Becca & Alan Pohl swopping banners with President Cory.
Alan Pohl, 30 years as finishing carpenter, in 2010 received a degree in Pastoral Ministry and is a Rotarian from the Chapala Sunrise Club. Together with his wife, Becca, a nurse, they are operating as Alivio International, a humanitarian aid organization under the umbrella organization Bridges of Hope. They are working in the area surrounding the Lake Chapala in the Guadalajara region of Mexico. Their main objective is to educate communities about the need for clean water and proper sanitation practices, and to provide effective, inexpensive water filters. In the process they also seek to provide families with micro business opportunities ranging from assembly of filter systems to sewing cooperatives. There is a great need for clean water in these communities, the lack of which is causing serious illness among the young and elderly.
Alan & Becca addressed the Rotary Club of Airdrie at their regular Tuesday lunchtime meeting at Genesis Place. They demonstrated the assembly and use of a practical ceramic water filter proven to be highly effective in eliminating 99.98% of parasites, viruses and bacteria. It has a flow rate of up to 5 liters an hour. It is simple to clean and maintain, and can last for up to 5 years. The cost of each unit is about $50. For more information on the ceramic water filter system check out Caminos de Agua. The Rotary Club of Airdrie donated $2000 to a fund to be administered by the Rotary Club of Fountain Hills in Arizona, and this donation will provide filters for clean water to between 250 to 400 people over the next 5 years.
The Pohl’s goal is not only to provide families with inexpensive and easy to use water filters, but in the near future to provide rain water capture systems in order that these families have a safe, sustainable water source.