NEWS:
JOIN US on Friday May 31st, 2019 for WASRAG's World Water Summit - one day before the RI Convention. This year's Summit will be held at the historic Handwerkskammer (HWK - Chamber of Trades) building at Holstenwall 12, 2035, Hamburg.
Hear from Patrick Moriarty, CEO of IRC how the "Agenda for Change" is transforming the lives of millions through sustainable WASH programs.
Learn from Dr. Maria Elena Figuero of Johns Hopkins University how behaviour change underpins all successful WASH programs.
Understand how four critical building blocks should guide the planning of all your future projects.
Participate in round-table discussions where you can share your experience and lessons learned with Rotarians from other cultures.
REGISTRATION FEES: WASRAG Members: $150 ($175 after February 1) ; Non-WASRAG Members: $175 ($200 after February 1) (Includes a complimentary 1-year membership to WASRAG); Rotaractors: A Special Rate of $80. Registration includes a light breakfast, full lunch and a reception at the end of the day . https://wasrag.org/page/world-
Learn more about Rotary success in the WASRAG stories.
World Water Day – March 22
What is World Water Day?
World Water is fast approaching! Your club and district can help celebrate World Water Day. It focuses on the approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide who must rely on water contaminated with feces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio and other waterborne diseases. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals, launched in 2015, include a target to ensure everyone has access to safe water by 2030, making water a key issue in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty. In 1993, the UN General Assembly designated March 22nd as World Water Day. It is now a globally recognized event. The UN theme for this year's World Water Day is "Leaving No One Behind".
$500 US for the most innovative project
Enter the World Water Day Competition - it's not too late! Did your club do something special for World Water Day or will you be doing something in the next month? Check out the details on this year's World Water Day Contest. World Water Day was on March 22, but the closing date for entries is May 1, 2019.
Whatever works best for your community! The choice is yours!. In some areas March 22nd is in the middle of a dry season or a monsoon. In the north, rivers may be frozen. You can promote your project in March to celebrate
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World Water Day, even if you complete the project at a later date, as long as it is before May 1, 2019. All we ask is that the project improve the quality of water and/or level of awareness in YOUR community. You could, for example:
Clean up debris along a waterway, lake, creek, pond, stream, or other water source.
Prevent erosion by planting trees and native plants along a water source.
Build awareness in your community - encourage students to write essays on the importance of water and what THEY can do to protect it.
Encourage farmers in your area to use eco-friendly chemicals that will not damage fragile water systems.
If your community's water source is safe, eliminate plastic water bottles. If they are a necessity ensure they are collected and recycled appropriately.
Use your imagination! The bottom line is to educate your community on the importance of protecting its water sources. Get them involved!
Whenever possible, please consult with your local water or conservation authority to ensure that your efforts are compatible with conditions in your area! For example, cleaning a watercourse during spawning season could have a negative impact.
Who will judge the entries? The members of WASRAG's Membership Satisfaction Team
How do you enter the competition? Submit a brief description of your project, including what you have done, the target audience and the expected impact of the project. Remember to tell us your Club name and District number and give us a contact name, email address and phone number. Some projects will be showcased on the WASRAG website. DEADLINE: Please submit all entries by May 1st, 2019. AWARDS: Winners will be notified by May 30th, 2019. The awards will be presented at WASRAG's Annual General Meeting on Saturday June 1st, 2019. Please send all entries to WorldWaterDayChallenge
May 28, 2019 - MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY: http://menstrualhygieneday.
We Want to Help! WASRAG has assembled a group of professionals to assist Rotary Clubs with their WASH projects. The team have experience in needs assessment, planning, grant preparation, implementation and WASH training. Members of the Professional Resources Team are from many countries, experienced in working in developing countries and are fluent in a number of languages. If you need help with a project send an email to: info@wasrag.org. For more details visit http://wasrag.org/page/
Our Members Asked? - WASRAG is extremely fortunate to count many dedicated and knowledgeable Rotarians on its team. Which is good - as our membership has lots of questions about the best technology to use on projects, how best to assess local needs, and best practices for sustainable projects. We would like to start a new feature in the newsletter, where you ask the questions and we get answers from our experts and the readers. We will provide the input in a future newsletter. Send your email to info@wasrag.org and indicate QUESTION in the title
The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group is a group of Rotarians whose purpose is to support Rotary clubs to effectively plan, finance, implement, monitor and evaluate water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, where they are most needed in a collaborative, cost-effective, timely, and sustainable manner, true to the principles of Rotary International. Wasrag operates in accordance with Rotary International policy but is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International.
The Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (Wasrag) is pleased to consider partnerships with any corporate supporter. Due to the unique attributes of water sources and water provision, acceptance of corporate support does not imply an endorsement of any particular water technology. Rotarians, Rotary clubs, and Rotary partners must evaluate any technology to determine if it is the best solution for the conditions where the program will be implemented. Wasrag can provide guidance about where different technologies work best, but Rotarians and Rotary clubs must make the final decision about how to implement their programs.
To submit stories and pictures our Newsletter, please email: info@wasrag.org to the attention of Wasrag newsletter editors Ian Rumbles and Terri Black.
Wasrag needs your membership. Membership revenue helps cover our administrative costs, website upgrades, training, development of support materials etc. To check whether your membership has expired, email Anna Shepherd
We love hearing about your projects and are delighted to relay these great opportunities for Rotarians to get involved in WASH projects! When posting your projects on the wasrag.org website, please remember to include the name of your Rotary club and District number. Contact us at info@wasrag.org if you need help with your posting.
WASH Resources Here are some great WASH resources that you might find useful! :
Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology
Faecal Sludge Management - Practical Action in South Asia
WASRAG - The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) was formed in 2007 by a group of Rotarians, recognized by Rotary International, and focused on WASH projects. Since then it has facilitated many hundreds of projects – helping clubs find partners, ensuring sustainability, stressing the importance of a needs-driven approach, and developing best practices. We encourage a holistic, integrated approach in which water is not the end in itself, but is rather the means to a better life and livelihood in the community. Most importantly, WASRAG links water and sanitation to improved hygiene, better health, and empowerment of the community – especially women, irrigation and agriculture, education and literacy and, ultimately, child mortality.