Support a Fundraiser

1 filter = $50 = clean water for 100 people for 5yrs

I am aiming to raise $5000 for the inhabitants of the Caribbean Islands (often forgotten) through Waves for Water

$5000 = 100 filters = clean water for 10,000 people

Any donation would be hugely appreciated

$1 = water for 2 people

On September 6, this mega Category 5 hurricane, demolished Antigua and Barbuda, with a damage estimation at 90% destruction of the dual island nation’s infrastructure. This is just one example, as many other islands were annihilated, in similar fashion. When it was all said and done, many Caribbean islands found themselves in the path of Hurricane Irma and those that did not, still felt the impact of the unprecedented size of this powerful storm.

Many of us that come from a developed country such as the UK or US, know these Caribbean islands as the incredibly beautiful vacation destinations they are – with sunshine, nice resorts, and wonderful local vibes. But what isn’t often thought about, are the little communities where a lot of the local people live, that work at all those resorts and tourist companies - where infrastructure is limited. Many of these communities are living well below the poverty line, and situated just a few miles away the massive luxury resorts its residents work in. The juxtaposition is sobering.

The devastation from Irma is massive in scale and there are needs everywhere. Waves for Water are launching this emergency response initiative, together with colleagues from the region, initiative to provide access to clean drinking water – focusing primarily on the Virgin Islands and the French Caribbean, first, as areas most in need.

In a natural disaster such as this, the first few weeks are crucial in stemming the spread of waterborne diseases and life threatening dehydration, Waves for Water plan to launch their response in three phases:

1. The first phase is designed to mitigate the immediate suffering of the most impacted families, by implementing portable water filtration systems in communities (both to shelters and residences still left standing) living at or below the poverty line. These are communities that already needed our program prior to any disaster, making them the least equipped to handle a catastrophe, such as Irma. We have seen this scenario many times in Haiti, most recently with Hurricane Matthew last year, and it is the little underserved “forgotten” communities that really feel the worst of what these events have to offer.

2. After we have addressed the immediate need for clean water, phase two will serve to address breakdowns in water infrastructure through the creation of large and centrally-located water depots. These are big systems that can serve entire communities, rather than just one household.

3. The third phase will analyze data that has been compiled throughout the first two phases, allowing us to design and implement long-term mechanisms to change the way water is accessed for years to come – such as rainwater harvesting systems, borehole wells, and/or desalinization systems.