SAN DIEGO, CA, March 13, 2008 -- Project Concern International (PCI) recently received a US$1 million grant from the Starbucks Foundation's Ethos Water Fund that will enable PCI and its local partner, ADRA/Tanzania, to provide access to safe water and low-cost sanitation technologies in the water-stressed country of Tanzania.
Less than 50 percent of residents in Tanzania's Babati district have access to clean water, a critical problem that can cause a variety of illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, and trachoma. To meet the daily needs of their families, women, and children often spend 6-8 hours per day walking to find clean water sources.
With a local economy that is heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock, inadequate water sources have severely hindered the economy, health, and food security of this region. Through this key partnership, PCI plans to help at least 30,000 people in local communities to effectively manage water supplies, decrease the frequency of water-borne diseases, reduce the amount of time women and children spend collecting water, as well as increase the construction of low-cost household and school latrines. The local government and WaterAid/Tanzania have already committed additional funding to support the program, including the building of more water points to reach another 30,000 people.
On a global scale, more than one billion people lack clean, safe drinking water and more than 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation services worldwide. To help raise awareness of these critical issues, PCI will join forces with Ethos Water, as well as CARE and other non-governmental organizations to help host Walk for Water events on March 22, 2008 in Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York City. The public can register for local events, join the Virtual Walk for Water or make a donation at www.worldwaterday.net.
"Every fifteen seconds a child dies of water-borne disease in the developing world. Safe drinking water, improved sanitation facilities and personal hygiene education are essential blocks in stemming the tide of poverty for many families and communities," said George Guimaraes, President and CEO of Project Concern International. "We're very pleased to join with the Starbucks Foundation, Ethos Water and our partners in Tanzania for this life-saving work."
Project Concern International is a San Diego-based health and humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives and building healthy communities around the world.
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