LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. 29, 2015 -- WaterStep, a nonprofit organization providing safe water to communities in developing countries, recently announced that it has successfully met the full amount of the Living Water Fund, a $100,000 matching grant from an anonymous donor, by the end of 2014.
The funding will enable WaterStep to help communities around the world have access to safe water and health education, improving the lives of thousands of people. What was founded 20 years ago as a small mission group of friends trying to find the best way to help others, has become an organization with global reach that has saved the lives of countless people in two dozen countries through its safe water projects.
"The Living Water Fund is as organic as WaterStep itself," said WaterStep Founder and CEO Mark Hogg. "It was initiated by many who were a part of our vision over 20 years ago and who have given their time, talent and treasure to save lives with safe water. The Living Water Fund now creates a multiplier effect, playing an important role that furthers the momentum and connects more people with WaterStep's mission for the next 20 years."
The international communities where WaterStep has laid groundwork and will complete major water projects in 2015 are located in five different countries: Nicaragua, Kenya, Costa Rica, The Philippines, and Uganda.
The 400 families who live in El Dique, Costa Rica, for example, only have water available for one hour per day. The water they do receive carries no guarantee of safety because the dirty pipes and aging and broken water infrastructure in the town compromise the quality. WaterStep will install household water filters, a water storage unit and a central mini water treatment plant for the town.
With regard to Subay, The Philippines, all resources, including drinking water, must be ferried from the mainland. Water bought to the island costs twice as much as it does on the mainland, so for 500 families in the fishing community, the high cost of safe drinking water means that not everyone can afford it.
WaterStep will install a mini water treatment system in the only elementary school on Subay island, teach health education in the community and donate Waterballs so that residents can easily transport water to their homes.
See also:
"Malawi villagers trained to fix hand pumps, ensuring access to clean water"
"Clean water for hundreds in Haiti thanks to WaterStep, Kentucky State University project"
About WaterStep
WaterStep, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a 501(c)(3) organization that works to fight the global water crisis by empowering communities with the training and technology to provide safe, sustainable water and hygiene solutions. WaterStep has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in almost two dozen countries including Haiti, Kenya, India, the Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Costa Rica. For more information, visit www.waterstep.org.
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