Importance
We believe that improving living conditions by modernization will help alleviate many burdens faced by impoverished people. Having access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and electricity has potential to dramatically improve lives. This is why our work includes projects to improve infrastructure.
Clean Water: Rural impoverished people may spend hours per day gathering water to sustain life. Children often spend time gathering water, instead of attending school. And too often the drinking water is contaminated, causing illness such as diarrhea. Clean water and soap are needed for washing hands and preventing spread of disease. Water scarcity also impacts food supplies, as insufficient water is available for cultivation of crops and water for livestock.
Sanitation: Alongside clean water, proper hygiene and disposal of waste is crucial for maintaining good health. Clean water and soap are needed for washing hands and preventing spread of disease. Water scarcity also impacts food supplies, as insufficient water is available for cultivation of crops and water for livestock.
Solar and renewable energy: Electric power is essential in the home for reading lights and refrigeration of food. Schools benefit by lights and computers. Clinics need power for diagnostic equipment and refrigeration of medications. Agriculture and other businesses may require electricity to be successful.
Goals & Current Projects
Clean Water: Just as true as energy, clean water is also a requirement for some of our other projects involving education, livelihood, and health.
Sanitation: As part of our health related programs, we offer solutions for proper sanitation, such as improving the availability of clean toilets. A full set of new toilets often complements our school building projects.
Solar and renewable energy: We’re finding energy solutions for the rural impoverished. Often this is a needed component for our other projects, such as new schools, and clinics.
Statements
On my visit to a school where BAOBAB STRONG is doing work, I witnessed the old hand-dug well the school had been using. The open well was essentially dry, so school children were forced to carry buckets of water from a river which is a few miles away, a far distance for drinking, washing, and gardening.
With the help of a grant, BAOBAB STRONG was able to have a new well drilled. This clean water will be a great asset to the school and enable the students to spend more time in the classroom, and help grow a school vegetable garden.
Gracious Nyati
I was excited to visit a school under construction in Zimbabwe. The school was coming along well, but I was impressed by the new pit toilets. This is an area often overlooked and sometimes difficult to discuss. But these toilets were a major addition to the new school. The 10 stalls were very solidly constructed.
Outside, a hand washing station had been built too.
Every school should have such sanitary facilities!
Steven Kell