An estimated 80% of the population does not have access to clean and safe drinking water. The total impact of funding safe water projects is exponential, especially when considering the health, education, economic, and social benefits afforded to children and members of their families. The expected impact in the communities has been identified as the following:
- Increased school attendance as a result of less illness.
- Increased adult working days as a result of fewer children becoming ill through the use of the Hydraid® BioSand Filter (400 days will be gained from adults staying in work because kids are healthy).
- 50,000 hours of time estimated by children and their family members saved by not having to find firewood to burn in order to boil their water.
- Empowering women to take control of their family’s overall health.
- Increase in productivity, as less time will be spent in collecting drinking water and more time to increase their income (WHO estimates that for every dollar invested in improved drinking water and sanitation, the economic benefits can range from $4-$34).
- Increased understanding within the community of issues related to gender equity.
- Greater sustainability through training.
- Health clinics will have access to clean and safe drinking water for staff and patients.
- Health clinic professionals will have access to clean water to wash hands, wash instruments, and disperse medicine with clean drinking water.
After 8 years of testing, training, working in schools and communities to see what works, and then taking proactive steps to improve conditions in Tanzania, GSP has developed and fostered a wide range of long-term partnerships from “grassroots” to “global.” This collaboration has led to the development of “Smart Villages,” using modern innovative technology and developing infrastructure that provides a pre-packaged bundle of services (e.g. clean water, energy, and telecommunications), that delivers each of these components to the community, which are vital for a more livable and sustainable future — making a significant difference in the lives of people (especially women and girls), ” said Kimberly Fogg, GSP Founder and CEO.
Drum roll: We have great news to share! Our Meru School District received 1st and 2nd prize for the Sanitation and Environmental Health Competition — 2 years in a row. We also received the official “blessing” from the new regime in Tanzania to expand our efforts. They were informed about our ongoing efforts in the schools and health dispensaries and pleased that our clean water initiatives contributed to the District receiving 1st and 2nd prize for the Sanitation and Environmental Health Competition.
Message from the District Medical Officer: “Our Meru school district was awarded certificates, car and bikes for winning the competition in 2018 for Sanitation and Environmental Health Competition. They are various factors contributed to their winning among is GSP initiatives of providing water filters/ access to clean and safe water and teaching health, hygiene and sanitation practices in schools and health facilities. “
The cyclone needs assessment is overwhelming. There were 281 confirmed deaths, over 600,000 people who need support and over 400,000 people are displaced. Our Zimbabwe working group has provided valuable input, guidance, cooperation, and support and we “thank” our in-country team who has pledged their most valuable time for this mission. We have been in contact with the head of the Command Centre in Chimanimani and GSP donated filters for 20 families and one primary school. 