By the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG)
Water is one of the most essential parts of life and a basic human right. According to the United Nations, there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home, spending countless hours queuing or trekking to distant sources, and coping with the health impacts of using contaminated water. *
Founded in 2007, the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) has facilitated hundreds of projects – helping clubs find partners, ensuring sustainability, stressing the importance of a community-driven approach, and developing best practices.
We encourage a holistic, integrated approach in which water is not the end in itself, but is rather the means to a better life and livelihood in the community. Most importantly, WASRAG links water and sanitation to improved hygiene, better health, and community empowerment – especially for women.
This World Water Day, join WASH-minded Rotarians by taking action. Below are some ideas on how to get involved.
Clean up the rivers of the world
In celebration of World Water Day 2018, we encourage Rotary clubs throughout the world to consider adopting a river clean-up or similar project in or near their community. Read more about the initiative.
Promote your river cleaning project during club meetings and be sure to add it to Rotary Showcase. WASRAG will promote select projects in our newsletter, website, and on social media. And, we are offering two US $500 prizes for the best projects. Take action and join our World Water Day Challenge! Deadline for submission: 1 May, 2018.
Tap into the network of WASH experts
WASRAG Ambassadors: The WASRAG Ambassadorsare a corps of knowledgeable members of WASRAG who provide support and promote the WASH goals of WASRAG and Rotary International. Ambassadors are selected based upon their ability to work within their region as a liaison between their local Rotary clubs, district leadership and WASRAG. They facilitate the development of human and technical capacity of Rotary clubs and districts for sustainable WASH interventions.
If you need help with a WASH project, reach out to a nearby ambassador. Interested in being appointed an Ambassador? Apply here.
WASRAG Professional Resources Team: The WASRAG Professional Resources Team is a group of Rotarians and friends of Rotary who have specialized professionally in the many aspects of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. Access this talent pool to resolve issues in implementing sustainable safe water, sanitation and hygiene programs and projects.
Team members have experience in all aspects of WASH service, including: program management, water resources, water supply, water quality, sanitation, hygiene, behavior change, community empowerment, monitoring and evaluation, public health, funding operations and maintenance, WASH in schools, WASH in healthcare facilities and Menstrual Hygiene Management.
Members of the team live in many countries and are especially sensitive to local cultural issues. Team members are fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Russian.
If you think the Professional Resources Team could help you with your project, please contact us. We will forward your questions to the team member(s) best qualified to help you.
The WASRAG Fund: Before submitting a Global Grant project to the Rotary Foundation, Rotary clubs can send their completed application to WASRAG by email. WASRAG members with expertise in water and sanitation programs will conduct a review of the project application and make suggestions on how to improve the quality of the project. Once the suggestions are incorporated into the final application and taken into account in the project design, WASRAG will contribute $500 towards the project. These funds will be donated directly to the Rotary Foundation and earmarked for the specific project once the grant has been approved. For more information, contact us.
World Water Summit – June 22, 2018
Are you attending the 2018 Rotary International Convention? Come early and join us for WASRAG’s Annual World Water Summit! WWS-10- will focus on water and health.
WASH has a profound impact on the health of developing societies. More than that, it is the key to the social and economic well-being. Join us to better understand the issues in bringing water to health facilities where medical staff lack clean water for maternity and child wards. Learn how Rotarians are taking the lead in eradicating water-borne disease such as guinea-worm, the former scourge of Ghana and other African countries.
Date: Friday, June 22, 2018
Location: Delta Hotels, Lower Simcoe Street, Toronto (right next to the Toronto Convention Centre)
Time: 8:00 – 17:00
Register today!
Service in Action 
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