WATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL
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For the past five years I have participated and volunteered for the Water Missions International's annual Walk for Water. the Walk for Water symbolizes what nearly one billion people, mostly women and chldren have to do everyday, just to get water to drink. Plus, it is not even clean water. It is truly a walk with a message. Water Missions builds and distributes water treatment system throughout the world , helping to stop the spread of disease, improve the living conditions of those receiving clean water and to improve the economic conditions of the communities where the treatment systems are installed. And as a faith-based organization, Water Misssions also ministers to the spiritual needs of the people being served. Water misssions has a small but dedicated staff, they are excellent stewards of the donated funds and have a well developed mission and vision for their organization. I have received much more from my involvement with Water Missions than I though possible. Knowing that my efforts helps to made a difference to people around the world, meeting one of the basic necessities of life, has been a humbling but joyful experince. May God bless the work and efforts of Water Missions International.
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The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Helping with the annual fund raising event, the Walk for water. I've also helped with public relations, participating in promotional videos , Media interviews and speaking engagements.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
help them find a large facility to operate from. Currently they are in very cramped quarters and desperately need more room for staff, officies and water treatment system production.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
Their staff is very busy, so sometimes it is difficult to reach them. They could benefit from larger quarters and some additional people to help with the work load.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
I have meet and worked with numerous wonderful people, most whom I now consider dear friends. I have opened up my home, to be a "hotel" for visiting volunteers that come to work for water missions.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
I have experienced a great deal of personal satisfaction volunteering with Water Missions; yet at the same time, it is a humbling experience as it makes you realize how fortunate and bless we are to live in a country where you do not have to worry about getting water to drink ...even water that will make you sick, once you get it.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
I have been a volunteer with Water Missions International for ten years. During this time I have work on just about every aspect of building the units. I have traveled to seven different countries to install and teach village members how to operate and care for the units. The most rewarding thing for me is when the LWTS starts making clean, clear Living Water and village people understand that it is a gift from God. To see them hold a glass of clear water up to the sky and give The Father the Glory.
It is a great reward for me to work every week with men and women that are strong christians and be in that type of atmosphere.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The results I see in this organization can be seen in the people that come on a regular basis to do what ever they are asked. There is not any task that is not worth the effort required to complete it. Just seeing the finished product loaded on a truck and know that someone is going to be much better off.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I could not think of any changes in this organization that would maker it better.
Many years ago, my wife and I had seen pictures of guinea worms boring through to the outside of a child's skin, and we never forgot that picture. After retiring, we were seeking volunteer work to contribute in some way to help relieve the water crisis in developing countries. I am a mechanical engineer, and my wife is an educator, so we knew that we had a good skill mix for the work.
In an effort to explore possibilities for us, we looked for opportunities on the web and contacted several organizations but were ignored. A friend mentioned Water Missions International ( WMI) and after one email, we got a prompt response from the head of engineering who asked us to visit the facility in Charleston, SC, and we have never looked back.
The most impressive part of our first visit to WMI was watching VOLUNTEERS assemble water treatment units (Living Water Treatment System - LWTS). We learned that WMI has over 300 volunteers who do most of the work in all facets of the organization and that treatment systems have been installed in 40+ countries which is huge work to be accomplished by a relatively small administrative staff. We also learned that the founders of WMI had a lucrative engineering business they sold in order to clean nasty water in developing countries. We were stunned to know that WMI is totally funded by donations and continues to grow which speaks to the effectiveness any non-profit. That combination of information and the fact that WMI is a Christian organization commanded our respect for WMI. We were also impressed that WMI provides safe water to all people regardless of religion, race, culture or gender.
There are two target areas of work at WMI. Disaster sites anywhere in the world are promptly provided water treatment systems to give people immediate relief from a contaminated water supply. When possible, those same LWTS units are later used for communities in conjunction with sustainable community development projects. The second focus is sustainable community development projects where safe water was the initial impetus for WMI involvement.
As time goes on, we continue to be impressed by WMI with the efficiency of organization, project implementation and financial responsibility that is crucial to effective philanthropy. In working with Water Missions, we are reminded of the cleche, "Never was so much done with so little."
Our assessment of WMI is not from the outside looking in. We have have volunteered for months at a time in Indonesia two times and in Malawi, Africa. ( Please view our book at blurb.com; Search Burton Northam.) We get administrative, technical and moral support from WMI when on assignment.
Other than disaster response safe water systems, sustainable community development projects are a major focus of WMI. As in all successful community development projects, the local people must be committed and involved. Communities, after an assessment based on requirements necessary to have a viable safe water system, are required to organize a Safe Water Committee which ultimately maintains the project after WMI turns the project over to the community at a commissioning service. Based on current research confirming that sustainability requires ongoing funding, a micro-enterprise system that raises funds by charging a small fee for the treated water is also being implemented by WMI. These funds are used to buy consumables, pay a system operator and eventually build another system for a nearby community.
The WMI WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) program is a vital part of community health training because research shows that providing safe water alone does not improve the sickness/death rate of people if they do not have good sanitation and hygiene practices. The Trainer of Trainers Model is one of the approaches used to equip volunteers in the community to be able to train others, ultimately teaching everyone receiving safe water.
A few paragraphs is totally inadequate space to even begin to explain the numbers of lives (especially children under five years) that have been saved through the work of Water Missions International. We are privileged to be involved with an organization that has such a sincere, deep (and yes, loving) commitment to making a difference in one of the greatest crises the people on this earth are facing, and we appreciate the opportunity to share the work of Water Missions with you.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My wife and I have watched women who previously walked 5-6km each way to get a bucket of contaminated water for the entire family for a day, now walk a short distance for ample safe drinking water. We have seen children return to school who were kept out of school to tote water for the family. We have seen school children drink chlorinated water with big, smiling faces. We have seen whole communities rejoice because, at last, they had safe drinking water!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
If I could make changes in this organization, I would convince donors that more funding is needed for increasing the WMI administrative staff, purchasing a larger facility for assembly of systems and increasing the inventory of equipment/materials for future disaster relief and sustainable community projects. If becoming the engineering arm of another effective relief organization with the same goals becomes a feasible option, that would further expand and enhance the work of WMI.
I helped assemble components of water filters. These water filters get shipped around the world to places that need clean water, and they also educate the people in those communities about why clean water is important and other health related items.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing the places they take the water filters to, and what a difference it can make in the health of those communities.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make room for even more employees and volunteers - this is an awesome organization!
This charity is essential to providing clean water in places that would Never be able to provide it for themselves. The impact is has directly on the community is amazing. They also spread the good word of Christ and all that he provides for us. I will not hesistate to take the time to support and go back to Charleston, SC to assist in any manner that i can volunteer. The inidividuals running the organization are simply "First Class" and have their charity at heart in All they Do. A wonderful example for us all.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
showing me what it is to "provide" for those in need. I had never seen the type of problems that they deal with on a daily basis and how they handle them graciously and with dignity was inspiring to me.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Couldn't think of any changes. They do a truely wonderful job.
I first was introduced to WMI at my church. We raised enough money to have to purification machines placed in Africa. I was really impressed with the organization and the passion they have for helping others around the world. I saw in a pamplet that you could donate your time to them by helping assemble the machines. Since I was low on funds I decided that would be my way to help WMI help others. So I raised money for the Walk for Water and also attended orientation and became volunteer at the warehouse to help assembly. Just meeting all the people who are apart of WMI let's you know that this organization is here to simply spread the message of Jesus Christ and to helps millions around the world who are less fortunate than we are here in America. WMI makes a huge impact on my life, the lives of others, and the world!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Hearing and reading of the number of people that have been impacted by the work and volunteers of everyone at WMI!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I wouldn't!
My experience with Water Missions International has far exceeded my expectations of the capabilities of a non-profit organization. After spending time serving at other local non-profits, I had come to expect slow production, regular hiccups, and, despite the best intentions, an inconsistent product. Hoewever, volunteering weekly on the production floor at Water Missions has renewed my faith in the capabilities of the nonprofit sector.
At Water Missions, we produce complex water treatment systems for delivery to some of the most remote areas around the world. The finished product demands precision, quality, and durability, as the availability of replacement parts and repair services after delivery is severely limited. Something as simple as a 5 foot section of PVC pipe can be difficult to obtain in a place like rural Uganda. At Water Missions, this challenge has been met by tight controls and ingenuity on the production line, which enables volunteers of any skill level to contribute to the final product. Detailed step-by-step instructions accompany every workstation, and hands-on instruction is readily available for the more complicated procedures. As a testament to their stewardship values, Water Missions has continually elected to conserve donor funds by empowering volunteers to do jobs ordinarily reserved for paid professionals.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
As I am not involved with delivering and operating the water treatment systems around the world, my firsthand experience is with the impact this organization has on its volunteers and employees on a daily basis. Water Missions provides hope and purpose to everyone involved, whether the responsibility is stuffing envelopes or traveling to remote locations for site evaluation.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
If I had to... I would recommend the changes face to face.
What a fantastic company! I have been helping as a volunteer this year building the modules that create these water treatment systems as well as helping build the final systems. While there is a small permanent paid staff overseeing the development of these systems, most of the actual system construction is performed by volunteers. This allows most of the donations to be used to purchase quality materials. and ship the completed units to more than 40 countries over the past 10 years. During the first quarter of this year we built at least 100 units and are approaching as many this quarter. Most of us volunteer one day a week and with pride we build and test units that will be sent to parts of the world where the clean, clear water that we take for granted is unknown. As a profesional engineer I find great satisfaction in helping construct these units and marvel at the compact design that has been developed to provide clean, clear, clorinated water with a minimum of maintenance necessary to keep them operational for years. Weekly I look forward to my day at Water Missions and working with other volunteers who are as committed as I am to helping the Greene's realize their vision of providing treated water to those who need it. I give thanks that I am able to participate in this endeavor!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The feedback we receive from personnel in the field describing the joy of recipients of these systems. Also the commitment of the volunteers in this Christian Non-profit is a positive demonstration of those who have accepted Christ in their lives.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
At this point I do not see any changes that need to be made. As the requests for units increase it will be necessary to seek more volunteers, find larger spaces, and a more formalized assembly process; however, this is still at some point in the future. If it is not already being developed, a master plan shared with the volunteers and employees would put a visual picture of the future plans and help maintain the high feeling of commitment of all involved
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
My husband, daughter, and I assembled alum kits while we were on vacation in Charleston, SC in June 2011. First we had a tour which included history and scope of the organization as well as an interesting explanation of the water purification units and the latrine systems. Then we joined the other volunteers for a status report of recent, ongoing, and upcoming projects which was followed by a humbling and touching time of prayer.
We were absolutely amazed at the marvelous work being accomplished by Water Missions International and are grateful we could help!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my own larger view of the world, its needs, and the influence I personally have. I was impressed with the efficient and effective use of volunteers at Water Missions International. We were given satisfying, productive, relevant work.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
improve the signage for the organization. Fortunately, our family members who had previously volunteered there gave us directions ahead of time!
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