Posted by Bob Ruehl on Aug 30, 2018
Here is the August newsletter from the Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group. They're doing good work!
 
B.R.E.W. Supports WASRAG 
A very significant event during this year's Rotary Convention in Toronto, Canada, was a reception at the George Brown Culinary College hosted by the Rotary Fellowship Group - Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide (B.R.E.W.).  A good time was had by all, and a very generous donation of $3,500 was made by B.R.E.W. to WASRAG.  Pictured is Moses Aryee, B.R.E.W. Chair, handing the check to WASRAG Chair Emeritus Ron Denham.  
 
The funds being donated will serve to fund Rotary club projects that have been technically reviewed by WASRAG.  BREW has agreed to donate 25% of its revenue to WASRAG, some $6000 over the past two years.
 
To learn more about the B.R.E.W. Fellowship (and maybe join!) go to https://www.rotarybrew.org/
End Polio with Clean Water 
The spread of polio is directly related to poor water and sanitation. To help in Rotary's goal to eradicate Polio, WASRAG is holding its First World Polio Day Competition, focused on recognizing projects that improve the quality of water and/or the level of awareness of it in YOUR Community.
 
There are two prizes:
- $500 US for the Best Project (one with the most impact)
- $500 US for the Most Innovative Project
 
Use your imagination! The bottom line is to educate your community on the importance of protecting its water sources. Deadline for entries is December 1, 2018. Get more information on the competition by going to https://wasrag.org/page/world-polio-day
Cleaning the Rivers of the World 
The Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG) and the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) are both supporting the Cleaning the Rivers of the World project of the Rotary Club of South Ukriah, which was featured in the September 2018 Rotarian.
 
They are encouraging Rotarians from October 24 - 28, 2018 to clean up a river, beach or lake in your area. Get the community involved.  Follow the activity on their Facebook page.
100,000 Children by the end of 2019 
Rotary clubs and districts in five countries have already pledged their support for Operation Toilets, as it undertakes the ambitious plan to bring water, sanitation and hygiene to 100,000 children.  
This initiative, spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Box Hill Central, Melbourne, Australia, recently released their website that provides information on past, current, and upcoming projects at http://www.operationtoilets.org.au  While they have many partners already, they are looking for more to expand the impact. 
WASH Innovation Challenge 
Hand Washing + Soap = Saved Lives
If it's simple in theory, why is it so hard to practice?
The UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia has partnered with the NGO development organization BRAC has initiated a competition with $5,000 in prize money. The deadline to apply is September 10, 2018.
They are looking for innovative solutions from the eight countries in South Asia that can be implemented at scale. 
To learn more visit https://www.washinnovation.org/
Latrines of Hope 
District 9101 with the construction and renovation of five washroom units, comprising of 19 latrines, had a significant impact on the schools and market of Dialakorodjii, Mali.
A Headmaster of one of the schools involved said, "The renovation will increase the use of latrines, especially by girls. Teachers now have a decent place to go. Thank You Rotary, Thank You WASRAG!"
The project also involved installing a washroom unit, of four latrines, for the local market. This made the market more viable for the vendors and convenient for the public.
Pure Water for Haiti 
The Rotary Club of Vermillion, OH has already successfully completed a Global Grant that brought training and 324 bio-sand water filters to  76 schools in Mirebalais, Haiti area.
 
Following the success of the initial project all 63 clubs of District 6600, where the Vermillion club is located, agreed to support a more ambitious project. With some momentum, District 6290 and other clubs agreed to participate in a multi-District, multi-phase Global Grant project to bring bio-sand water filters to 1,100 households in Limonade, Haiti.
 
Bringing Clean Water to Fiji School 
Recently, five members of the Rotary Club of South Launceston, from Tasmania, Australia, spent 15 days in Fiji building a clean, sustainable water system for the Natusara Primary School.
 
An excellent article, titled "Rotary Club of South Launceston volunteers assist Fijian school through latest world community service project.," appeared in the Tasmanian, Australia newspaper, The Examiner. 
Making Some Progress with Handwashing 
The USAID newsletter Water Currents, recently summarized the results of The State of Handwashing in 2017, published by the Global Handwashing Partnership.
 
Research indicates that deaths due to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene have decreased by 25 percent. 
 
However, researchers estimate that inadequate hand hygiene still results in nearly 300,000 deaths annually, with the majority of deaths occurring among children younger than five years old.