PROGRAMS OF ROTARIANS - Rotary Down Under

SAFE WATER
SAVE LIVES (SWSL)
Safe Water Save Lives originated in District 981. John Van Der Haar of the
Rotary Club of Ringwood, Vic., returning from a trip to the island of Flores,
was concerned by the plight of the local people who spent six months of
the year faced with desperate water shortages while for the other half of
the year there was abundant rainfall.
John was able to make use of his knowledge of swimming pool
construction to design a transportable and reusable framework which with
a little training, allowed villagers to construct a concrete water-tank in one
day, using mainly material available locally.
As one half of the people of the world do not have ready access to safe drinking water,
water-related diseases may claim as many as 25 million lives a year, there is a huge need to
be met.
SWSL, as an activity of RAWCS, has expanded its approach to the provision of water and now
encompasses the provision of water catchment, reticulation and the construction of a variety
of tanks.
Clubs are encouraged to provide members for SWSL training teams and financial support for
the water projects.
Of recent years these projects have been considered under the Project Volunteers program.
Contact:
District RAWCS Chairman
NZ Contact: Districts 9910 and 9940 via www.rotarysouthpacific.org
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