the walk for water

22nd March 2008

An Event To Benefit: WaterAid America

A United Nations Registered Event

What is the problem?

There is a global crisis in water and sanitation. Billions of people live in the kind of squalor and disease that was eradicated long ago in the rich world. Without sanitation and water there can be no sustainable development in health, education and livelihoods, locking people into a cycle of poverty and disease. This crisis is one of inequality and poverty. If it is not tackled decisively, it will prevent and undermine progress made in reducing poverty, in achieving universal primary education, and improving people's basic health.

How are poor people in developing countries affected by this crisis?

1.1 billion lack access to clean water 2.6 billion lack access to basic sanitation It is a crisis that is killing as many as 5000 children a day - the equivalent of 20 airliners filled with children lost everyday to an entirely preventable public health crisis. It is a crisis driven by inequality and poverty, where the burden falls most heavily on women. It is girls who are denied an education because they are tasked with fetching water or drop out of school in adolescence because of inadequate sanitation facilities. And as adults, women continue to waste hours each day in the search for water and inevitably look after the children that are ill or dying from diarrhoeal diseases.
Water Clean water is essential for life, but over a billion people in the world do not have it. This and the lack of sanitation result in over two million people dying from water-related diseases every year. The lack of clean water close to people's homes also affects people's time, livelihoods and quality of life. Sanitation Sanitation can be defined as access to safe, clean and effective human urine and faeces disposal facilities. Worldwide, 2.6 billion people live without this essential service and the resulting diarrhoeal diseases kill almost 5,000 children a day. 1

Our Part of the Solution !

Come and join 'Team Z' on World Water Day March 22nd 2008, as we walk 2.4 miles and carry 10 liters of water (adult) & 4 liters of water (child). WHY WALK? In many countries children, particularly girls, are responsible for the collection of water. Girls as young as 10 years old may take the main responsibility for drawing and carrying the family's water. On this day we will be walking in an effort to help the world's poorest people gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Water, sanitation and hygiene are the essential foundations to all other forms of development and are vital for poverty reduction.

Need More Information ?? visit: www.wateraid.org/usa Have any Questions ?? contact: zwyghuizen@mac.com

The Walk for Water begins at 11:00 am @ Huizenga Park (the upper parking lot) in Zeeland MI on Saturday, March 22nd 2008. (World Water Day). The walking course: 1.2 miles east to gather 10 or 4 liters of water and then carry that water back to the starting point. Questions? Contact: zwyghuizen@mac.com For those who want to participate by walking: You are responsible for bringing empty containers (3-empty one gallon milk jugs (adult) & 2-empty gallon milk jugs (child)) to carry that water. Also have a good way to carry the water. (backpack ?).

The average person in the developing world uses 10 litres of water every day for their drinking, washing and cooking. This is the same amount used in the average flush of a toilet.

Think of this the next time you flush !

Make This A Family Event

*If you plan on walking and raising money, refer to the attached contribution form. *Stop & Think: This walk is only for a short time during one day! Many women and children in developing countries spend hours every day walking miles to collect water.

*By supporting WaterAid & 'Team Z', you could help change the lives of millions of people.
Hygiene education To gain the full benefits of safe water and sanitation communities also need to know about the links between diseases and unsafe hygiene practices. Hygiene education focuses on issues such as personal hygiene - the simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by a third. Disease Poor sanitation and bad hygiene can result in the contamination of water sources with millions of disease causing micro-organisms. These micro-organisms work in different ways to incapacitate infected individuals. Poverty The most obvious benefit of access to safe water and sanitation is a reduction in disease. But the economic position of poor families is often dramatically improved when they gain access to these basic services.
I ask you, how can God's love survive in those who have enough of this world's goods and yet they close their hearts to their brothers when they see them in need? Children, let us love in deed and in truth and not merely talk about it.