Annual Report 2009
P.O. Box 60381 | Nashville, TN 37206 • T [615] 550-4296 • F [615] 469-3214 • www.bloodwatermission.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
History 6 Africa Programs 8 US Programs 22 Financials 29 Board of Directors 30
A Message To Our Supporters: In 2009, the Blood:Water Mission team celebrated another year of bringing safe water and HIV/AIDS support to communities across Africa. Our work successfully provided clean water, sanitation and hygiene to 220 communities. Each of these communities has stories behind them - stories of children returning to school because they no longer have to walk for water, families being freed of the chronic illnesses that have come from drinking contaminated water, and community groups effectively mobilizing their villages around contributing toward the project with materials, labor and leadership. Additionally, 2009 marked the launch of the first HIV/AIDS health center in the desert region of Marsabit district in northern Kenya. We have witnessed the provision of the long-awaited medical equipment, clinicians and healthcare workers to aggressively work toward HIV care, testing and stigma reduction. In the US, we celebrate the continued growth and creative community-based activism and participation among individuals across this country. We launched the 40 Days of Water campaign, a Lenten initiative to encourage sacrifice of everyday beverages to directly benefit our water programs, re-launched Blood:Water Mission’s web brand and presence at www.bloodwatermission.com, completed the second year of a national bike tour from San Diego to Baltimore, and provided an alternative Christmas giving campaign for biosand filters in Zambia. In a season of economic uncertainty, we are thankful to Blood:Water Mission’s supporters for standing by us in this important work. You are an integral part of this mission, to empower communities in Africa and America to get their hands and feet dirty in the work of bringing health and hope to our friends in Africa. We thank you for your commitment and care. We hope you feel the impact of your support as you journey through these pages. Sincerely yours,
COMMUNITY | RESPONSIBILITY | INTEGRITY | DIGNITY | TEACHABILITY 2
Jena Lee Nardella, Executive Director
Rich Hoops, Board Chair
A Message From Dan Haseltine, Founder: This year, we flew across the desert and landed on an airstrip in what felt like the middle-of-nowhere, and a man welcomed us by saying, “Welcome to Marsabit. There is always life in the desert.” The words felt very contrary to what we were experiencing, but we held onto them, nonetheless. We drove for 3 hours, into the middle of “the end of Africa,” over volcanic craters of ash and just felt like there was nothing for miles, but eventually we arrived at a school that had recently endured a violent raid where many students and teachers had been killed. The school was in jeopardy of closing down, but they kept it open and continued through the hardship. They had written on the wall: I endured the pain to embrace the gain. We found this amazing life in the desert, this story of a community that had endured incredible hardships. And so we entered there, very humbly, and they showed us how much life there really is in the desert, and I realized that, in the desert, only the things that matter can grow - things that are really resilient like hope and joy and grace. For me, as a musician and an artist, this is the story of which I want to be a part. I found myself in the midst of it and realized that our friend was right: there really was life in the desert. That’s one story. There are several schools in that area that we are serving with clean water. We have also helped them open a clinic this year. And as you read through these pages, you will encounter stories of other places in other countries where stories are worth celebrating. Though expansive in their differences, the commonality of the places we serve is their resilient adherence to hope and joy, and a belief in their own development in flourishing amidst the AIDS and water crises in their communities. Thank you for believing in these stories with us.
Dan Haseltine, Founder Jars of Clay
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The members of the band Jars of Clay (from left to right) Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Matt Odmark, Stephen Mason visit a school in Marsabit, Kenya.
“If you have come to save me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because you believe that somehow your liberation is bound up in mine, then let us work together.” - Lila Watson
History: When GRAMMY Award-winning band, Jars of Clay, went to Africa in 2002 to lend their voice to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, they knew going to Africa would mean they would be faced with the reality behind the statistics of the crisis. However, instead of seeing statistics, they met friends. Suddenly the world seemed much smaller and their new friends in Africa were not that much different than their neighbors in their own community. As a response to personalize the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, they launched Blood:Water Mission in 2004. It was then that they discovered the vital link between living with HIV/AIDS and the need for clean water: if someone is drinking water contaminated with diseases, they can’t have a healthy prolonged life as an HIV-positive member of the community. Children cannot go to school if they are walking several miles for water every day. Parents cannot work or care for their families if they are sick from water-borne diseases. The members of the band began sharing the often untold stories: those of creative, compassionate, hard-working Africans bringing health, hope and healing into their communities. And the challenge they presented was great - the 1000 Wells Project, to provide clean water to 1000 communities in sub-Saharan Africa. This was only the beginning. Blood:Water Mission has been partnering with community-based organizations to provide sustainable water solutions. The mission provides consultation, training and funding for such projects. Additionally, Blood:Water Mission is building the capacity of its local partners to begin incorporating HIV/AIDS specific programming alongside ongoing water projects. In the US, communities are strengthened as they partner for a common purpose. Families are more educated about the world around them, and friends learn what social justice looks like by meeting someone’s basic needs while sacrificing their own. We believe the concept of neighbor is changing. The continent that was so far away suddenly feels much closer. We know these communities. We are connected to them. And through these relationships, we are being transformed, too. 6
AFRICA PROGRAMS WATER 220 community water solutions* 117,000 people served with water *projects include sanitation and hygiene trainings
Blood:Water Mission is committed to empowering communities to fight against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa. We seek to transform communities from the inside out, enabling them to be the agents of change within their own context. The Blood:Water Mission
team
researches
and
develops
close
relationships with local organizations, empowering them to be the catalysts in the communities around
Ethiopia | WaterAid
them. In addition to funding, Blood:Water Mission collaborates with our partner organizations on
CAR | Integrated Community Development International
Uganda | Devine Waters International
strategy and methods, networking resources to build
18%
capacity, and offering technical and programmatic insight where needed. It is through these grassroots
45%
approaches that we are able to ensure long-term
22%
impact in communities. In 2009, we focused on partnerships in Central African
1% 14%
Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. Our water project support included: drill and
New Wells Spring Protection Well Repair
Rain Tanks Biosand
repair of wells, rain tanks, spring and oasis protection, biosand filters, and hygiene and sanitation trainings. Additionally, we supported the opening of an HIV/
Rwanda | Moucecore
AIDS clinic, testing for HIV, home based care, and
HIV/AIDS 23,667 2,489 107
Kenya | Food For the Hungry
support groups. By working together, we are moving towards more health, hope and transformation in these amazing African communities.
people tested for HIV
people treated
people enrolled in HIV programming Zambia | Seeds of Hope International
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Central African Republic
One of CAR’s most marginalized people groups are the Bayaka pygmies, who have lived for centuries in the jungle. Deforestation and declining food sources have forced the Bayaka people to move out of the rainforest where exploitation puts them at risk for HIV infection. Lack of safe water, hygiene and sanitation increases their vulnerability to disease and malnutrition. Kanjan Arafo and his family are a part of the Bayaka pymies who live off of the land. They have never grown a garden or built a real house. But deforestation and dwindling wildlife populations have driven Kanjan’s community from the jungle into settled areas of the country where they are forced to be farmers. Here they suffered extreme hardship, not knowing how to grow their food for their families or how to build permanent homes. And the only water they can find comes from a drainage ditch along the side of the road. Kanjan’s community is one of the many Bayaka tribes in the southern region of CAR where Blood:Water Mission is funding water, hygiene and sanitation programming. As Kanjan watched the well being drilled into his community he couldn’t help but comment quietly that now his [five] children would not be drinking from a muddy ditch any longer.
WATER
Integrated Community De-
velopment International is Loa holistic development organization with a long standing cal Partner relationship with the people of CAR. The only drilling
company in the country, they have also been able to reach into the deepest parts of the region with sustainable and effective programs.
well construction; well repair
16,800 People Served
Located in the heart of Africa, Central African Republic is often known as a phantom country. Easily overlooked, few NGOs work in this region and even fewer donors are interested in funding this area. Due to the country’s history of political instability, there is a significant need to support the rapidly declining infrastructure.
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Ethiopia
The highly remote region of Konso Woreda in Southern Ethiopia is faced with many challenges. Because of its location deep in the desert, water is very scarce and disease outbreaks are frequent due to the contamination of surface water. For the 230,000 people living in this region, sanitation coverage is extremely low and water-related diseases are common.
This partnership with WaterAid and Blood:Water Mission targets the most marginalized groups in the region.
WATER
WaterAid is the only large NGO willing to work in this region where quality, scaled efforts are needed in order to have a sustainable impact. The highly professional staff has a strong community development model.
Local Partner
6 Projects 4,200 People Served
Hygiene education, including hand washing, is a critical part of all water projects. Without inclusion of practices like hand washing, the health impact of safe water is dramatically reduced. In the Konso Woreda region of Ethiopia a man demonstrates a hand washing station he has constructed outside of his latrine. 13
Kenya
Located in northern Kenya... is a desert region home to 158,000 people. Most of the people are nomadic pastoralists who have survived for generations by raising livestock and following seasonal water sources. Scarcity is a way of life, and conflict between tribes is common when water and food sources dwindle. AIDS is becoming a growing concern, though until recently, Marsabit’s remoteness has shielded these communities from the devastations of the disease. Though much attention has been placed in other parts of Kenya, few organizations have been willing to commit to long-term investment in these communities, shying away from both the harsh environment and the complexities that challenge development. Blood:Water Mission and Food for the Hungry Kenya have a vision for changing this barren landscape and bringing life to the desert.
HIV/AIDS
WATER
Food for the Hungry Kenya has a history of committing itself to the long-term investment of the Marsabit region. Together Blood:Water Mission and Food for the Hungry have been implementing a 3-year phase plan for providing safe water access to communities and schools in the region.
Local Partner
34 Projects
rain tanks; spring/oasis Rehabilitation
16,500 People Served
Food for the Hungry Kenya is bringing the first comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment center for HIV/AIDS that will serve the 7,000 people living with AIDS in the Marsabit region.
Local Partner 1,000 2,489 107
In the Marsabit Region of northern Kenya, communities collect water from natural springs. Until the springs are rehabilitated and protected, they are a breeding ground for disease.
people tested for HIV people treated
people enrolled in HIV programming
I Choose Life is a grassroots student movement based in Nairobi, but with a presence in all regional colleges and universities, with a focus to reduce the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis. By offering peer training and support, Kenya’s youth are putting a voice of dignity and hope into working together against HIV/ AIDS. Blood:Water Mission and Jars of Clay partnered with I Choose Life to launch Jijue 1 Million, a campaign to encourage the youth of Kenya tested to know their status.
22,667
people tested for HIV 15
RWANDA
is a small, lush mountainous country marked with a painful past of genocide and division, and a hopeful present full of reconciliation, healing and unity. Through the creation of Solidarity Transformation Groups, MOUCECORE, is coming alongside communities working together to create solutions of their own. In the Cyanika Sector, Blood:Water Mission is joining this story as we partner to provide 100% of the community with access to safe water and hygiene and sanitation training. In a desire to find solutions to their own needs, families often collect rain water off of their roofs during the rainy season; however there is no storage capacity to support the two-month dry season. In addition to providing funding, Blood:Water Mission lends its technical expertise to improve the design of the rain catchment tanks. As a part of their holistic programing, African Evangelical Enterprise partners with communities to provide water, hygiene and sanitation coverage. Blood:Water Mission partners in the protection of springs in Gicumbi District. This significantly decreases the time taken to collect water enabling children to go to school and women to engage in development activities while also increasing water quality.
WATER
MOUCECORE is a Rwandan
community-based organization Lothat support Solidarity Transformation Groups that empower cal Partner local communities to address their own issues.
African Evangelical Enterprise engages in a wide range of community development activities geared towards improving the livelihood of vulnerable members of society. They work in 17 of the 30 districts in Rwanda. The effectiveness of their programs is based on the use of self-help groups and holistic development practices.
54 Projects
spring protection; rain tanks
13,942 People Served
This water users group is gathered in front of the rain tank that now provides their families with water during the dry season. Now they no longer spend hours daily walking to a lake 10-15 km away to collect water. 17
UGANDA
AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF CIVIL WAR,
Northern Ugandans are working to rebuild their homeland. Attacks led by a rebel group, the Lord’s
WATER
Resistance Army (LRA), forced many people into internally displaced persons camps for many years. Returning home to villages abandoned for years, they face poor infrastructure and little to no access to basic resources, like medical care and safe water. Now communities are gathering together to address these issues and rebuild their traditional homes. With 33% of the population living without access to clean water and 77% without access to sanitation, Blood:Water Mission and Divine Waters Uganda’s partnership is working on a local level to address these needs in creative and innovative ways.
Divine Water Uganda and Lifewater International’s technical expertise in water as well as their commitment to community-led programming makes them unique and posed to make a significant impact in these regions.
Local Partner
22 Projects
well construction; well repair
7,500 People Served
A creative solution to addressing the needs of communities in Northern Uganda is found in a WASH (Water, Hygiene and Sanitation) Soccer Tournament. Soccer players are trained in basic WASH practices, and tournament scores include an evaluation of village transformation in WASH. These young men are becoming role models in their communities. 19
ZAMBIA
lies at the root of many of Zambia’s deepest issues. Due to the rampant AIDS epidemic which affects over 15% of the population, many Zambian children become the primary caregivers of their younger siblings. Lack of access to safe water gives way to opportunistic infections like diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera in HIV positive people who already weakened immune system. Blood:Water Mission has committed to work with SHIP for 4 years to impact the lives of over 300,000 people in the regions of Ndola and Lusaka. This work includes hand pump repairs, borehole drilling, biosand filters, demo latrines, and hygiene and sanitation training. This partnership is empowering community leadership in remote and underserved areas.
WATER
Seeds of Hope International Partnerships (SHIP) holistic development approach is the key to achieving tangible results in these communities. Blood:Water Mission has partnered with SHIP in water because of its focus on building the capacity for local Zambians to be the owners and leaders of the organization.
Local Partner
76 Projects
well construction; well repair
58,650 People Served
As an important piece of capacity, this rig was purchased by Blood:Water Mission and has been integral to SHIP’s well drilling programs.
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US PROGRAMS
Key Blood:Water Markets
Though Blood:Water Mission’s focus is working together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa, our mission also strives towards empowering communities in the United States to engage their
Portland, Oregon
community toward creative social action on behalf
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
of Africa. In 2009, Blood:Water Mission launched new nation-wide campaigns to engage families, churches
Greater Chicago Area
and individuals toward acts of sacrifice, solidarity and fundraising on behalf of communities in Africa.
Grassroots Activities
Denver, Colorado Southern California
Central Pennsylvania Wichita, Kansas DC/Baltimore
2,032 grassroots participants 359 self-initiated campaigns
BLOOD:WATER MISSION CAMPAIGNs
Dallas, Ft. Worth, TX
Nashville, TN
Water Walks Ride:Well Tour 40 Days of Water Filters for Families Two Weeks of Sacrifice Back to School
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“I had never experienced mission and adventure combined so flawlessly into one trip. Finishing each day physically exhausted becomes frustrating. In this frustration, turning to God and trusting that these means will justify the end has grown me more than I could have ever hoped.”
WATER:WALKs
Jacob Childerson, Ride:Well cyclist The Ride:Well Tour is a cross-country bike ride that raises funds and awareness for Blood:Water Mission’s clean water and HIV/AIDS projects in sub-Saharan Africa. To facilitate the tour, Blood:Water Mission partnered with Venture Expeditions, an organization that empowers people to benefit the world and discover their souls through adventure-driven humanitarian efforts.
$106,291
AMOUNT RAISED:
From Dallas to Chicago, Phoenix to Nashville, Blood:Water Mission supporters have had the opportunity to literally walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. These water walks have offered advocates an invitation to take part in one mile walks to collect water in their own cities. These walks are based on the recognition that every day thousands of young Africans must walk several miles just for access to water. Churches, schools and families have rallied their communities to bring awareness to the African water crisis. However small this gesture may be, for many it has been a galvanizing and implicating experience, bringing our understanding of our neighbor one mile closer and our love, perhaps, one mile stronger.
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PARTICIPANTS: MILES RODE:
19 cyclists
3,200
COMMUNITIES SERVED: Marsabit, Kenya
FILTERS FOR FAMILIES Over the Lenten season, participants gave up all beverages besides water for 40 days in order to provide clean water for communities in Africa. By saving the money they would have spent and donating it to Blood:Water Mission, they were able to provide this basic resource to families in Africa.
AMOUNT RAISED: PARTICIPANTS:
$58,922 240
COMMUNITIES SERVED:
Uganda Over the Lenten season, participants gave up all beverages besides
“I had a great communication tool to engage friends with the issue - while out at restaurants of meetings and asked about what to drink, I had a great entry into conversation about the clean water crisis in Africa. I also learned about endurance and keeping focused on a long-term goal - 40 days is a long time to keep up momentum and care the same (if not more)on the 35th day than on the 2nd day.�
water for 40 days in order to provide clean water for communities in Africa. By saving the money they would have spent and donating it to Blood:Water Mission, they were able to provide this basic resource to families in Africa.
AMOUNT RAISED: PARTICIPANTS: FILTERS FUNDED:
$139,400 773 1,640
COMMUNITIES SERVED:
Ndola & Lusaka Regions in Zambia
40 Days Participant
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2009 FINANCIALS
Revenue
A Message To Our Supporters From Treasurer, Lon Cherry : Blood:Water Mission faced a challenging year in 2009 along with all other non-profit organizations. The recession seemed to hit everyone on some level. However, we are truly grateful to our dedicated supporters and partners who continued helping and giving of their resources, enabling us to continue this important work of building partnerships and programs with our friends in Africa. Overall, continued thoughtfulness from individuals and creativity through grassroots campaigns helped us reach $2.1 million in total contributions for the year. With integrity and responsibility as two of our core values, we strive to be ever mindful of our mission, donors and partners. We endeavor to be good stewards of our funds and are pleased to report that 78% of our revenue went to support programs. While we were forced to make some difficult decisions to cut funding in this economic climate, we were still able to fund 220 projects with six partners in six countries. Throughout 2009, we supported water projects with over $1.5 million, the launch of the Marsabit clinic with $150,000 and a campaign in Nairobi to encourage HIV/AIDS testing with over $20,000. As we look to the future, we continue to set high standards for effectiveness, accountability and action. We are excited about the addition of our Development Manager, who will create and implement a development plan that engages new donors and communicates regularly the impact they are having through their generosity. We also added the position of Director of US Programs in 2009 for the purpose of building awareness of, excitement for, and involvement in our mission in the US. An exciting milestone will be reached in 2010 as we near the completion of the 1000 Wells Project. Thank you for joining us in this journey, for trusting us with your resources, and for giving of your time and creative efforts to advocate for such a worthy cause. Your commitment inspires us and allows us to make tremendous strides in our mission to empower communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa. With utmost gratitude,
$1,000,000 $973,635
$750,000 $695,980
$500,000
$250,000
$258,560 $156,384 $62,215
$0 Individuals
Corp/Foundation
Churches
Grassroots/Campaigns Concerts
Expenses
$279,630 $315,236
Program (78.4%) Fundraising (11.4%) General & Administrative (10.2%)
$2,163,219
Lon Cherry, Treasurer
Blood:Water Mission is committed to the highest standards of financial accountability. We adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and undergo an annual, outside audit. Please feel free to visit our website for more financial information and consolidated statements: http://www.bloodwatermission.com/about-us . 29
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rich Hoops, Board Chairman, Private Consultant Lon Cherry, Board Treasurer, Zander Insurance Group M. Collin Brown, Board Secretary, MedStar Health, Inc. Reagan Demas, Baker & McKenzie Steve Garber, The Washington Institute Cosma Gatere, The World Bank Brad Gibson, Ascend Advisory Group Dan Haseltine, Founder, Jars of Clay Clydette Powell, MD, MPH, United States Agency for International Development Moses Pulei, Whitworth University Joel Wickre, Management Sciences for Health
SPECIAL THANKS The Pritchett Family Foundation The Davison Bruce Foundation Thomas Nelson Publishers Active:Water Venture Expeditions Capital Idea Ventures Anonymous Foundation
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