http://giftofwater.org Gift of Water is a non-profit organization focused on providing point of use water purification systems in third world countries, focusing primarily in Haiti. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:37:00 +0000 http://snappages.com en http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/03/07/gow-to-participate-in-iupui-hunger-banquet http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/03/07/gow-to-participate-in-iupui-hunger-banquet Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:37:00 +0000 http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/03/07/gow-to-participate-in-iupui-hunger-banquet Hunger Banquet.

The third annual IUPUI Hunger Banquet will be held on Sunday, April 3rd from 6-8pm in the IUPUI [...]]]> Hunger Banquet.

The third annual IUPUI Hunger Banquet will be held on Sunday, April 3rd from 6-8pm in the IUPUI Campus Center, Room 450. The Hunger Banquet is a fundraiser and advocacy event to raise awareness about world hunger. All proceeds of this year's event will benefit the IU-Kenya Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Program and the Tumaini Children's Center in Eldoret, Kenya.

Gift of Water board member Mark Timmons will be there with a display. Stop by to help support a good cause and learn more about how you can get involved with Gift of Water.

]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/28/congratulations-graduating-technicians http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/28/congratulations-graduating-technicians Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:45:00 +0000 http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/28/congratulations-graduating-technicians
Lead by our In Country Liaison (Lamothe Lormier) and 3 master technicians, the [...]]]>
Lead by our In Country Liaison (Lamothe Lormier) and 3 master technicians, the 4 day session provided the technicians with education and training on the following topics:

• The Gift of Water purification system (parts, assembly, repair)
• Conducting home visits
• Keeping accurate records (home visits and inventory)
• Microbiology, bacteriology and parasitology
• Water & health concerns
• Hygiene & Sanitation
• Different purification processes
• Various diseases, including Typhoid and Malaria
• Cholera Myths & Facts
• Facilitating a community meeting
• Working with community leaders

It was a very interactive environment the entire week. Each technician had to take their turn at assembling, and disassembling, a purification system in front of the team as well as educating a new participating family in the new system. Though everyone struggled a bit initially, it was great to watch the “older” technicians mentor and teach the new ones.

At the culmination of the training event, each technician was tested for comprehension, received a field kit and graduation certificate.

The next training event is scheduled to take place beginning March 28 in Port au Prince. If you have any questions or have technicians in your sister communities you would like to send to future training sessions, please contact Laura Moehling.

]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/27/meet-sr-mary-ann-cruz http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/27/meet-sr-mary-ann-cruz Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:55:00 +0000 Laura http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/27/meet-sr-mary-ann-cruz
I first met Sr. Mary during my trip last April and she was clearly [...]]]>
I first met Sr. Mary during my trip last April and she was clearly desperate for help. Her village is very remote and she is not twinned with a parish in the States; however, every day she sees the effects of malnutrition and bacteria infested water on the people in her community. We were able to deliver 25 complete systems to Sr. Mary, who will also now add to her list of responsibilities Gift of Water technician!

]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/16/gift-of-water-long-term-goals http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/16/gift-of-water-long-term-goals Sun, 16 Jan 2011 09:23:00 +0000 Glenn http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/16/gift-of-water-long-term-goals

• Become a [...]]]>
  
  • Become a sef-sustaining business
  • Procure an on-site location in Haiti
  • Build proficiency in training new technicians in Haiti
  • Establish manufacturing operations in Haiti
  • Employ local Haitians where possible
  • Offer short distance shipping in Haiti
  • Achieve "Haitian NGO" status
  • Cultivate deep ties with Parish Twinning Programs of America
  • Swiftly provide access to replacement parts for participating communities
  • Recognized as the authority on water purification and point of use systems
  • Increase awareness of Gift of Water in Haiti
  • Be easy to do business with, whether you are a sponsoring organization, participating community to vendor
  • Develop sustainable implementation and financial models
  
  
  Want to weigh on in what we should be focused on? We would love to hear from you!!!
  
  ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/07/olmc-carmel-in-helps-in-fight-against-cholera http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/07/olmc-carmel-in-helps-in-fight-against-cholera Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:22:00 +0000 http://giftofwater.org/blog/2011/01/07/olmc-carmel-in-helps-in-fight-against-cholera
  In just very short time, the program has blossomed under OLMC's guidance and become the model for implementing and managing GoW in a local community. Mt. Carmel's continues its committment to helping the Haitian people and there is no better evidence of that than yesterday's distribution of 70 new systems to families in area. The availability of these systems is very timely and will certainly prove helpful in fighting cholera in the area.
  
  
  
  ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/12/01/latest-shipment-arrives-in-haiti http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/12/01/latest-shipment-arrives-in-haiti Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:34:00 +0000 http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/12/01/latest-shipment-arrives-in-haiti
  Shipment 1 arrived in haiti on 6/8/2010
  
  • 1770 red buckets,grey buckets, red lids and grey lids
  • 3480 string [...]]]>
    Shipment 1 arrived in haiti on 6/8/2010
    
    • 1770 red buckets,grey buckets, red lids and grey lids
    • 3480 string filters
    • 1520 check valves
    • 1720 carbon filters
    • 1800 spigots
    • 1800 barbed fittings
    • 1800 metal washers
    • 10 bags of carbon
    • 1800 bucket labels
    
    Shipment 2 arrived in Haiti on 12/21/2010
    
    • 1740 red buckets, grey buckets
    • 1140 red lids
    • 1740 grey lids
    • 4000 string filters
    • 2142 check valves
    • 2400 carbon filters
    • 1150 spigots
    • 2100 barbed fittings
    • 3050 metal washers
    • 28 bags of carbon
    • 1800 bucket labels
    
    
    
    
    ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/10/21/gift-of-water-receives-501c3-status http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/10/21/gift-of-water-receives-501c3-status Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:57:00 +0000 Glenn http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/10/21/gift-of-water-receives-501c3-status
    ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/05/03/seeing-gift-of-water-in-action http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/05/03/seeing-gift-of-water-in-action Mon, 03 May 2010 14:03:00 +0000 Pete http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/05/03/seeing-gift-of-water-in-action
    
    
    ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/29/researching-buckets-and-tablets http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/29/researching-buckets-and-tablets Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:56:00 +0000 Pete http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/29/researching-buckets-and-tablets
    In the morning Laura and I met with Pankaj & Prashant at Plastech Solutions, a bucket manufacturer. Plastech currently manufacture 5 gallon buckets in 3 grades light (thin wall), medium (thicker wall) and heavy duty (thickest). We talked about [...]]]>
    In the morning Laura and I met with Pankaj & Prashant at Plastech Solutions, a bucket manufacturer. Plastech currently manufacture 5 gallon buckets in 3 grades light (thin wall), medium (thicker wall) and heavy duty (thickest). We talked about our specific needs and are going to explore some pricing alternatives. Need to keep talking with to nail down some of the logistics – i.e. delivery – but definitely a good contact to have made.
    
    The afternoon was spent meeting with Guy Cave of Propharma. Guy is a distributor of Aquatabs, a water purification tablet manufactured by Medentech. Aquatabs also happen to be the tablets used by the GoW system so Guy may be an excellent resource to procure supplies on our behalf.
    
    ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/28/bethel-foundation http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/28/bethel-foundation Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:15:00 +0000 http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/28/bethel-foundation
    Today we visited the [...]]]>
    Today we visited the facilities. It has been almost a year since the last production run at Bethel, couple that with the affects of the earthquake and you could definitely see some wear and tear. It was great though to explore firsthand one of our options for building and distributing systems in Haiti.
    
    ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/25/its-off-to-haiti http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/25/its-off-to-haiti Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:28:00 +0000 Laura http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/04/25/its-off-to-haiti
    ]]> http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/02/10/gift-of-water-is-reborn http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/02/10/gift-of-water-is-reborn Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:39:00 +0000 http://giftofwater.org/blog/2010/02/10/gift-of-water-is-reborn
    Learning of its demise, and fully aware of the outstanding good that the program does in Haiti and other countries, Pete Murphy looked into any means possible of keeping the program operational. Together with a new board and a new team, this is now well underway.
    
    Of utmost importance to those communities/sponsors using the Gift of Water purifier is to note that we are making the EXACT SAME PURIFIER as was previously available. Therefore, all parts and components being produced from this point forward will work in the purifiers that you have in established homes.
    
    However, there will be changes in order to establish a more sustainable model for the long term. We have the benefit of hindsight and learning based on what has occurred previously. We look forward to continuing to serve the people of Haiti and other countries with what we feel is the best available alternative for clean filtered water in rural communities.
    
    ]]>