THE SOURCE
L I F E WAT E R N E W S L E T T E R | W I N T E R 2 0 1 7
Loving Across Borders & Cultures IN THIS ISSUE: HOW ONE BOY TURNED WASH PRINCIPLES INTO A SMALL BUSINESS REMEMBERING LIFEWATER FOUNDER BILL ASHE A LOOK BACK AT 2016
A MES SAG E F ROM OU R CEO
“It becomes more than just safe drinking water for a few people; it becomes a miracle in the community.” - W I L L I A M
A. ASHE
Founded in 1977 by William A. Ashe, 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of Lifewater International. Forty years, propelled by the love of Christ, serving more than 2.5 million people across 40 countries with safe water, improved hygiene and better sanitation. This is our call--to love in real, tangible, dusty and dirty
L I F E WAT E R I N T E R NAT IONA L is
a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to effectively serving vulnerable children and families by partnering with underserved communities to overcome water poverty.
V IC E PR E S I DE N T OF PH I L A N T H ROP Y
Christine Zurbach Christine@Lifewater.org
ways. To love like Jesus did. Flesh and blood, arm in arm, reaching across continents to connect loving people like you with the poorest of the poor. And we won’t stop until every child has access to clean water and safe sanitation. As we celebrate the past 40 years, we look ahead to ending the water crisis in the next forty. An exciting challenge awaits! Real progress is underway in Cambodia, Ethiopia and Uganda. This year we anticipate serving 70,000 more people with safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and we’ll be opening three new field offices to help make it happen.
PR E S I DE N T/C E O
Justin Narducci CEO@Lifewater.org
S TAY C ON N E C T E D
75 Zaca Lane Suite 100/110 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 888 LIFE H2O Info@Lifewater.org Lifewater.org LifewaterInternational @Lifewater @LifewaterInternational
We look forward to partnering together in 2017! Thank you for taking part in the miracle of renewal for some of our
L E AV E A L E G AC Y. To speak with someone about including Lifewater in your will or bequests, contact Christine Zurbach. Christine@Lifewater.org
world’s most vulnerable communities. Photography by David Uttley, Jeff Crider and Tyler Wohlford. Paper donated by Spicers Paper. Printing discounted by
Justin Narducci President/CEO Lifewater International
O’Neil Printing.
Lifewater 2016 Impact Bringing safe water to rural villages is the most effective way to eliminate poverty. You have brought water, health, and hope to thousands. Thank you! 2016 LIFEWATER IMPACT: PEOPLE REACHED THROUGH WASH:
66,466
WATER POINTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
138
by end of Q1
ACTIVE WASH FACILITATORS:
HEALTHY HOMES:
364
2,061
LIFEWATER FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT: 2015*
Increased giving allows us to serve more
2016*
people more effectively. We want you to see this financial snapshot in each
REVENUE
$2.8M
$3.5M
25%
E X PE NS E S
$2.7M
$3.2M
19%
quarterly newsletter, because this work would not happen without you.
*All numbers are preliminary through December 31, 2016.
“The words that were taught by the Lifewater staff, we knew they were good things... since we began believing in God, we are changed people.” - SARAH, UGANDA
Sarah lives with her family in the tiny village of Kigooto, Uganda. Through a sanitation project led by a local Lifewater team, Sarah heard the Gospel for the first time.
A BOY WHO BUILDS How Gideon turned WASH principles into a small business
AN UNLIKELY ENTREPRENEUR SAVES THE DAY
in the Kaliro District of eastern Uganda, but many
Last year, eleven-year-old Gideon’s family and
helping establish a WASH Club. The club is
neighbors in Bukunya struggled with frequent
comprised of students who put their talents to
illnesses. He would miss school or his mother and
work to spread the news peer-to-peer about healthy
father would lose days of work on their small family
WASH behaviors.
farm because they were sick or caring for others. Many of these illnesses were due to Bukunya’s lack of access to safe water, sanitation, and knowledge of healthy hygiene behaviors (WASH). Most days, Gideon was able to attend school in his community
children were not as fortunate. Then an investor came along. Lifewater began working in Gideon’s school, Nawaikoke Primary,
Gideon learned a lot. He learned about the importance of using a latrine, washing his hands with soap, and keeping dishes clean. He brought this knowledge home to his family and quickly persuaded them all to try these new habits. His
mother saw immediate improvements and
Once Gideon’s family received a Healthy Home
became a WASH Facilitator in their community
certification, the neighbors followed suit, hiring
and began teaching her neighbors about
Gideon to build their tippy-taps and drying racks as
sanitation and hygiene.
well. Now he has a small business doing this for his entire community. This young entrepreneur walks
Gideon learned how to build a latrine cover, a dish
with an air of confidence that comes from a job well
drying rack, and a tippy-tap – a simple, low-cost
done and a hopeful future.
handwashing device that uses very little water. He built all of these for his family.
He built them really well. So well, in fact, that his neighbors noticed his workmanship.
The investment in Gideon and his community will pay dividends for years to come. As for Gideon’s dividends for his business? “He buys books and supplies for school,” says his mother.
STAY UP TO DATE ON THE WORK IN KALIRO BY VISITING LIFEWATER.ORG/KALIRO
Gideon hard at work building a tippy-tap for a local family in Kaliro, Uganda.
REACHING MORE Your generous partnership helped make 2016 a breakthrough year.
Kaliro, Uganda field office opens to serve 30,000 people Volunteers and staff train Kaliro field team in Healthy Home curriculum Volunteer team trains Lifewater West Arsi staff in Ethiopia
First-ever field office in Cambodia opens to serve 30,000 people 16 climbers reach summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise $100,000+ for Ethiopia
First water point completed in West Arsi Program
Blue Tie Gala raises $220,000 to serve 30+ villages with safe water
January
February
March
April
First 100 Healthy Homes certified in Ethiopia
May
June
OF OUR WORLD New Bensa, Ethiopia program launches to serve 50,000 people
Brand-new Lifewater.org website is live
300+ attend first Lifewater BBQ and Auction, fund seven village water projects
First Baptist Church of Geneva volunteers train Kaliro team for WASH in Schools
First Healthy Home in Svay Leu certified
Lifewater surpasses 1,000 Healthy Home mark Bensa baseline study complete
Svay Leu, Cambodia baseline complete Wheels4Water riders cycle in Chicago and beyond to raise $70,000+ First Healthy Homes in Kaliro certified
July
August
September
Blessed to Be a Blessing campaign
October
November
December
IN MEMORY OF OUR FOUNDER
William A. Ashe
1931 - 2016
Service, Sacrifice, and Safe Water “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” 1 PETER 3:15 ( NIV )
Lifewater founder William (“Bill”) Ashe was a man
Nation. He did so with great love and enjoyed the
known for his sharp mind, creative spirit and above
opportunity to share the reason for the hope he had
all, his deep compassion.
in Jesus Christ.
Fueled with a clear biblical mandate to love his
“It becomes more than just safe drinking water
neighbor as himself, Bill began organizing trips
for a few people,” said Bill of his water projects. “It
in the 1960’s to provide safe water to vulnerable
becomes a miracle in the community.”
children and families in Mexico and the Navajo
Never did he imagine that these humble efforts would grow into Lifewater International, a Christian non-profit organization that would serve more than 2.5 million people across 40 countries in 40 years with safe water, improved hygiene and better sanitation. Lifewater CEO Justin Narducci connected with Bill and his family at a recent reunion in Los Angeles. “He was weak but in good spirits; his mind was still quick and active,” reflects Justin. “During dinner we talked about drill rigs, community strategies, volunteers, and all things Lifewater. He told me stories of crazy ways they would get water out of the ground all those years ago. It would be the last time we talked shop on this side of heaven. I’m going to miss those conversations...even more, I will miss Bill.” Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years (Lorraine), his four children (Anna, Gene, Don and Kevin), his 14 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. From the entire family at Lifewater: Bill, we love you and will miss you. Thank you for modeling what it means to love Christ and to serve Him among the most vulnerable. We will celebrate your life and legacy in our daily work to provide safe and sustainable water to every child – for the glory of God and the good of all people.
WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT BILL ASHE AND THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFEWATER: LIFEWATER.ORG/ABOUT/OUR-STORY
PROGRAM UPDATE: CAMBODIA
180 Healthy Homes and Counting More than 900 people in Svay Leu now have safe water and sanitation
With the help of donors like you, access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene will be provided for nearly 30,000 children and families. Our new program in the Svay Leu district of Cambodia launched last summer and we’re beginning to see success in the villages where we serve.
Throughout most of Cambodia, water is plentiful, but it’s not always clean--particularly in remote regions. In Svay Leu, locals collect fresh water with rain jars during the rainy season. During the dry season, they get their water from man-made ponds and unprotected springs--water that needs to be filtered before use. As part of our efforts to provide a reliable source of water, our teams have constructed
The first Healthy Homes were certified in November
three new ponds where families can collect water
and to date, more than 180 households have received
for washing, latrines and drinking, once filtered with
a Healthy Homes certification. A family is certified
their household ceramic filter.
when they’ve successfully accomplished the goals of using safe water and storing it safely, using a latrine, washing hands, drying dishes safely and keeping a clean compound.
Please pray for our in-country field staff as we continue to build the infrastructure that will help us reach the people of rural Cambodia with water, sanitation and the good news of God’s love.
With an average household of five, that means together we’ve impacted nearly 1,000 people in desperate need of clean water. SEE LIVE PROGRESS OF THE SVAY LEU PROGRAM AT LIFEWATER.ORG/CAMBODIA
BBQ Brings Water to 2,100 People The first-ever Lifewater BBQ drew more than 300 guests and raised enough funds to serve seven villages.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
More than 300 people gathered at the first Lifewater BBQ Fundraising Dinner and Auction on a cloudy coastal California evening this past October. The event was a success, raising enough money to help seven rural communities in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Cambodia get safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene education, changing thousands of lives forever. Hosted at Barrelhouse Brewery in Paso Robles, the event featured a silent auction with dozens of goods and services donated by local businesses. When not bidding or eating, guests had the opportunity to learn more about the world’s water and sanitation crisis and Lifewater’s work to reach the rural poor. Through the generosity of local businesses, the hard work of dozens of volunteers and the contributions of attendees, the BBQ raised more than $90,000, creating a lasting impact for seven remote communities in Africa and Asia.
Kimberly & Rob
MASTON
THE KARELS GROUP
WANT TO HOST A BBQ/AUCTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY? CONTACT US TODAY TO LEARN MORE.
Lifewater Gatherings 2017 Learn more and RSVP today at Lifewater.org/Events A Lifewater Gathering may be coming to a city near you! Gatherings are casual get togethers where Lifewater supporters and guests can enjoy refreshments, meet Lifewater team members and learn how they can help end the global water and sanitation crisis. Visit lifewater.org/events for details.
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Save a Life Every Month For just $40 each month, you can give a new person a lifetime of clean water, sanitation and hygiene. Twelve months, twelve lives changed forever. You can make it happen. BECOME A WATER HERO AT LIFEWATER.ORG/MONTHLY
Only a Few Spots Left There’s still time to join us this summer for an unforgettable adventure: climb the highest free-standing mountain in the world and bring safe water to those who need it most. LIFEWATER.ORG/KILIMANJARO