by Fern Shaw | Nov 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
AquAid Water Coolers is proud to sponsor Christian Aid’s water-related projects around the world. Thanks to your support, AquAid Water Coolers has been able to donate over £2 million to help Christian Aid help those in need.
Sleeping safer at night
Families in the community of Somerset, in St Thomas (one of the poorest parishes in Jamaica), were suffering from regular flooding and mudslides. New Christian Aid funded check dams are now helping to protect homes and help the community to sleep safer at night. Jamaica’s coastal areas are highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as hurricanes, storm surges and landslides. Last year, 12 people died and thousands were forced from their homes as tropical storm Nicole swept across the island.
Climate change is heightening the island’s vulnerability to disaster. A report by the Planning Institute of Jamaica concluded that the country ‘is likely to see increases in extreme weather events such as hurricanes and flood rains’, creating ‘increased risk to coastal housing and infrastructure and loss of coastal habitats and species’. In a country where the bulk of the population, roads, airports and economic activity are clustered around the coastline, the impact of more frequent storms and flooding on this already poor island could be devastating. Protecting the community Marsha Graham has lived with the impact. Mud and flood waters often came into her home following heavy rains. But, with support from Christian Aid partner the Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC), members of her community got together to carry stones and cement to build check dams. The dams now catch the flood water and help prevent flooding and landslides. The dams have shown their effectiveness by helping to prevent damage when tropical storm Nicole came across Marsha’s village. ‘Now I can sleep much more relaxed when it’s raining, not having to think about things,’ says Marsha. Dealing with climate change In the coming pages, we look at how your donations through AquAid Water Coolers are helping to protect communities around the world from the worst effects of climate change.
Emergency appeal for East Africa
Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal to help people affected by the food crisis is east Africa.
Having experienced the worst drought in 60 years, millions of people across Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia are facing what is perhaps the most severe food crisis in the world today. Christian Aid staff in the region are reporting widespread cases of malnutrition and of people begging for water on the side of the road. The effects of the crisis have been exacerbated by the displacement of people caused by conflict in Somalia. Christian Aid partners in the region are providing wideranging emergency relief. This includes supplying food for families who are not reached by the World Food Programme and providing extra nutritional support for the most vulnerable, such as children and Emergency appeal for East Africa pregnant mothers. They have also been constructing additional water points and supplying water to villages experiencing the worst of the drought conditions. Further aid is going towards helping local communities feed their livestock, sustain farming and withstand the impact of this and future droughts. To make a contribution towards the vital work of Christian Aid at this time of crisis, please visit christianaid.org.uk or call Brendan Brosnan on 020 7523 2474.
Crops the floods cannot spoil
Many Nicaraguan farmers lose their crops in frequent floods. A Christian Aid-supported project is helping local people to grow produce that won’t rot even if the fields become waterlogged.
With a long Caribbean coastline, Nicaragua often bears the brunt of the hurricanes and tropical storms that sweep across the Atlantic each winter. It is one of the three countries in the world worst affected by weather catastrophes, and the UN has warned that storms here will only get worse. Nelis lives in the remote riverside village of La Labranza, which is especially prone to flooding. Local people traditionally grow maize and beans, but a lot of this rots in the frequent rainstorms and floods. ‘My maize and beans drown when there’s lots of water. In a bad year like the one we’ve just had, I only get a fraction of the produce I can expect in a good year,’ says Nelis. The Christian Aid-supported Community Movement of Matagalpa (MCM) is working with local people to help them withstand the worst effects of the frequent flooding. In 2009, we reported on the early warning and evacuations carried out by volunteer emergency brigades. Another part of MCM’s work is introducing farmers like Nelis to new flood-resistant crops like chayote, a type of marrow. As chayote grows on raised vines, it can survive being waterlogged for days. ‘Chayote is very new for us, but it’s good to eat,’ says Nelis. ‘You can sow it whenever you want and harvest it when it’s mature.’
Striving for a better future
Salt contamination from encroaching seas is making it harder for many Bangladeshi farmers to grow crops and feed their families. Now, the Christian Aidsupported Shushilan project is helping people in the coastal Satkira district to grow saline-resistant rice.
Bangladesh is on the frontline of climate change. The majority of the country is made up of low lying river deltas, making it exceptionally vulnerable to the rise in sea levels and stronger tidal surges seen across the Bay of Bengal in recent years. The sea waters bring in salt, which contaminates local rivers and farmland. The impact of salination is obvious in the Satkira district of southwest Bangladesh. Salt residue can be seen on the trunks of trees and the leaves on many plants are turning brown. The salty water is killing the fruit trees and severely reducing crop yields, including yields of rice – which is the local people’s staple food. Resistant crops To help people sustain farming, Christian Aid partner Shushilan (which means ‘striving for a better future’) has been distributing seeds that are adapted to grow in this saline environment. The results are extremely promising. Shushilan is also training and equipping families to fatten crabs, which are well suited to the salty water and provide a useful source of food. Improved lives As a Shushilan volunteer, Selina Begum has helped lead the saline seed project in her village. ‘With the money I get from selling the rice at the local market, I want to start a clinic for animals,’ said Selina. ‘I have received veterinary training from Shushilan. As there are no clinics in this area, starting one would allow me to do more to support my family and the community.’
Early warnings save lives
Lack of warning was leaving people in the riverside village of Tombondela, in southern Malawi, with too little time to escape the frequent floods. Thanks to support from Christian Aid, they are now prepared for the worst.
As rainfall has become more erratic and unpredictable, the region of Chikwawa in southern Malawi is experiencing more severe flooding. ‘By the time we were told the floods were on their way, they were already here,’ said an elderly villager from the riverside community of Tombondela. ‘We found it difficult to run away in time and we lost our food and property.’ With funding and training from Christian Aid partner the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), the villagers have now set up a civil protection committee. EAM helped to install rain gauges and hydrometers upstream, to measure rising water levels and anticipate floods. Volunteers are on hand to send warnings to the committee, on mobile phones provided by EAM. Once the alert is given, the committee can put its new evacuation plans into action, using megaphones to warn villagers and helping to get the most vulnerable people to higher ground. ‘We have the confidence to protect ourselves from floods in the future,’ said a villager.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 14, 2011 | Uncategorized
All functions within the body require the presence of water, and in order for these functions to occur efficiently, the body needs to be hydrated. All chemical processes involve energy metabolism and drinking plenty of water will make us feel more energetic and boost your metabolic rate. “Drink 8 glasses of water each day” is what we hear all the time but what weight loss benefits do we get from drinking water?
Drinking water is important if you’re trying to lose weight, some studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. If there is a slight dehydration your body may mistake thirst for hunger which will result in more food been eaten when what actually is needed is fluid. Most food products do contain some water, but eating more food to sustain your bodies need for fluid has the negative effect of gaining more weight as opposed to losing it.
So many new food products created today not only contain high amounts of energy from added sugar and fats, they also contain very little water. In order for manufacturers to adhere to the ever popular need for food to be stored for longer periods, the water content is being replaced. Food with high water content tends to soil much faster. Stocking our cupboards full of food that lasts longer may seem great in principle, but the trouble is that this means less water consumption from food.
We constantly rid ourselves of water through our kidneys during our visits to the bathroom, through perspiration and even through breathing. Therefore, the water we lose needs constantly to be replaced for the body to remain hydrated. The most effective way to replace water that’s been lost is simply to drink more water.
It’s not too difficult to replace caffeinated or sugary drinks with a glass or two of water, yet the benefits of doing so are enormous. We should keep a water bottle on our desks and in our cars, to make drinking water that much more convenient. A water cooler in an office or at home can also aid the desire to drink more water.
For the average person experts suggest getting at least 1.8 litres of water daily or eight 8 glasses. If you are on a diet to lose weight it is more important to consume more and keep drinking water throughout the day, unless you have any medical condition that doesn’t allow much water intake. A good guide for daily intake is to drink 30 millilitres of water for every1 kilogram of body weight. A 90 kilogram person should be drinking around 2 litres (12.5 cups) of water in order the gain the benefits of increased energy and metabolism.
If exercising is part of a weight loss program a bit more water should be included to account for water loss from sweating. Drinking water before, during and after exercise will keep energy levels high and help recovery after training. It is highly recommend that during exercise you carry with you a bottle of water and to keep drinking during your workout.
One of the functions of the liver is the metabolising of fat however without sufficient water for the kidneys to function properly; the liver gets called upon to do some of the work the kidneys should be doing alone. The liver can then not work as efficiently as it should and so the results in more fat being stored in the body and thus increased weight.
by Fern Shaw | Oct 27, 2011 | Uncategorized
The Africa Trust was founded by AquAid to achieve sustainable solutions to poverty. Every time you order a water cooler or water from AquAid a percentage of the revenue is donated to The Africa Trust.
Partnership with Dorcas Aid International in Mozambique
A request was received from Dorcas Aid Mozambique for assistance with their rural clean water supply projects near Beira. They are well aware of the success of the Elephant Pump programme in Zimbabwe and Malawi and have asked whether The Africa Trust could work with them to introduce a similar programme in Mozambique. Agreement has now been reached in principle, and details of the partnership are being worked out prior to surveys and preparatory work which will start next month.
The installation of quite a number of Elephant Pumps in Mozambique will be paid for through the contributions from users of AquAid water coolers. Funding from Dorcas Aid, will allow for their staff to be trained so that they are able to start installing Elephant Pumps themselves in areas where this technology is suitable. This will mean that the funding they now commit each year for rural water supply will reach many more people and that the cost of maintaining the programme will be massively reduced. The first pumps will be installed early next year as there is first need for baseline surveys and well digging work which may be delayed by rain. There are also plans for collaboration in other projects such as the introduction of business skills training courses and income generation projects for orphanages, schools and clinics.
Tanzania Pipeline
Survey work has now commenced for a water pipeline near Arusha in Tanzania which will bring clean water to thousands of villagers. The Chief Executive of The Africa Trust will visit the site next month, to approve the surveyed route so that digging of the trench by the local community can commence. Contributions from AquAid water coolers will pay only for the pipes and other fittings, as the labour will be provided by the local community. It is vital that the pipeline is laid on a gradual downward gradient to avoid air locks or the need for a diesel pump. The topography of the area means that the trench will therefore need to be dug several metres deep in sections which will all be done by the community who expect to benefit from the project. The Africa Trust will also assist the community in setting up a development fund using contributions from families who will be saving a significant amount due to their reduced monthly expenditure on water. A maintenance fund will also be established, so that the benefits can be sustained for generations to come.
Focus on Uganda
The Africa Trust’s business skills training programme in Uganda is doing well and has been expanded. In addition to the team leader (Livingstone Mukasa) three more people are now being funded to teach business skills in poor communities. They are: Phillip Mwanja, Betty Owomugisha and Sarah Nantongo. The Africa Trust was able to assist with a loan of six thousand pounds for Najja Modern Primary School to expand and move to a new campus. Here is a photo of assembly at the new campus.
A survey has just been completed to review the efficiency of the business skills training (funded by AquAid and PrintLife) which was done in April and May this year. A total of 252 people were trained and a sample of 51 people was interviewed. From the survey, it was discovered that: 13 people were able to start businesses after attending the training, 26 people now run their businesses better after attending the training, 9 people feel able to start up business but are still limited by the lack of initial capital and 3 people are still planning and mobilizing resources to start business. 40 more people are now being employed (as a result of the businesses created after the training) in addition to the 74 people who were previously employed before the training (see the details in the table below).
| VENUE |
SAMPLE |
ATTENDED |
EMPLOYED BEFORE |
EMPLOYED AFTER |
| KIREKA |
7 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
| KATALEMWA |
5 |
8 |
– |
– |
| KOMAMBOGA |
8 |
45 |
25 |
29 |
| BAKKA |
5 |
128 |
– |
6 |
| OFFICE |
3 |
20 |
28 |
42 |
| KIRINYA |
23 |
42 |
18 |
32 |
| TOTAL |
51 |
252 |
74 |
11 |
Please click on the link below to read up on some of the sucess stories that show how this training can be transformational.Some of the challenges faced by those who were trained include: lack of access to capital and exorbitant rates of interest on loans, high inflation and personnel problems. On the whole, it can be seen that those who attended the training have demonstrated: an improved ability to save, the courage to start a new business, improved record keeping and financial discipline (especially with regards to separation of personal needs from business finance) and better planning.
Please click on the link below to read up on some of the sucess stories that show how this training can be transformational.
by Fern Shaw | Sep 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
Cleaner slum brings hope for the future
Christian Aid would like to thank all the people who have chosen to buy Aquaid water coolers, water dispensers and bottled water. By choosing Aquaid, you have helped to improve and often save the lives of the world’s poorest people. This is because Aquaid donate 10p to Christian Aid for every 19 litre bottle of water that they sell and donate £50 for every new water cooler they install when a Christian Aid supporter has made the order.The money raised by Aquaid is used specifically for water projects around the world; helping to bring clean water and sanitation to places like the slum settlement of Matopeni in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. You can meet the people who are benefiting from this work by watching this video: https://www.aquaidwatercoolers.co.uk/why-we-do-it/christian-aid
Below is an update on the progress of this project
Just over one year ago, the residents of Matopeni in the east of Nairobi faced a daily struggle to survive. Without clean water or working drains, conditions in the small slum were so unsanitary that life-threatening diseases were common. But in July 2010 Christian Aid partner Maji na Ufanisi began work to improve the slum’s drains and provide clean water for residents. At the same time, the local government agreed to fund a new sanitation block with shower and toilet facilities. Today the slum’s residents report little illness since the drains were completed in November. Lydia Kithuku – whose daughters Catherine and Everlyne campaigned to bring clean water and sanitation to Matopeni along with their friend Veronica Milla – says, ‘It is a very big change in terms of diseases like malaria and diarrhoea.’
Alongside improving Matopeni’s infrastructure, Maji na Ufanisi has trained community members in advocacy and leadership giving them the confidence to ensure their government provides the services they need. So when the community decided they needed a water tank to see them through the last few months until the pipes that Maji na Ufanisi are laying are completed, Veronica Milla successfully lobbied the community’s MP to provide one. The project has reinforced Matopeni’s community spirit with residents leading work since it began. Working together they have cleared waste, worked with Maji na Ufanisi to make space for the new drains and laboured on the project, investing time and energy into making it a success. They have seen that they can drive their own future and now have the skills to do so. And a recent visit to Kiambiu slum which was organised for members of Matopeni’s Arise and Shine women’s group and communities from other slums around Nairobi has only reinforced this. Like Matopeni’s community, Kiambiu’s residents lived for years with the constant threat of eviction, relying on the little casual work that is available in Nairobi for income. But using money saved through their own water and sanitation project they bought their own land on the outskirts of Nairobi where they will build homes, roads and other infrastructure. ‘They thought of a future plan,’ says Everlyne Kithuku. ‘Now they are planning to build houses for each and every member of the group. It was really a challenge for us – that we could buy some land and set up small businesses and become self-employed.’
Once again, thank you for choosing Aquaid and for helping Christian Aid in our mission to end poverty. If you are not already an Aquaid customer and would like to become one, simply quote this article when you order Aquaid water coolers or water dispensers and £50 will be donated for each new cooler installed. 10p will then be donated for every 19-litre bottle of water you buy.
by Fern Shaw | Sep 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
Changing one’s lifestyle habits can often prove to be a challenge. Many of you are by now very aware of the importance of drinking water and the positive effects it has on you, but are struggling to get into the routine of drinking water all day and every day. Here are some simple, yet very effective methods of not only encouraging you to drink sufficient water during the day, but may also help you to enjoy it.
Steps to forming a drinking water habit!
- Drink water throughout the day, not just when you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated by then. Have a glass of water when you wake up, a glass of water between each meal, a glass of water with each meal and a glass before during and after any form of exercise.
- Have a bottle of water on your desk or carry one around with you. This will encourage you to sip water throughout the working day. Once it is empty, simple return to the water cooler or water dispenser and refill it.
- Reminder. Periodically set your computer or a watch to remind you to drink water. Don’t allow yourself to get too caught up in what you are doing and forget to drink your water.
- Note it down. Noting your new good habit in black and white will encourage you to keep up the good work! Simply note it down by the means of a tick each time you have a glass of water. This way you can also track and note just how much water you are drinking during the day.
- Liven it up. For some a glass of water really is not the most tempting thing that is out there. Add some Natural flavours like Strawberry and Kiwi or some Lemon and Lime to make a quenching drink. Perhaps invest in some interesting ice cube trays or cut up and freeze some fresh fruit which will add flavour as well as a bit of fun to your water.
- Exercise. Ensure that when you plan your exercise regime you include time to drink water before, during and after your workout. Being dehydrated can severely hamper you athletic ability, slowing you down and making exercise tedious.
- Weight Loss. If you are trying to lose a few pounds, remind yourself that water has no fat, no calories, no carbs and no sugar.
- Finally invest in a water cooler! It is far more appealing than the kitchen tap offering water that is both chilled and filtered!
The secret to successfully changing one’s habit is to ensure that at all times your goal is right in front of you, never allowing you to forget it. If your goal is to drink more water and stay healthy, perhaps try a few of these guidelines, forming a habit does not need to be difficult, it may simple require a bit of focus.
by Fern Shaw | Sep 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
The Africa Trust was founded by AquAid to achieve sustainable solutions to poverty. Every time you order a water cooler or water from AquAid a percentage of the revenue is donated to The Africa Trust.
Elephant Pumps provide Clean Water for Drinking and Water for Agriculture
This month, work has continued on the Elephant Pump programme in Zimbabwe with new pumps being built and additional work being done to increase the impact of the existing pumps. Over 5,000 pumps are managed by The Africa Trust, which provide clean and productive water in communities across the country. Business skills training for people who already use Elephant Pumps has helped them to use excess water to establish new agricultural projects such as growing baby marrows, sweet-corn, beetroots, carrots, wheat and livestock projects such as dairy cattle, chickens and pigs. A brick making project has also been established which uses large volumes of water from one Elephant Pump.
A process of carbon accreditation has been commenced which is expected to take around 12-18 months. If successful, this will allow The Africa Trust to sell carbon credits every year relating to the existing pumps and any new pumps that are built to provide a fund for pump maintenance. The basis for this is that these pumps do not use fuel to lift water and the self-filtering design of the wells means that there is no need for water to be boiled thereby reducing the burning of firewood. A precedent exists since IDE (International Development Enterprises) secured carbon accreditation for their pumps in India and Bangladesh. A further funding stream is being explored for advertising on pumps, preferably for products that relate to health and agriculture. We are looking for a large company that sells products in Zimbabwe and would be interested in advertising on rural pumps for PR and marketing reasons. These funds will help in the training and support of pump minders for all the existing pumps.
The increase of livestock projects in one district of Zimbabwe over the last few months led to The Africa Trust agreeing to help fund construction of a high quality butchery to provide a reliable market for rural farmers and a route to the larger markets of local cities which they are unable to access directly. This butchery has already secured contracts to provide meat to various businesses and retail outlets in Mutare, so there is now a need for further investment in the production base. Similarly, with the increase in dairy cattle funded by The Africa Trust, work has commenced to develop a local dairy with the capacity to pasteurize milk and produce yoghurt and soft cheese. There are plans for a mobile ice-cream maker to be funded as an additional business, which would provide ice-creams for retail and at large events.
A new clean water initiative is now being planned in Tanzania where a pipeline is to be extended to provide thousands of villagers with clean water for drinking and domestic use. The gravity fed pipeline was established by the chief executive of The Africa Trust with funding from friends in The States, in an area where the water table is too deep for the use of Elephant Pumps. He surveyed a route from a source of clean water at the top of a hill and conservatively arranged for a dozen standpipes with taps to provide clean water in a nearby village. It is now clear that the water supply is adequate for an extension of this pipeline to double the number of people who can benefit. The pipeline replaces an expensive arrangement where villagers were paying around six US dollars per month per family to buy water by the bucket. The new arrangement will reduce the amount they pay to one dollar a month, which pays for maintenance of the pipeline and taps. We are also planning to ask for a two dollar a month contribution to a development fund for the village, which will provide loans and grants for small businesses.
Where there is clean water, decent sanitation is also needed and work continues with the aim of eradicating open defecation in the communities where The Africa Trust is operating. The Elephant Toilet is being used as with adaptations to the design according to what works best and is accepted in that community. The concept that urine can safely be used to make enriched compost is being widely accepted. A number of approaches to hand-washing have been used, including a soap plant and ashes from the family cooking fire which also have a sterilizing effect. Elephant Toilets are also eligible for carbon accreditation due to the reduced cement use and the programme for a fruit tree to be planted whenever a pit fills up. There are challenges in the widespread introduction of Elephant Toilets in Zimbabwe, just as there were when the Elephant Pump programme was launched. The main obstacle is that NGOs and government authorities have settled on a much more expensive design for rural pit latrines which uses eight bags of cement instead on one bag. We are trying to show that the same money can go much further if a cheaper and more sustainable design of toilet is used. The need is even greater in Malawi, where open defecation is the norm in many remote rural villages.
Paying for School fees with Bananas
The first harvest of bananas for this project is due to take place soon and despite various challenges along the way, this project is expected to deliver according to expectations paying for 500 students to remain in school. An unusually cold snap did result in some losses in the plantations that are less sheltered and issues around the quality of fencing also resulted in some losses and in a need for additional investment. These experiences have helped to inform plans for a scale up of this programme in the second season and have also led The Africa Trust to rent a piece of land to establish an independent plantation in order to generate income to help fund projects in the local communities. This plantation is expected to become profitable by the second harvest. The level of investment needed in terms of irrigation infrastructure is now known, so it is easier to make accurate predictions related to revenue.
Uganda
Livingstone Mukasa has continued to make excellent progress for The Africa Trust in Uganda with the business skills training programme. A number of case-studies from Uganda and Zimbabwe will be loaded onto the website in the coming months to show how this training can be transformational. Fourteen training courses were held inUgandaover the last quarter alone with a total of 600 people trained. Successful businesses which have resulted from this training include: a laundry business, brick-making, milk selling, egg-plant growing and a bridal business. A mushroom growing project has been started with some success, but the attempted solar project did not prove viable. Additional funding ($9,000) was secured by Livingstone to commence a Village Savings and Loans Association scheme ahead of planned investment by The Africa Trust which is expected to help build the total number of VSLA groups. A similar scheme is currently being considered for Zimbabwe which would allow villagers access to small loans at a better rate of interest than is currently available.
AquAid and the Africa Trust
The Africa Trust was established by AquAid Water Coolers. AquAid are one of the UK’s leading water cooler suppliers and pride themselves in their relationships with both The Africa Trust and Christian Aid. With every water cooler product ordered from AquAid a percentage of the revenue is donated to The Africa Trust and is used to provide sustainable solutions to poverty. In August 2011 £61,909.55 was donated to the Trust making that a total donation to date of £588637.10.
