As the body of Christ, we are called to use our gifts to further His kingdom. At Water Mission, this means fighting the global water crisis that steals more than 800,000 lives each year. This crisis is enormous and urgent, so Water Mission is eager to find skilled professionals who are passionate about bringing safe and Living Water to our global neighbors. We’re looking for hard-working, purpose-driven people to join our team who:  

• Have a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Embody our values of love, excellence, and integrity.
• Are flexible, entrepreneurial, and collaborative.
• Want to change the world as part of a best-in-class Christian engineering nonprofit.

As the body of Christ, we are called to use our gifts to further His kingdom. At Water Mission, this means fighting the global water crisis and sharing God’s love. 

We are excited to see who the Lord calls to serve with us. If you are interested in serving with us, visit watermission.org/careers. 

join the team

The post Join the Water Mission Team appeared first on Water Mission.

Last year, Water Mission launched a new, independent nonprofit, the Global Water Center. The Global Water Center’s purpose is to end the global water crisis by convening, training, and resourcing organizations and governments around global strategies and standards for safe water projects. 

In its first year, the Global Water Center deployed the Mobile Discovery Center to raise awareness and create advocates in cities around the United States through immersive, interactive activities. The traveling exhibit made 10 stops across the country, opening its doors to visitors in eight states within its first six months. 

The Global Water Center also launched a virtual learning platform this year to share best practices on a global scale with other safe water implementors.  

Finally, the Global Water Center began moving forward with developing a remote monitoring platform to serve the entire safe water, sanitation, and hygiene sector. Once completed, this platform will support accountability by allowing real-time remote access to safe water production.

Many partners enabled these successes, including Kohler, OxyChem, The Rockstad Foundation, and Seacoast Church. Water Mission was honored to support our collective mission by collaborating on events, marketing, and visuals. This year, we transferred all remaining restricted contributions for the Global Water Center to manage independently. This important step is noted in our 2021 Financials.

To learn more about the Global Water Center, please visit globalwatercenter.org. 

Give today

The post Global Water Center Update appeared first on Water Mission.

Water Mission is dedicated to developing and implementing best-in-class safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions. This innovation is about more than developing stand-alone technologies or solutions. It’s also about innovating for continuous improvement, including collaborating within the sector to end the global water crisis. 

In 2021, in collaboration with UNICEF, Water Mission’s Innovation and Engineering Department continued to support a significant investment in training through the West Central Africa Region (WCAR) Solar Hub. Launched in 2020, the WCAR Solar Hub provides free technical support for any organization working on solar-powered water systems in the region. The ultimate goal is to scale sustainable, safe water production.  

To date, the WCAR Solar Hub has: 

• Responded to more than 75 support requests.
  
• Made more than 330 contacts from 90 UN agencies, NGOs, private sector organizations, and government offices in the region.   
  
• Conducted in-person workshops in Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, and Mauritania for nearly 130 participants.  
• Conducted virtual classes in English and French on “Principles and Practices of Solar Powered Water Systems.” 

The impact of innovation expands when it is shared through training. As a part of the WCAR Solar Hub initiative, Water Mission engineers conducted in-person trainings for regional WASH implementers. The workshops included training on solar-powered pumping design and installation in the region.   

Our work through the WCAR Solar Hub expands on our collaboration with UNICEF that started in 2020 when we published “Solar Powered Water Systems Design and Installation Guide.” This first-of-its-kind resource provides detailed instruction for fulfilling the internationally recognized technical standards for implementing solar-powered water systems in rural contexts. It is available in English, Spanish, and French and hosted by the Global Water Center. With published standards and accessible training, we are equipping implementers to end the global water crisis. 

As we look to the future, we hope to scale our WCAR Solar Hub efforts as we recognize that implementing sustainable projects starts with education and training. This is a great example of the power of collaboration, which is a crucial part of ending the global water crisis. Our team is grateful to be a leader in this innovative partnership with UNICEF. 

Give today

The post The West Central Africa Region Solar Hub appeared first on Water Mission.

Around the world, 2.2 billion people lack access to safe water. The global water crisis claims the lives of more than 800,000 men, women, and children each year. Parents struggle to lift their families out of poverty when so many hours are spent collecting water that is often contaminated. Boys and girls are too sick to attend school because of drinking unsafe water. Healthcare facilities and schools cannot serve their communities well when proper hygiene and sanitation are simply beyond reach.

Access to safe water can change lives, building health and hope. It can create educational and economic opportunities that help break the cycle of poverty in families and communities. Water Mission’s vision is that all people have safe water and an opportunity to experience God’s love. 

This World Water Day, we invite you to come alongside us in celebrating the transformation taking place in communities that now have access to clean, safe water.  

Lucy is a mother and grandmother in Morpus, Kenya. Raising her children without access to safe water was dangerous—at times, even deadly. But her grandchildren will grow up with the transformative benefits of safe water. She says, “When Water Mission came, people did not visit the hospital as often. Kids go to school without a problem. So, life here is good. Life has changed completely.” 

Yabes is a farmer and father of four in Oenoni 2, Indonesia, who says, “It is extraordinary. Our lives changed after Water Mission came to Oenoni 2, because we no longer had trouble fetching water. Usually, my wife or my children took turns to fetch water for daily needs, but now we can use our time to work, and my children can study and also play.” 

Juliet, a mother of three in Ikonia, Uganda, told us, “Ever since we had this safe water, we have never gone to the taps and it’s not running. It is also very convenient to fetch. Can you imagine? Anytime I want to get safe water, I just knock at the tap operator’s door, and she gladly opens the tap for me!” 

Friends like you enable Water Mission to save lives and create lasting change for people like Lucy, Yabes, and Juliet. Learn more about Water Mission’s best-in-class safe water solutions and how you can join us in serving men, women, and children around the world.  

GET INVOLVED

The post 2022 World Water Day:  Clean, Safe Water Changes Lives  appeared first on Water Mission.

Water Mission was honored to serve more than 1.4 million men, women, and children in 2021. 

Because of partners like you who have come alongside us, more than 1 million people have access to safe water. In addition, 30,000 people received sanitation solutions, such as latrines at home, in their medical facilities, or at school. More than 90,000 people are benefitting from the health and protection that comes from hygiene solutions like handwashing stations and community training. With your help, we’ve also served more than 265,000 survivors of 10 disasters around the world. Throughout all our work as a safe water charity, we were committed to showing God’s love to those in need. 

Every individual who gains access to safe water represents a victory in the fight against the global water crisis. They also are examples of God’s faithfulness and love, as you can see in the people and communities highlighted below. 

Improving Health Conditions for Patients, Healthcare Workers, and Communities 

Providing safe water to healthcare clinics is an ongoing priority for Water Mission. Mothers and their newborn babies in Chiwe, Malawi, were among those who benefited from a Water Mission safe water solution in their local healthcare center. It enabled expectant moms to deliver their babies close to home instead of traveling miles away while in labor. Read more here. 

Supporting Children and Their Families 

Of course, children need access to safe water well beyond infancy. For many years in Kavingoni Yeemulwa, Kenya, school-aged children missed classes and couldn’t keep up with their education due to the time spent collecting water. Unfortunately, this water was contaminated water and often made the kids too sick to attend school. Then Water Mission installed a safe water solution with seven water access points, including at the local school. The project serves 2,700 people and helps to keep children and their families healthy. Read more here.   

Safeguarding Community Members 

In Mexico, the families of Francisco Madero faced similar problems to those in Kavingoni Yeemulwa. One couple, Hipolito and Martha Avila, saw firsthand the negative impact of using contaminated water. This was especially true for the most vulnerable community members, the elderly and children—including Hipolito and Martha’s children. The sustainable safe water solution Water Mission and our partner Iglesia Solo Cristo Salva y Sana (Only Christ Heals and Saves Church) installed has given new life to this community, serving more than 1,500 people. Read more here. 

Strengthening Safe Water Systems After Natural Disaster 

On top of the everyday challenges of accessing clean, safe water, communities throughout the Bahamas experienced massive flooding and destruction after 2019’s Hurricane Dorian. At the time, Water Mission installed four reverse osmosis (RO) systems, designed by Parker Hannifin, to meet the dire need for safe water. In 2021, we installed a fifth RO system at Rand Memorial Hospital, the country’s second-largest public health facility, meeting the dire need for healthcare workers to access safe water. These RO systems, installed above flood level and able to purify salty water, ensure that clean, safe water is available even in the event of another natural disaster. Read more here. 

Disaster Response Following Artic Storms in Texas 

When winter storms swept across Texas in February, record-shattering cold temperatures caused pipes to freeze, leaving half the population without access to safe water. Water Mission sent skilled volunteer plumbers and provided emergency plumbing supplies to restore safe water access in the homes of vulnerable homeowners like Anna Margaret, a single mother. Read more here.  

Recovering and Healing 

Recovering in the aftermath of a traumatic event is about physical survival—and also about emotional and spiritual healing. Refugees, especially those escaping war-torn areas, need this healing. To assist the many people pouring into a large refugee settlement in Uganda, Water Mission partnered with local pastors and church leaders. These faith leaders were trained as biblical trauma healing facilitators who can effectively counsel and encourage those in their communities, helping refugees and other community members hope again. Read more here. 

Hope for the Future 

Where would we be without the hope of Christ to guide us? The hope of the Living Water, Jesus Christ, guided our work in 2021. Please join us in praying for the 2.2 billion people still awaiting safe water. There is more to be done, and we look to God’s providence to guide us in this continuing journey. 

 Pray with Us 

The post 2021 Snapshot: Serving 1.4 Million People with Safe Water and More  appeared first on Water Mission.

“I was more than determined to make a difference…. With determination, hard work, and prayer, only the sky is the limit.” 

—Susan Kasemire, Water Mission WASH Engineer, Uganda 

Water Mission is proud to celebrate the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science again this year.  

The women on Water Mission’s engineering team at our headquarters in North Charleston, SC, and around the world work hard each day to show God’s love and improve the world with their expertise and creativity. Their work helps provide access to clean, safe water for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. 

Many women and girls walk more than three miles each day to collect water. Unfortunately, the water they collect is often contaminated. This unsafe water causes illness, limiting girls’ educational opportunities and women’s economic opportunities. With access to safe water, however, the health of entire communities improves. That’s why Water Mission has served more than 7 million men, women, and children in 57 countries. When we build safe water solutions, communities witness Water Mission and their local church working together in the name of the Lord.

Susan Kasemire is one of Water Mission’s skilled WASH engineers located in our Uganda country office. In honor of the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we interviewed Kasemire. Read on to hear about her experiences working with a safe water charity as a WASH engineer, as well as her advice for girls considering a similar path. 

 Q: Tell us about your role at Water Mission? 

Susan Kasemire: I am a WASH Engineer in Water Mission’s Uganda program. I carry out assessments and designs and supervise projects under implementation. I also have expertise in hand pump repairs and rehabilitation, as well as operation and maintenance of solar-powered systems. 

Q: How did you get into this field? 

Kasemire: Growing up, I always loved challenging myself. Being in an environment where females were less interested in pursuing science fields, I was more than determined to make a difference. I wanted to do what was considered difficult and prove to all that, with determination, hard work, and prayer, only the sky is the limit. 

Q: What drew you to Water Mission?  

Kasemire: I had an opportunity to do my industrial training with Water Mission Uganda in 2015. I was so shocked to find a welcoming, God-fearing, hardworking team, as this was never the case in my previous internship placements. It was during this training period that I knew exactly who and where I wanted to be-not just an engineer but an engineer who is driven by God’s guidance. What makes Water Mission unique is the fact that God drives its mission.  

Q: Is there a meaningful memory you’d like to share? 

Kasemire: Kisima Island is one community whose memory will forever be fresh. This island did not have access to safe water the first time I was there. The residents were so welcoming and happy about the idea of safe and clean water. Water Mission was able to serve this island, and the joy it brought to the community is still evident today. 

Q: Do you have any advice for young women considering a similar career? 

Kasemire: My message to all young women is: Please don’t give up. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It is possible and achievable. Believe in yourself and, above all, put your trust in God. 

“I knew exactly who and where I wanted to be—not just an engineer but an engineer who is driven by God’s guidance.” 

—Susan Kasemire, Water Mission WASH Engineer, Uganda 

Are you interested in learning more about the global water crisis and how Kasemire and the Water Mission team serve our global neighbors? Visit watermission.org/get-involved or follow us on social media at @water_mission on Twitter and Instagram or @WaterMissions on Facebook.  

With your partnership, Water Mission can bring safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to more people around the world.

 Get Involved 

The post 2022 UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science appeared first on Water Mission.

This February, the world is preparing for the 2022 Winter Olympics, when citizens will unite around their home counties. As we cheer for the teams representing us in Beijing during the XXIV Olympics, we’re reminded of a team from last year’s Tokyo Olympic Games that didn’t fit the mold. A global audience witnessed resilience in action as a group of athletes competed on behalf of the global refugee community.  

Representing Refugees on the World Stage 

When the Refugee Olympic Team walked out during the opening ceremonies, they didn’t represent a country. They were in Tokyo competing on behalf of the 84 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, people are often displaced because of persecution, violence, natural disasters, and human rights violations.  

“This will be a symbol of hope for all refugees in the world and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis,” stated International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach when he announced the first Refugee Olympic Team in 2015. 

The team made its debut at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. That year, only 10 athletes qualified. This past summer, the size of the team nearly tripled, with 29 refugee athletes participating in 12 different sports. 

While we may not know the individual stories of each athlete, we can assume that, as refugees, many have endured trauma in their lifetime. With the number of displaced people increasing as the years pass, it is important people understand the crisis unfolding before them. 

Water Mission has provided safe water solutions while sharing God’s love in refugee camps for years. Our teams actively serve refugees in east Africa with access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions.  

Serving in Uganda Refugee Settlements 

Rhino Camp and Bidibidi are two refugee settlements in Uganda that have welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing South Sudan.  

“Before coming [to Bidibidi], I lost my child and my husband,” said Mary Yangi, a South Sudanese refugee living in Bidibidi. “After my husband died, I asked myself, ‘From here, what do I do?’ I had to be strong in my faith so I could manage.”  

When Rhino Camp and Bidibidi struggled to provide reliable access to safe water for those fleeing South Sudan and other nations, Water Mission stepped in to provide WASH solutions. 

“When we joined the settlement, there were a lot of challenges,” Mary said. “There was no water, but Water Mission has done great things. They have supplied the community with enough water, hygiene, and trauma healing.” 

Out of the 29 athletes on the Refugee Olympic Team, four also fled war-torn South Sudan, just like Mary. The opportunity to witness their strength and resilience as they competed on the world stage offered a glimmer of hope, all while raising awareness about the ongoing refugee crisis. 

Biblical Trauma Healing and Overcoming Adversity 

When we build safe water solutions as a water charity, we also open doors to sharing the Living Water message of Jesus Christ. Bible-based trauma healing is one way we do this, helping people forgive, reconciling conflicts, and providing support and compassion to trauma victims. 

“We’re able to share the Living Water message with people that have seen loved ones killed and are struggling with day-to-day life,” said Doug Lawson, Water Mission’s regional director of Kenya and Uganda programs. 

This program is just one of the incredible ways Water Mission shares the gospel with the communities they serve.  

There is a deep connection between those on the Refugee Olympic Team and the tens of millions still displaced from their homes. The athletes’ participation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games offered the world a glimpse into what overcoming adversity looks like while putting the global refugee crisis on the map.  

While you celebrate your home team during the XXIV Winter Olympic Games, we hope you’ll also pray for the refugees we serve. You might also consider how you might empower these communities with access to safe and Living Water. 

GIVE SAFE WATER

The post Refugee Olympic Team Captures Hearts, Raises Awareness  appeared first on Water Mission.

This year, Water Mission celebrates the 20th anniversary of our official founding. Over the past two decades, the Lord has worked powerfully through a talented global team and our passionate partners. Together, we have served more than 7 million men, women, and children over the last 20 years. 

Throughout the last two decades, we have been recognized as a leader in safe water solutions for underserved communities. For example, the International Organization for Migration’s audit of water projects in Northern Uganda serving South Sudanese refugees reported: 

“Water Mission stands out as the NGO with enough in-house expertise to independently design O&M [operate and maintain] solar water schemes and are also the only ones chlorinating water in all of their solar schemes.”  

One reason we have become trusted as an implementer is because of our dedication to integrity, which we show through accountability. This can be a challenge for nonprofits because, unlike in a for-profit model, those who fund the work do not receive the service. As such, nonprofits must be intentional about developing accountability for their solutions. At Water Mission, we know we are accountable to those we serve, to friends who come alongside us with support and prayer, and most importantly to God. As Scripture says: 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” 

—Colossians 3:23-24 

We develop and implement our remote monitoring technology to intentionally weave accountability throughout all we do. With it, we can evaluate any project around the world in real-time, based on:  

• Daily water production: Is the system working? 
• Water quality: Is the water safe to consume? 
• Aquifer levels: Are we depleting the groundwater? 
• Water pressure: Are systems pressurized and delivering the expected flow rates? 

The information gathered helps hold our organization accountable to our vision, mission, and values. It helps us ensure that your gifts and support of our ministry are used effectively. 

It also allows a swift response when service needs from crises unexpectedly arise, as they did in Honduras after Hurricanes Eta and Iota caused widespread devastation. Because our remote monitoring systems use satellite communication, we knew which systems were down and prioritized sending staff into the 20 impacted communities. 

We are grateful for the dedicated supporters who enable us to serve with integrity, building safe water solutions that transform lives. 

give now 

The post Integrity through Accountability  appeared first on Water Mission.

Since 2001, supporters like you have helped Water Mission serve more than 7 million people across 57 countries with lasting safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions. More importantly, the Living Water message has brought hope and transformed lives around the world. The following timeline highlights key milestones of the Water Mission story you have helped make possible.

The post 20 Years of Transforming Lives appeared first on Water Mission.

Prior to 2015, Western Tanzania’s Nyarugusu refugee camp was home to approximately 65,000 refugees from Democratic Republic of the Congo. The original water systems, installed decades prior, only offered intermittent access to treated water. Then, between the spring and fall of 2015, more than 100,000 refugees arrived after escaping violence in Burundi. This influx put an incredible strain on the aging infrastructure, and safe water was the greatest need.

A humanitarian nightmare unfolded, prompting Water Mission to deploy 10 emergency water treatment systems in September 2015. These systems met the daily safe water needs of an estimated 50,000 refugees.

A year into the emergency relief operation, we received a grant from the Grundfos Foundation to install solar-powered pumping solutions to serve the entire camp. Today, these provide safe water to every man, woman, and child at the camp.

In March 2021, six years after this groundbreaking relief effort, some of the original equipment returned to Water Mission’s headquarters. During our annual Strategic Partners Event, we returned this best-in-class equipment to our partners.

This equipment served tens of thousands of people every day for years in Western Tanzania. It was part of a project that involved sourcing raw, highly contaminated water from the Kaga River, treating the water, and distributing it throughout Nyarugusu refugee camp.

Thanks to our faithful partners, lifegiving safe water continues to flow for hundreds of thousands of refugees in Western Tanzania. We thank these corporate partners for their dedication to quality. They allowed us to respond with safe water solutions in one of the most challenging environments in the world.

GIVE SAFE WATER

The post Home from Nyarugusu appeared first on Water Mission.