On average, 180 people are served PER DAY with water and sanitation improvements in India through ten programs currently being executed by Water.org’s partner organizations, and funded by PepsiCo Foundation.
SCOPE is one of these Water.org partner organizations at work. In one month:
• 67 water pipe connections were completed
• 15 Ecosan toilets were constructed
• 10 toilets were repaired and put into use
• 77 community members attended a health and hygiene education program
• 15 nearby community members attended a safe water and sanitation awareness program
There has been a tremendous response from the people to obtain their own water and sanitation connections. The villagers are even competing with one another to get a water connection to their house. Since Water.org and SCOPE have offered a subsidy for these connections, people are eager take advantage of the offer to improve their living condition. Women and girls benefit the most. As 67 new water points were completed last month, the total number of water points completed as part of the program with PepsiCo Foundation comes to 269 within 6 months. Another 36 water points are in progress, to be completed this month. This program will run for two years.
With the construction of 15 new toilets, the beneficiaries were so happy to no longer have to walk long distances for open defecation. The community was taught that using the toilet regularly prevents many diseases. Two health and hygiene education programs were offered for the community by health workers and 77 people attended. Community members learned about hand washing, personal cleaning, and using a toilet instead of open defecation as methods of disease prevention. They also learned how access to a toilet helps to prevent women and girls from experiencing sexual harassment and urological diseases.
SCOPE also held a one day awareness program on water and sanitation at their training centre, Musiri, which was attended by people from the nearby Kannur Palayam village. SCOPE taught about the importance of drinking protected water and constructing toilets. Eighty percent of diseases like jaundice, cholera, and diarrhea are caused by open defecation and unsafe water. Children are primary victims.
Each Water.org partner organization is implementing similar activities within their own communities. By then end of these programs, hundreds of lives will change because of access to safe water, sanitation, and health and hygiene education. Thank you for your role in making our work possible!
