Minnesota Working for WASH
Briefing Prepared for ______
Improving Access to Clean Water Is at the Top of Americans’ Global Health Priorities
People in the state of Minnesota are leading the effort to solve the global safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenge. There are numerous faith-based, civic, and academic initiatives for WASH underway throughout the state. The top programs in the state include:
a) Rotary District 5950 in Minneapolis partnered with Water Missions International to implement a sustainable water project for 25,000 people living in rural Malawi.
b) H2O for Life, a non-profit founded by a middle school teacher, educates students about the global water crisis and encourages schools to raise money for clean drinking water. Since 2007, they have raised nearly 2 million dollars for international water projects.
c) City of Lakes Rotary in Minneapolis constructed latrines and water wells for Haitian secondary schools through the Rotary Partnership for Haiti initiative.
d) Minnesota Student Ministries have raised $900,000, a portion of which will go toward water well projects in Africa.
Other notable efforts include:
Rotary Clubs in Minnesota
· St. Cloud Rotary Club
o Partnered with World Water Relief to install water systems at primary schools in the Dominican Republic
o Educates students and school staff on the health impacts of unpurified water, the importance of handwashing, and the global water crisis
· Ely Rotary Club
o Raised $93,000 for the Haiti National Water Project
o Installed 1,200 water filtration systems in households throughout rural Haiti
· Central Lakes Rotary Club, Pequot Lakes
o Sponsors the annual “Rotary Rides for Clean Water” cycling event to benefit Rotary Water projects
· Rotary Club of Waseca
o Raised nearly $20,000 for solar water heaters and a water purification system in Guatemala
· Fargo Moorhead Rotary Club
o Partnered with the Duluth Harbortown Rotary Club to provide potable water for clinics and hospitals in Bolivia
o Raised $18,000 to build 3 water wells in a Tanzanian village
o Implemented 8 water projects in Guatemala since 2003 and constructed latrines for schools in India
· Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club
o Hosts an Annual Brewers Bazaar that raised over $30,000 to support a water and sanitation project that provides access for over 4,000 people in rural India
Schools & Universities in Minnesota
· Coon Rapids Middle School, Coon Rapids
o Hosted a Walk for Water event that raised funds for a water well at a South Sudan school
· Centennial Middle School, Circle Pines
o Raised $4,555 to build clean water and sanitation facilities at a primary school for blind children in Uganda
· Stillwater Junior High, Stillwater
o Raised over $60,000 to fund the construction of water wells in South Sudan schools
· University of Minnesota – Engineers Without Borders Chapter, Twin Cities
o Sent a team of engineering students to Uganda to construct a rainwater harvesting system at a primary school, benefiting over 300 children
· University of Minnesota International WATERS Partnership
o Partners with the University of the Western Cape and the University of British Columbia to foster an academic dialogue around water quality, water governance, and water security
o Conducts research and facilitates workshops for host country nationals in India, South Africa, and Peru
· Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Chaska
o Hosts an annual Water Walk to raise awareness among students of the challenges associated with walking long distances to fetch water and to raise money to construct latrines at a primary school in Ethiopia
Faith-Based Organizations in Minnesota
· Passion Church, Maple Grove
o Raises money to support charity:water, a non-profit that brings safe drinking water to people in developing countries
· Messiah United Methodist Church, Plymouth
o Raises money to support the construction of wells and handwashing stations in schools in developing countries
· Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Loring Park
o Sponsored a mission trip to Cuba to install water filtration systems at local churches
· Nowthen Alliance Church, Nowthen
o Raised funds to provide clinics in South Sudan with soap and water to improve hygiene in medical facilities
WASH-Focused Organizations in Minnesota
· H2O for Life, White Bear Lake
o More than 70 schools in Minnesota are currently supporting an international water project through H2O for Life
· Haiti Outreach, Hopkins
o Hosts an annual Ride for Water that raises money for Haiti water projects
o Sponsors an Adopt-a-Well Program that gives individuals, churches, schools, and Rotary Clubs the opportunity to sponsor well projects in Haiti
For more information, please contact John Oldfield
202.293.4049 Updated: December 2015