Water Missions is an outstanding charity that grew out of an engineering background. The group has developed portable water treatment plant that can provide filtered and chlorinated water at a rate of 10 gallons per minute. The water is crystal clear and the Cl residue is less than one part per million, enough to kill any bacteria in any container that a villager may bring to fetch water. For very remote villages the system pump can be powered by solar panels and thus does not require access to AC power.
The water treatment plants are assembled by volunteers in Charleston, SC and are shipped to over 26 countries around the world where people do not have access to clean drinking water. Over 300 local volunteers assist in the assembly of the systems in Charleston.
In addition to individual donors, WMI has a number of corporate donors that are generous with both cash and gifts in kind. Solar World supplies solar panels at a reduced cost and donated enough solar panels to operate the Charleston office and mfg. facility on solar power. FedEx helps with shipping, Grundfus, a Dutch pump company, has donated large sums of funds and equipment. WMI is now working as a beta test site with Grundfus to develop a "water meter" that will allow a villager to buy water at a "filling station" using his cell phone and the funds be deposited in the village bank account in Denmark.
In addition to providing safe water, WMI also teaches Health and Hygiene in the communities. This information is used to show the villagers the connection between safe water and good hygiene practices. A new program focused on Community Development has just been launched to help the villages have a clearer understanding of the need to save some funds from the sale of water to maintain and improve the system as the village grows and the equipment ages. Most components of the systems are designed for a 20 year service life.
Along with the safe water, WMI tries to bring the Living Water message of Jesus to the communities served. However, the water is not just provided to peoples willing to listen to the Living Water message.
Water system have been installed in Indonesia and other non christian countries.
This is our 5 trip with WMI, We have spent 3 months in Milawi, Indonesia twice, Peru and Honduras/Mexico.
We appreciate your support!!!!
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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.
My son is a volunteer with WMI and had taken a trip to Uganda to document the installation of a water treatment system that was installed in one of the villages there. I have, since his trip, been able to visit WMI twice and see and hear about all they're doing to help those who need clean drinking water and I've been impressed with their professionalism, their friendliness, their commitment to the call to help others, their faith in God to provide more means and more helpers to continue reaching out to more people, some whose very lives depend upon clean water.
I had the opportunity to tour the WMI Facility in Charleston this year. It was a breath of fresh air. Not only as a donor, but as an employee of a nonprofit myself, I am encouraged by the passion and integrity this organization instills in its staff. It was also a pleasure to see exactly what the process of building a water treatment system is like and to see the flag of each country that has been blessed with WMI's presence. That is truly what Water Missions International is - a blessing. This is an organization that I will gladly and confidently donate to for many years to come.
Water Missions International strives to change the world, one person at a time. The task at hand is massive and daunting, but with determination and passion, they take on the challenge, and in my opinion, they're winning! It's not everyday that you have the opportunity to be a part of changing somebody's life, forever! But, they make that available to volunteers and employees, alike! All of the water purification systems are built by the hands of people who care. Each system has a plan and purpose. So, when volunteering, it's not simply a "feel good" experience, it's a feeling of knowing that you matter, because you are in the position to let someone else know that THEY matter. The people that Water Missions is serving are deserving of a chance at life, but often don't get that chance, because of sickness and disease, caused by dirty water. Once WMI steps on the scene, there's a sense of hope for those people. Hope for life. Life, which is so frail, has just gotten a little bit better and the future is brighter. That all starts at WMI headquarters. From start to finish, the WMI staff and volunteers work hard, strive hard and love selflessly as they impact the world. It's one thing to drop in, give someone a bottle of water, and leave. It's another thing to move in, live amongst the people, see their pain, experience their joy...and let ALL of that motivate you to do EVERYTHING you can to ensure their chances at living. That is what Water Missions does.
This is the best organization that you can donate to. My family know the owners personally and they are the finest, most upstanding, Christian people that I know. The work that they have done is amazing to me. Please do not think that they only help people in poverished countries. They help wherever there is a problem with the water. That includes the US after Katrina. Please put them on your donation list EVERY year. Your money is well spent and brings LIFE to people who desperately need it.
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.
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.
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.
TMD Architects is a proud supporter of Water Missions International. In addition to our financial support we have enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer on a weekly basis in the production area and be a part of the annual Walk for Water. We have been drawn to the organize becuase of its mission, passion and strong founding. We are honored to serve the nations of the world through the work done at WMI.
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!
Water Missions International is the NP that all others should strive to be. They are dedicated to humanity and their goal of providing water to everyone and anyone who needs it. They hold true to their original goal of shedding God's love on others by sharing His word and providing water but they don't discriminate if those in need don't believe in Him. They are truly amazing people who make up a truly amazing organization.
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.
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!
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!
I donated to this charity believing that access to clean water is fundamental for improving living conditions and health.
I have been contacted twice since donating. The first time a letter thanked me for my donation and included and envelope to allow me to give them more money. I used the enclosed envelope to send a letter indicating that I was offended to be asked for more money. My significant donation should have been acknowledged, period.
Today I received a copy of the annual report and another letter. This was addressed to Mr. and Mrs...... This is additionally offensive as I am not married and donated as a single person.
The entire range of communications from this organization have made me very suspicious of their qualifications, organization and motives.
I will never donate to Water Missions International again!
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