Cassidy Johnson, Fundraising Coordinator for OKC-based nonprofit Water4, spoke to Rotary about the water crises in Africa and what Water4 is doing to help.The January 5, 2023 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha was called to order by President Lewis Knisley. The club sang "God Bless America."
Pres. Knisley gave a reminder for the Rotary Roll Call assemblies and encouraged members to attend. The presentation at Grand Elementary took place on the 5th. The presentation at Lincoln Elementary will take place January 12 at 1:15 pm, right after Rotary.
Rotarian of the Day Gary McNatt introduced the speaker, Cassidy Johnson. Johnson is the fundraising coordinator for Water4, a non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City. Water4 was founded in 2008 to help address the water crisis in Africa. In 2022, they drilled 2700 wells. Water4 is a faith-based organization; Johnson said that they believe in "earning the right to share the Living Water."
Water4's vision is "a world where all people have access to safe and Living Water." Their mission statement is "Eradicating the worlds water crisis through local, missional businesses."
Johnson explained that there are actually two distinct water crises in sub-Saharan Africa. The better known crisis is that two-thirds of the population lacks access to safely managed water. The less-known crisis is that at any given time, 35 to 75 percent of existing water projects in the region are not actually functioning. To address both issues, Water4 takes a different approach from most organizations. Rather than simply drilling wells and leaving them be, Water4 establishes full businesses to maintain new and existing water projects. These businesses employ, train, and are operated by locals—which is better for the community and much more cost-effective for the organization than simply sending Americans on mission trips. Water4 has established 15 businesses in 9 countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya.
Water4 employs two solutions. One is the traditional hand-pump model, which serves smaller communities (300 people or less). For larger communities, they use a proprietary system called NUMA. NUMA involves a treatment and distribution system similar to those used in the U.S. After treatment, water is piped to every clinic and school, some homes and businesses, and NUMA Water Points. Residents can purchase clean water from these water points at a very low rate for use in their homes. Johnson explained that most homes in Africa have the ability to receive running water, they simply have not been hooked up to any system. Water quality and equipment is checked regularly and frequently.
Water4 also provides "iNsurance" for existing pumps. Many organizations drill wells and then leave them be. When these pumps break, the residents have no way to repair them. Through iNsurance, Water4's businesses monitor, repair, and maintain these pumps.
Asked what their biggest obstacle was, Johnson said that recently, supply chain had been an issue. However, the more persistent obstacle has been working with local governments. While Water4 has established positive and successful partnerships with local governments, the process of securing these partnerships can take years.
The organization has served 2 million people since 2008. Thanks to a generous donor covering all administrative costs, payroll, overhead, etc., 100% of donations to Water4 go directly towards safe water projects in Africa.
Lunch was provided by Interurban.