WASH
Penny Appeal USA’s Holistic WASH program is a cornerstone of our mission to provide vital clean water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions globally. Through this initiative, we strive to empower communities, eradicate waterborne diseases, and ensure a future where everyone enjoys the basic human rights of health and dignity.
WASH
Penny Appeal USA’s Holistic WASH program is a cornerstone of our mission to provide vital clean water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions globally. Through this initiative, we strive to empower communities, eradicate waterborne diseases, and ensure a future where everyone enjoys the basic human rights of health and dignity.
How you can help
Make a contribution where it really counts.
Rainwater Harvesting Station
Build a rainwater system to provide communities with access to clean & safe water $3600
Installation of Toilets
Help provide vital sanitation & hygiene solutions by installing toilets at in-need communities $3500
One Village
Provide clean water access to an entire village $29,000
What Is The WASH Program
The Holistic WASH approach is an all-encompassing range of water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions designed based on the community’s needs and priorities. These projects aim to survey the needs of a community and ensure they have the following:
- Flood-Resilient WASH Infrastructure
- Year-Round Safe Water Supply
- Gender Friendly Restrooms
- Hygiene Education And Improved Hygiene Facilities At School And Community Clinics
What Is the WASH program?
The Holistic WASH approach is an all-encompassing range of water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions designed based on the community’s needs and priorities. These projects aim to survey the needs of a community and ensure they have the following:
Flood-resilient WASH infrastructure
Year-round safe water supply
Gender friendly restrooms
Hygiene education and improved hygiene facilities at schools and community clinics
The specific approaches taken will depend on the community itself but can include the drilling of deep wells, improved water and sanitation at community health clinics and schools, installation of gender-friendly toilets, and increased hygiene education.
The need for clean water
According to UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
Approximately 785 million people still do not have basic water service, relying on unprotected water sources.
Why we do it
Bangladesh has made little progress thus far in continuing to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions. About 13% of the population still lacks access to safe water sources and sanitation, and only 61% have access to safe sanitation.
However, further development is at a standstill. Continuous effort is required to maintain progress. The vulnerability of Bangladesh to natural disasters further hinders progress towards achieving WASH standards. Its coastal position means that developments are susceptible to seasonal floods, storms, and tidal surges. As a result, WASH structures are often washed away, damaged, or even demolished. This leaves communities back at square one, forcing them to use unsafe water and resort back to unsanitary hygiene practices.
current Projects
The WASH program is currently being implemented in multiple countries around the world.
Alongside SYPD, our WASH project aims to enhance water accessibility for drought-affected communities in the Beledweyne district of Hiran Region, Hirshabeele State, Somalia. Our initiative focuses on the rehabilitation of community-owned shallow wells equipped with animal water troughs. This effort ensures sustained access to safe water for the most vulnerable households impacted by drought. Through the rehabilitation of 21 community-owned shallow water wells, we aim to provide a lasting solution to the critical water needs of these communities.
UPDATE: This project is paused because of the Idlib bombing
In Syria, our project focuses on the vital task of rehabilitating sewage networks in the targeted communities of Kaftin, Beeret Kaftin, and Maaret Elekhwan in Northwest Syria. Our goal is to enhance the living conditions of affected communities in this region by securing an effective sanitation management system. Through the improvement of sewage networks, we aim to address critical infrastructure needs, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable environment for the residents of Northwest Syria.
In Mount Lebanon, Penny Appeal USA and HDS are actively enhancing school environments through a comprehensive intervention aimed at achieving key objectives: enhancing infrastructure, ensuring access to clean water, and promoting hygiene education. Our curriculum plays a pivotal role in instilling good hygiene practices among students, covering essential topics such as proper handwashing techniques, personal hygiene habits, and menstrual hygiene management. By involving teachers, parents, and the broader community in our hygiene promotion campaigns, we strive to solidify these practices and cultivate a culture of cleanliness within the school.
Case Study
In a remote school in rural India, the absence of clean water jeopardized the health of children and left the community largely unaware of basic hygiene practices. The WASH project provided a solution to the conditions in and around the school. A water station was established to provide clean drinking water not only for the children but also for parents and villagers.
Simultaneously, a comprehensive awareness campaign on cleanliness was launched in the school. Wash kits were distributed among the students, and families received 20-litre water cans for secure water storage. Children were educated about the importance of cleanliness, fostering a culture of hygiene within the school and wash kits facilitated personal hygiene practices among students, contributing to improved overall health.
The availability of clean drinking water, coupled with hygiene education and essential supplies, significantly reduced the risk of water-borne diseases. The project not only benefited the children but also garnered appreciation from the entire community, signifying a step towards a healthier and safer living environment.