Global Water Crisis Threatens Food Production
The Global Commission on the Economy of Water (GCEW), based in France, released a 194- page report in October 2024 that indicates that the hydrological cycle is out of balance, due to climate change and decades of mismanagement of our fresh water sources. 

An article, that appeared in DW, a Brazilian media source, provides a summary of the extensive report. 

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Share Your Passion for WASH
Over the last year, the WASH Ambassador program has expanded considerably. We currently have 120 WASH Ambassadors, and our goal is to have at least one WASH Ambassador in each District, so we have a lot of work to do.

Ambassadors are passionate about Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, trusted and respected members in their District who advocate for universal WASH, and are connectors of resources for Rotary Members around the world. 

To learn more and to apply, go to https://www.wash-rag.org/ambassadors/

WASH Ambassador Program
The mission of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group (WASH-RAG) is to support the community-driven development of WASH programs by mobilizing the resources and expertise of Rotary and its partners to implement sustainable programs and projects, empower communities, and advocate for WASH policies.

WASH-RAG Ambassadors are dedicated members who offer their technical expertise and support to help plan  and implement impactful projects locally and globally. It is a corps of knowledgeable members who provide support and promotion of the WASH goals of the WASH Rotary Action Group and The Rotary Foundation, including ensuring the sustainability of WASH Projects and Programs, increasing the impact of WASH-RAG Rotary Action Group, expanding the reach, enhancing participant engagement.

Ambassadors are passionate about Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, trusted and respected members in their District who advocate for universal WASH, and are connectors of resources for Rotarians across the world.

The Ambassador program is strategically expanding to focus on regional operations. This means that the program is being structured into seven regions around the world to better help support the work of Ambassadors and increase the impact of the program. The goal is to have strong committees in all seven regions, thus helping to improve operational and strategic efficiencies, including closer communication, communication in a common language and culture, as well as bringing the program closer to local Rotarians, government agencies, Cadre, nonprofits and other WASH partners.  By developing strong collaborative teams in each of the regions, allows for a greater ability to serve local needs.

To enhance communication between Ambassadors across regions, and to be more inclusive of our regional cultures, resources such as emails, marketing materials, and videos, are being translated into Spanish, French and Portuguese and eventually more languages. Ambassadors also have access to mentoring and development opportunities through a “New Ambassador” orientation sessions and mentorship program, and monthly “Ambassador Conversations”.  A discussion forum is also being developed for Ambassadors to pose questions and receive timely and accurate information and gain perspective and insights. The forum is also a place to communicate about issues that matter to them including sharing experiences, lessons learned, and challenges faced.

How do Ambassadors create more awareness about WASH-RAG and WASH programs?

Ambassadors engage in outreach activities with District Leadership and Clubs and advocating for WASH Programs: This outreach may include: outreach conversations with clubs to understand their challenges and opportunities to increase the formulation and submission of WASH projects; holding District wide quarterly conversations; speaking and engaging at District focussed meetings including your District conference; and engaging with Rotaract/Interact/Alumni by inviting them to present at your clubs.

Ambassadors help educate Rotarians by providing better awareness to Clubs about resources available to them that may include: how to navigate the Rotary grant requirements; providing awareness of the resources available; creating and distributing newsletters targeted at your District or region; and by acting as, and liaising with, the WASH-RAG cadre of experts.

Ambassadors connect Rotarians to resources, and across regions to strengthen regional plans and provide information on cross-club and cross-district collaboration opportunities, thus supporting the building of partnerships and collaborations that will create a network of Rotarians that can help scale WASH projects from local to global communities.

Ambassadors empower Rotarians by supporting them in project development and submission to the Rotary grant programs; by showcasing projects on the website and in newsletters; and by sharing successes, challenges, lessons learned, good practices.

It goes without saying that to increase the WASH impact, there is a need for more passionate advocates to help promote and facilitate meaningful action on WASH programs in global communities.

So why consider becoming an Ambassador?

As a WASH Ambassador one is able to expand the awareness of WASH issues throughout their District. One promotes, facilitates, and advocates for meaningful action on WASH programs at the community, regional and/or national level. Ambassadors offer their technical expertise and support, and help develop and implement impactful projects anywhere in the world. Finally they engage in the
recruitment and development of other Rotarians to become WASH advocates.

If you are passionate about WASH and interested in sharing this passion with other fellow Rotarians in your District and around the world, or you have a technical background /  experience in a field of WASH, and are interested in organizing training sessions / presentations of WASH & WASH-RAG at Rotary Events, then consider applying to become an Ambassador, or encourage others to do so.

To learn more and to apply, go to https://www.wash-rag.org/ambassadors/
 

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Baby WASH
Blessing Muderhwa, a WASH Ambassador and Rotaract member, provided a presentation on Baby WASH an integrated approach to decreasing child mortality in the first 1,000 days of life. The four key components are Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Nutrition, Early Childhood Development, and WASH. 

A key issue was the lack of adequate WASH in Healthcare facilities, which compromises the ability to provide basic services, such as clean childbirth and surgery areas, and the prevention of hospital acquired infections. 
 

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12 Schools in 12 Months
Setting WASH goals for the upcoming year is always a great way to ensure something gets done.

The Rotary Club of Silk City Malda established a goal for the current Rotary year to install handwashing facilities at 12 rural primary schools in West Benegal, India, at a rate of one per month. 

 

The Club has established a standard handwashing model for each of the schools, which makes implementation easier. Each month, three wash basins from a clean water source are installed at a school. The following month, a washing kit is provided and all the children are trained on proper handwashing. The washing kit includes bar soap, liquid hand soap, bleaching powder, and phenyl, a disinfectant and antiseptic.

The club is on schedule to provide wash basins, washing kits, and training to meet their target of one rural primary school a month, during the current Rotary year. They currently plan to exceed their initial goal by installing wash basins at an additional 12 rural schools. 

The club estimates that by the end of the project, up to 9,000 students will have access to handwashing facilities. 
 

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Toilets: A Place for Peace
November 19 is World Toilet Day.

"Safe Toilets for all by 2030" is one of the targets of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SD6)- But the world is seriously off track.

The theme this year is "Toilets: A Place for Peace." This essential space, at the centre of our lives, should be safe and secure. But for billions of people, sanitation is under threat from conflict, climate change, disasters and neglect.

Go to World Toilet Day get resources from the UN. 
 

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Get $$ for Your Global Grant
Our Professional Services Team will review your Global Grant, before it is submitted to The Rotary Foundation, and provide you suggestions on improvements that will increase its chances of being approved by the Foundation.

If you make the changes we suggest and the Grant is approved the WASH Rotary Action Group will provide your Club $2,000 for allowing us the opportunity to review it.

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NEW !!
The WASH Rotary Action Group is very excited to be releasing a location for Rotary and Rotaract Clubs to upload and promote their Global Grant WASH Projects to obtain partners and financing. 

To see the projects submitted or to submit your Club's Global Grant go to WASH Project Center

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Creating Awareness

Monthly, the WASH Ambassadors have a Zoom training program called "Conversations." This month, WASH Ambassador Charlotte Roehm provided an excellent presentation on the resources that are available on WASH in general and WASH-RAG specifically.
 

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