EWB's Integrated Approach To Water Projects:
Why A Well Is Not Enough
Many Canadians want to help people in the developing world gain access to clean water. Often the first instinct is to raise money to build a well. EWB works on a number of water related projects because we too believe access to clean and safe water can bring many benefits to a community struggling to get out poverty.
But we believe that digging wells is not enough.
EWB takes a comprehensive approach to reducing the incidence of water-related illness in the communities in which we work.
Hygiene
Improving people's health is not only about clean water. Hygiene practices play an important role in decreasing the transmission of disease. Our volunteers promote hand washing and strategic latrine placement, which when improved have the potential to cut disease incidence by a third.
Sanitation
Two billion people around the world lack access to even the most basic sanitation facilities. Improving sanitation facilities, such as building solid latrines that are safe to use, can also cut down on disease by another third.
Water
Once hygiene practices are improved and safe latrines used, we then look at ways to create access to clean water in the communities in which we work. EWB volunteers work with local masons and technicians to improve water sources. Most often this involves a hand-dug well which is sealed and has a hand pump or bucket to draw water to the surface, or a natural spring whose source has been protected.
Working WITH Local Communities
"Give a woman a fish, feed her for a day. Teach a women to fish, feed her for life." EWB volunteers go one step further, believing that it is not enough to teach a woman to fish—we want to help her learn how to build a better fishing rod.
For instance, rather than digging a well in a community, EWB volunteers work with local people, helping them learn to dig and maintain wells themselves. Through this process they not only learn to build a better well, but also how to improve their water systems in the future. This knowledge is vital in helping communities in their struggle out of poverty.
For more information about EWB's water projects, read about our work overseas.
