Partnering with our local heroes who lead Project Hearts in the Dominican Republic and the Watha Project in Kenya, GRACE Cares will bring greater Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to under-served communities. This initiative will drastically improve the health and quality of life for the people of the Baitoa region in the Dominican Republic and the members of the Watha tribe in the Galana region of Kenya.
The marginalized village of Baitoa in the Dominican Republic and the Watha tribe in Kenya both lack access to clean and safe water sources. In Kenya, 41% of the people (19 million out of 46 million) lack access to safe water. Beyond the lack of access, the Watha must also deal with crocodiles who inhabit their current water sources. In the DR, although roughly 70% of the total population has access to clean water, in rural Baitoa no one has clean water unless they have a water filter.
This project will offer technical assistance to both Project Hearts (Dominican Republic) and the Watha Project (Kenya) so that their local heroes can improve access to water sources and the continuity of supply. With GRACE Cares's support, Project Hearts will distribute more water filters and tanks and host more WASH workshops. Likewise, GRACE Cares will work with the Watha Project to help them build the first well in their community.
Having access to clean and safe water saves lives and changes them for the better. Access to clean water and sanitation not only improves health outcomes but also diminishes the labor and time required for its acquisition, especially for women and children. Last year alone Project Hearts's WASH programs served more than 500 people with water filters, tanks, and workshops, and we also anticipate that a well in the Watha community could serve up to 1,000 people and have the same kind of impact.
