ADRA Celebrates World Water Day
By AT News Team, March 22, 2015: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, joined the United Nations (UN) and other nongovernmental organizations in celebrating World Water Day on Sunday, March 22. ADRA implements a range of projects that make water available to individuals and communities around the world.
Villages and communities around the world are trying to sustain life from contaminated water sources, because that’s the only water available,” explained Jason Brooks, Technical advisor for Water, Hygiene and Sanitation at ADRA International. The UN reported that approximately 750 million people, or more than 1 in 10 of the world’s population, remain without access to an improved water supply. “At ADRA, we recognize the importance of safe drinking water, and that’s why we celebrate World Water Day,” said Brooks.
ADRA’s water, hygiene and sanitation projects are designed to provide families with improved access to safe water sources, latrines, and education on hygiene practices that keep entire communities healthy and thriving.
In Sri Lanka, water quality is a major issue. Currently, ADRA is one of few nongovernmental organizations in the country with a high-powered drilling rig and a qualified to drill bore holes. In the last six years, ADRA has brought clean water to more than 400 communities around the island.
When communities receive access to clean water, they also receive two days of hygiene training. Facilities can only have real and long term impact on people’s lives when we also provide education and bring improved awareness,” said Brooks.
In addition to hygiene training and drilling boreholes, ADRA performs hydro-geophysical investigation, forms water consumer committees in the communities, installs hand pumps, provides tool kits, and gives maintenance and repair trainings to local community members.
Last year alone, ADRA International funded water, hygiene and sanitation projects in Armenia, Bolivia, Chad, Kenya, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic or Congo and more.
