| Welcome to the March issue of News and Notes. The numbers on climate change go from bad to worse. Rainfall is plummeting in Sub-Saharan Africa. When it does rain, it's a deluge that doesn't help anyone. That's bad news when 65% of people get their livelihood and health directly from agriculture and the land. The one positive about climate change? It's bringing people together to build resilience. That's what has been happening in Monze, Zambia this month. Read all about it below.
In the rest of this month's issue we: - rediscover the BioSand Water Filter - star of clean water everywhere;
- get to celebrate our Purple Umbrella winners;
- rejoin Adivasi people in Umaria; and
- discover a new way for you to attend our monthly board meeting.
And don't miss out on our One Last Thing. Your garden and your dinner table will thank you.
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| | | We embrace the Zambia Women and Girls Foundation and the people of Monze. They came together with joy and hope to build some resilience for their community, their schools and most importantly, their children. The first Friendly Water for the World training ever in Zambia is complete. What have they accomplished so far? 20 industrious men and women built: - two rainwater catchments connected to school buildings with plans for ten more (there are six school buildings that need catchments);
- more than 400 soil-stabilized bricks from their two ISSB (Interlocking Soil-Stabilized Bricks) machines, an amount they'll be able to make each day from just one of the machines; and
- the first two BioSand Water Filters from the more than 40 that will initially be constructed for those trained and their community.
They also built knowledge and confidence which they will put to use creating even more bricks and filters from extra materials that are included with every project to keep the momentum moving forward. And just as importantly, they built another defense against climate change and waterborne illness.
It all started with the water catchments...
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| Next was the brick making... |
| | | | | And finally the BioSand Water Filters... |
| | | | A big thank you to the masons from the Uzima Center and our two main trainers, Kenedy and Obed. And also to Monze. For inviting us into your community and sharing your strengths, smiles and hospitality with us.
Our partnership with Monze is just starting. We look forward to the construction of the next BioSand Water Filters and learning about the progress of all the technologies from the community and the (Friendly Water for the World) Coach. We will talk more about the Coach in next month's News and Notes. We hope those who were trained in Monzewill be able and confident to share these technologies with others, like the people of Simwatachela. Simwatachela, another community to the south of Monze that we visited last year, is much more rural and at risk. And they have even fewer resources to mitigate and adapt to climate change. So, let's share knowledge and clean water with the families and children of Monze and Simwatachela as they build a more resilient and self-reliant future. We cannot afford to wait. |
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| | Waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhea kill at least 2 million people a year. One out of every five deaths of children under the age of 5 are attributable to waterborne illnesses. These illnesses keep children from school, can consume half the income from those most in need, and can create permanent cognitive damage. These illnesses take a huge toll on families and communities, usually those who are least equipped and prepared to deal with them. You'll find some of the people most at risk in India and Sub-Saharan Africa. And where you'll find them, you'll find Friendly Water for the World and BioSand Water Filters. |
| | | A BioSand Water Filter, a type of slow-sand filter that has been around for hundreds of years, transforms unhealthy, bacteria filled dirty water into clean, WHO-certified water. It removes 99% of pathogens. It costs only $50 to build. A filter can produce 12-18 liters of clean water per hour and requires little to no maintenance. And a filter will support a family of up to 10-15 people with clean water for 30 years. Let's repeat that: 30 years. |
| | | The BioSand Water filter is a simple technology: a concrete column filled with sifted and cleaned sand and gravel. It can be made anywhere in the world. And all of the materials can usually be sourced from the local community. It works as simply as it is built - and virtually anyone can build one (you can come to one of our training events and build one yourself! - just reply to this email and we'll let you know when our next training will be).
Dirty water is poured into the top of the filter. The water flow is slowed by a diffuser plate. Pathogens and suspended solids are removed by biological and physical processes that take place in the biolayer and the sand layer. The gravel layer holds the sand in place and the drainage layer prevents blockage of the water outlet. Finally, pressure forces out clean water. |
| | | Thanks to you, BioSand Water Filters have been built around the world, improving the health of the marginalized and oppressed. Just as important, those people also now have the knowledge, thanks to our training, to build additional filters for themselves and others. The gift of hope and clean water continues to give. |
| | | Please congratulate our newest Purple Umbrella recipients!
Last year, our Friendly Water for the World Board Chair David Albert instituted a new award – The Purple Umbrella Award. The Purple Umbrella represents the idea that we try to cover everyone – no exceptions. The award is presented to individuals engaged with Friendly Water who go beyond what could ever be expected to help these communities ensure their own safe drinking water and move toward community self-sufficiency.
While in India, David had the opportunity to present the newest Purple Umbrellas in person to:
- Binyamin Christy for his efforts with indigenous Kanjar people
- Ajmat Khan for his efforts supporting Adivasi or tribal people (read more below)
- Mohd Taslim Meo for his efforts to provide some hope for Rohingya refugees near Delhi
Please share your congratulations with the winners and support the very important work they continue to do.
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| | | | Adivasi is the collective term for tribal peoples in India. Also known as scheduled tribes, they form a substantial minority and tend to live excluded from society. They have limited access to education or land. And live mostly by subsistence agriculture or hunting and gathering, many of them around Umaria, Madya Pradesh. When the dry season starts, and it has been occurring more sporadically and for longer periods of time, they are usually forced to gather water from sources shared with livestock, wild animals or both. As you can imagine in such an environment, waterborne diseases proliferate and kill many children under the age of five.
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| | What better place for BioSand Water Filters? Our first project in Umaria was in 2018. It really helped the local tribal people and their families. Over 60 filters have been built by the first groups we trained, many pictured here.
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| | | Things are getting better but more is needed. We are launching another training with four groups of tribal people in Umaria and Nigahri, led by our partner, Ajmat Khan. This is just the start. And we hope you'll help us do more. We are grateful to partner with this community and to learn more about how we can work together towards better health, to adapt to climate change, and to help bring justice to marginalized Adivasi people everywhere.
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| | | • • • NOW JOIN ONLINE • • • |
| The Friendly Water for the World board meeting is open to the public.
We next meet at Friends Meeting House, 3201 Boston Harbor Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506, on Sunday, March 15, 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:45. All are welcome.
However, if you are unable to attend in person, or just think it's going to be a pajamas kind of day, you can click this link to watch and listen to the meeting from your computer:
The link will take you to our Zoom web call and may prompt you to download a small piece of software to join the call. Install the software if asked to do so, and then you can join the meeting. If you are prompted for the Meeting ID, enter 551-730-873.
If you are located in the United States and would like to join an audio version of the call from your telephone, dial the number below that is closest to your location and enter the Meeting ID: 551-730-873
San Jose +1 669 900 9128
New York +1 646 558 8656
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| | | Create a gift of clean water that travels across the world!
As we expand our program to impact more people and communities, you may be interested in supporting this work through planned gift options that leave a legacy. These options allow you to take care of your own family first, but also save for the future, benefit from tax deductions and create a lasting gift.
You can join those who are creating generational change through these programs:
- Employer matching
- Donor advised fund
- IRA Qualified Charitable distribution
- Stock contribution
- Estate gift
Friendly is part of matching gift programs at Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, Google, Boeing and others. If you have an employer that has a matching gift program, please help us become part of their system.
We hope you'll contact us so we can share how easy it is to create these gifts and the big difference they make.
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| | | | Tomato Plants from Friendly Water for the World!
Spring is coming and so are David's tomato plants. Our very best green thumb is back to raise funds and brighten dinner tables. Every year David makes available, in limited quantities, a wonderful tomato-forward garden for our community. So here is your chance to turn your support of Friendly Water into a delicious pasta sauce. Or salsa. Or something straight off the vine. Please reserve early so David knows how many plants to grow! First come, first served.
All plants grown using organic fertilizer. All Heirlooms. No GMOs.
Plants are grown in biodegradeable peat pots. Determinates are those with an *. Those grown last year are those with a +.
8 Plants $30/12 Plants $45/$5 Each +Cuore di Bue – Oxheart tomato. Seeds from Italy. BIG! Really good for sauce, or with sliced mozzarella. They were fantastic last year. YES
+Italian Red Pear – Not to be confused with little American pear tomatoes, these are the size and shape of full-size pears. Seeds from Italy. Great taste, big plants. Quick sauce these.
+*San Marzano Redorta – A larger, tastier form of the traditional Italian plum tomato. Seeds from Italy. Best for canning. Lots of tomatoes! You should see our pantry!
+Black Cherry – Just as it says. Originally from Russia. Huge crop.
*Red Cherry – Seeds from Italy. Determinate (lots all at one time.)
+Tomato Ponderosa sel Oro – From Puglia, far southern Italy. A golf ball-sized tomato, yellow/red on the outside, red/yellow inside. Likes heat. This is the kind of tomato where you can dig up the plant, hang it inside, and the tomatoes will keep during the winter. We made spicy tomato relish.
+Amana Orange – Can weigh two pounds or more! Big plant. Late season. A favorite in our house.
+Black Krim – Intense-flavored, slightly flattened black tomato. Originally from Crimea. I chose this variety because it is a little earlier than most of the other black Russians.
+Mortgage Lifter – An old-time red beefsteak that is very prolific.
+Costoluto di Parma – Ribbed Italian beefsteak from Emilia-Romagna. Earlier. Seeds from Italy.
+Michael Pollan – Small, green and yellow stripes. Tasty! Eat fresh only.
+Suddath’s Brandywine – Large (up to 2 lb.) pink Brandywines with intense flavor. Variety is well over 125 years old.
Cherokee Purple – Ugly burgundy, and delicious!
Aunt Ruby’s German Green – Large Green Beefsteaks. Sweet.
Honorary tomatoes - 8 Plants $30/12 Plants $45
+Italian Cetriolo Melone di Manduria Cucumbers – “Fat cucumbers” from far southern Italy. About the size and shape of a hand grenade. Very ancient, eaten in the time of the Romans.
Tromba D’Albenga Zuccheta – Pick it young (10”), it is a zucchini. Let it go, and it is a winter squash.
+Corno di Toro Giallo - "Yellow Horn of the Bull”. Golden Italian frying peppers. Seeds from Italy.
+Dulce Italiano - Largish bulls horn pepper. Very prolific. Best when red. Seeds from Italy
+Giallo D’Asti – Asti in the Piedmont region of Italy is famous for its bell peppers. Classic large, square yellow bell pepper, often eaten with the red variety below. Seeds from Italy.
+Quadrato D’Asti - The red variety. Big plants! Seeds from Italy.
Ajvarski – Fragrant Macedonian roasting pepper grows on stocky 2” plants.
Yellow Monster – Behemoth yellow bell peppers 8” x 4”
Santa Fe Grande – Spicy, golden peppers, great in salsa. High yielding.
Fish – African-American heirloom pepper used in fish/shellfish cooking. Spiey and hot.
Rewia – Oblong tangerine-colored bell people from Poland
Oda – Purple/lavender fruit grows on sturdy compact plants.
There are limited quantities, so order now by contacting David at 360-918-3642 or by send him an email by clicking the button. |
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