Reflections by Amber Jennings, Exec. Asst. to the Global Director
WATER IS LIFE
An inch of rainfall across just one square mile produces over 17 million gallons of water. When properly collected and stored, this water can be used for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Unfortunately, for many reasons, it can be difficult to store fresh water safely.
Economic water scarcity occurs when an area does not have the resources or infrastructure to purchase or clean existing water. One common method for collecting rainwater is to dig a hole in the ground. Holes, however, are susceptible to runoff from rainfall and flooding. They can contain bacteria that cause waterborne diseases such as cholera, which, in extreme cases, can be fatal.
For almost 15 years, ICCM has partnered with Sawyer, a leader in technology that provides protection against potentially harmful outdoor elements, such as water and sun. Sawyer’s Point One filters are easy to use. They filter out 99.9 percent of bacteria and other harmful germs. With simple backflushing, a filter can provide clean water for more than 10 years.
At the start of the Atlantic hurricane season in June, Haiti experienced a weekend of flash floods and an earthquake, triggering landslides that compounded an existing challenge to secure safe water. While some countries seek to clean up floodwaters and the damage they’ve caused, other countries, such as Kenya, Malawi, and Ethiopia, are recovering from many seasons of drought. Drought is a major cause of physical water scarcity, the lack that occurs when there is simply not enough water in the area for a population.
Rainfall after an extended time of drought brings a much-needed reprieve. However, things may get worse before they get better, as rainfall is often accompanied by flooding since the dry ground cannot absorb the rain as quickly as it falls.
Providing clean water solutions to children in ICCM-sponsored locations across the globe is a multifaceted issue. ICCM takes a comprehensive and nuanced approach to water safety specific to the unique needs of our varied locations. We are proud to be one of Sawyer’s nearly 150 charitable partners in a mutual effort to provide clean water solutions and help as many children as we can.
Water filters are an excellent way to purify water that is possibly contaminated with impurities. Most bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, so someone collecting water from a natural source may not realize that their water is harmful until after they’ve gotten sick.
Water is life, and clean water means health
– Audrey Hepburn
Water wells can be a preventative source of safe drinking water for families, as groundwater may be less affected by activity above ground and is filtered naturally by the surrounding soil and rock. In addition to our partnership with Sawyer, ICCM works with local businesses to drill wells in program locations with water scarcity, including creative access countries.
Seasons of drought have led farmers to take their own lives. Without access to safe drinking water for themselves or their livestock, many have lost their farm animals, a crucial source of income and animal by-products. ICCM also facilitates the gifting of farm animals. Donated livestock are sourced from local markets, contributing to local economies and supporting local vendors.
Securing safe drinking water can be time-consuming and prevent children from staying in school. ICCM is providing nearly 500 sponsored children in Haiti with a combination Sawyer water filter and bucket with a pre-drilled hole, especially in response to recent flooding and the cholera-causing bacteria pervading their current water supply. Join us in prayer for this endeavor and for other countries also experiencing the effects of flooding and drought.
We praise God for the generosity of our donors and sponsors. We continue to pursue a future in which every child is loved, safe, and developing their God-given potential.
To help replenish the water filter fund, visit the ICCM website or call the ICCM office. ($50 = 1 filter)
PO Box 51710, Indianapolis, IN 46251 317.616.4740 (Direct Line) 800.342.5531 x502 www.childcareministries.org
