Clean Water
With every trip to China I must face things that I had taken for granted. Things I view as a necessity that are actually a luxury that many people just don’t have. The biggest of these is clean drinking water.
I told my DH on this most recent trip that if we ever win the lottery to the extent that we have so much money we don’t know what to do with it, my pet project is going to be clean drinking water for those who do not have it.
And then I come home and discover that someone I know and trust is affiliated with this program:
http://www.a-childs-right.org/
Their next project will provide clean drinking water to some orphanages in China. Specifically, they’ll be going to Chongqing and Jiangxi. They are entirely nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible. Their sole mission is to provide children living in desperate conditions with clean water. Each system is capable of providing up to 600 gallons of clean water every hour around the clock. They supply the sites with a minimum of 5 years of spare parts, supplies, routine maintenance and water quality testing to ensure the integrity of the water and the sustainability of the water systems. The China project will provide more than 3,000 children clean water.
Ya’ll know that my favorite charity is Half the Sky, but the synchronicity with this program and some of my recent thoughts makes me think that twilight zone music may start playing any minute.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Rumor Queen,
I don’t know how involved you may decided to become with this group but I can also give you and this group a suggestion.
Rotary International has made it one of their global goals to provided potable water to everyone in the world. They are in the end stages of their fight against Polio and have begun working towards this next goal. I also know there are two provisional Rotary Clubs that have just opened in Main Land China (Hong Kong has many clubs but China has just allowed the first two ever in Main Land).
Many Rotary Clubs can work for grants through their local districts especially if they can partner with other clubs in the country where the project is being performed and also in conjunction with other charity/non profit groups with the same goals.
Just a suggestion from a former very active Rotarian (who never would have left my local club – except being a full time MaMa to two with a 3rd on the way & a full time night job!) Just to many eggs in one basket.
But Rotary International has some MEGA FUNDS that can be accessed if you can get the right people involved at your local level.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:45 am
RQ,
Thankyou for sharing this charity. I learned in a Physical Science college course last year about the lack of clean water supplies world wide. My instructor showed a video to our class that was so disturbing. It really left an impact on me. It was so sad to see children gathering dirty water from the potholes in streets or from dirty ditches.
Since that class, I have been extremely interested in learning about the environmental and global warming issues that are affecting our world. I personally want to thankyou for brining this issue into the “spotlight”. My parents were asking me the other day about charities they could donate money to and I believe I am going to have them look into donating to this one!
Pandacat2
April 20th, 2007 at 9:32 am
There was an interesting article about this issue in Sunday’s New York Times magazine section. This was the first time the problem with China’s water had come to my attention and it was stunning to realize the scope of the problem. Thanks for bringing the issue greater attention. Perhaps as more of us are aware of the problem we can be part of the solution!
April 20th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
RQ
I love the fact that despite everything you are doing including the new family member, you still are selflessly working on others’ behalf! You are truly the Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy and Compassion and Protector of Children).
Someday soon, can you give us an update on recent HTS totals?
Thanks!
PT
April 20th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Love this topic as it is dear to my heart. Literally 1,000s of children die everyday to water related illnesses.
Check out playpumps.org They are currently working in Africa and it’s just amazing what they are also accomplishing. I love seeing all these groups work in tandem to serve people – and offer options for those who want to give back. It’s just beautiful.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Thanks for this info. Talk about Twilight Zone music…my two girls are from Chongqing and Jiangxi! I’ve heard of charities that provide clean water to areas in need and I think it is a wonderful cause.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Thanks for posting this, RQ. I contacted them and they’ll be helping out my daughter’s orphanage in Fuling, Chongqing. I’ll most certainly donate toward helping them achieve their goal.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
(3xwait, our daughter is a spicy-girl from CQ as well!)
Well…I can’t say we got to see much of CQ other than the city, but from watching countless docs on China and knowing how much their “industrial revolution” and booming economy is taxing the water and resources there…it’s great to know that there are more and more organisation that are getting involved in helping. :)
p.s. Glad to see you back RQ! Hope everything’s going well with the new little one!
April 21st, 2007 at 9:10 am
Sigh! Sometimes the answers to helping make life better for someone are so simple… imagine…it is 2007 and access to clean drinkable water is STILL a major health issue.
We can run a Space Station that orbits the Earth but we can’t figure out how to ensure children all over the world don’t suffer or even die needlessly from water-borne illnesses.
April 21st, 2007 at 9:26 am
R.Q., this is my first time posting, have been reading this site religiously for a VERY long time, you were absolutely, truly missed…………
Good luck with your new completed family………. I hope to be there someday.
April 21st, 2007 at 10:31 am
Wow!! I had NO idea a group like this existed!! I am ALL FOR getting clean water to all the orphanages!!! Not only would it be better for the babies, but it would be MUCH easier on the workers in the orphanages, too, hopefully giving them more time to spend with each child!!
Thank you VERY much for sharing this!!
His,
Mrs. U
LID 9-12-05
referral 1-4-07
Gotcha Day 2-25-07 for Elizabeth (Yangchun, Guangdong)
http://www.makingahouseahome.blogspot.com
April 21st, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I concur with RQ and know well those involved in A Child’s Right. I was absolutely delighted to see that RQ is using her site to make us all aware of their efforts. Once again, RQ, you are the best!
April 22nd, 2007 at 3:34 am
Hello All,
Talk about Twilight Zone….we are in Guangzhou right now (our CA is tomorrow!) and can I tell you how much this topic is hitting home?!? Dh and I have been talking about the “water situation” since we arrived in China on the 11th.
We visited our daughter’s orphanage in Hubei and were so touched by the love and affection they had for our Lily and so deeply saddened by the living conditions! It is hard to think we are washing our precious Lily in water we wont even drink!
All people everywhere deserve clean water. Come on…it’s 2007…let’s all do what we can to ensure all people have what we in the US take for granted!
TJ
April 22nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Thank you RQ for making me aware of this organization. Clean water is a no.1 necessity. I have now made a donation.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:12 am
This group will be installing water systems at
Fuling, Qianjiang and Fengdu. The person heading up the project is a Qianjiang Mom who saw high levels of Giardia in babies coming home. This is reported on the orphanage website my daughter is from on Yahoo groups.