hosts and appreciated the efforts of those who are trying to help improve their lives.  It was an experience I will always remember fondly.

-Tim

HWB/Well Aware – Shower Strike Fundraiser

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Individuals and teams from various US cities and other countries will vow not to shower from july 24th to 31st 2011 until they have at least raised at least $1000 for sustainable water wells in high need regions in Kenya. In particular, a group of hydrogeologists and their friends in Calgary Alberta aim to raise $30,000 to install a water well at the Boston Children Centre in the Matopeni slum in Nairobi Kenya. This well will provide much-needed water to grow food for the children’s lunch. The excess water and food will be sold locally and will help fund the secondary school expansion. If you wish to join our team, please contact Kim at kimharrer@gmail.com. If you wish to donate, please use the following link. http://www.showerstrike.com/HWB