http://www.sapwii.org/blog Wed, 30 May 2007 19:53:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 en Miracle of Nayakarahalli http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/11/23/miracle-of-nayakarahalli/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/11/23/miracle-of-nayakarahalli/#comments Thu, 23 Nov 2006 18:36:00 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/miracle-of-nayakarahalli/ We heard an incredible story at Nayakarahalli.  The village was without power for five days so the water could not be pumped out of the bore well.  They were forced to use the pond water for drinking purposes (we won’t go into details, but trust us that NO ONE would want to drink from this source!).  The villagers filtered the pond water before drinking it and were amazed when they did not get sick.  They are completely sold on the filters and have been visiting neighboring villages to tell people how wonderful the water filters are.  One woman told us the filter is like God to her.  Incredible

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/11/23/miracle-of-nayakarahalli/feed/ One Year’s Worth of Highlights http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/11/05/one-years-worth-of-highlights/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/11/05/one-years-worth-of-highlights/#comments Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:34:00 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/one-years-worth-of-highlights/ In one year’s time here are just some of the highlights about what has happened with the program:

- A fully operating workshop is humming with activity and employs 10 full time people and approximately 10 subcontractors on an as-needed basis
- Over 1,000 Bio-Sand Water Filters have been manufactured to date
- Over 600 Bio-Sand Water Filters have been installed in homes and/or schools in India
- Mike and Cathy have made 26 presentations to various groups including Rotary clubs in the United States and India, Engineers Without Borders, a high school, a church, a retirement community, and an in-depth interview for a public access television show
- A Rotary matching grant has been obtained by the Rotary clubs of Kolar India and Hamden Connecticut USA for the purchase a delivery vehicle and a cement mixer (the funds have arrived and we believe the equipment has been ordered!)
- Three villages have been “adopted” by area Rotary clubs (see details about our adoption programs attached):

- Chilapanahalli - North Haven Rotary Club
- Nayakarahalli - Hamden Rotary Club
- Thippenahalli - New London Rotary Club

- The Adopt-A-Village programs have been wildly popular in India.  Villagers are telling each other about the filters and the gala dedication celebrations receive much publicity from the press.  As a result villages are contacting our program director and offering to pool their limited resources to purchase some filters if others are donated for those in their village that can not afford to purchase them.  It is a variation that we will be developing guidelines for but we are excited to know that local people realize the benefits of the water filters and want them.
- At least two organizations in Connecticut are known to be actively raising funds to try to “adopt” a village.  Several other individuals and organizations have participated in the Adopt a Family and Adopt A Filter programs or made other generous contributions.  Thank you!!
- Two people from other non-profit organizations have visited the Kolar India workshop for hands-on training so they can start similar operations of their own in other areas of India

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/11/05/one-years-worth-of-highlights/feed/ Chilapanahalli Dedication http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/09/17/chilapanahalli-dedication/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/09/17/chilapanahalli-dedication/#comments Sun, 17 Sep 2006 18:31:25 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/chilapanahalli-dedication/ The program went on well. Many political representatives were present at the occassion. People from Chilapanahalli were also present at the program. They were very happy about the filters & gave good feed back to the Nayakarahalli crowd. It was very good program. But unfortunately electricity was not there. We had to carry out the program with a lantern. Just now I came back home from Nayakarahalli. Now, I’m driving to Bangalore.

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/09/17/chilapanahalli-dedication/feed/ First Batch of 40 Filters Sent toNayakrahalli http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/09/16/18/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/09/16/18/#comments Sat, 16 Sep 2006 18:28:11 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/18/ Here goes the first set of snaps for Nayakarahalli project. The first batch of 40 filters are sent ot Nayakrahalli. The invitation cards are printed & are being distributed. Looking forward for a grand function tomorrow but one thing that bothers me is both your presence. You both are showing so much concern for these villagers & working hard for their good health..I’m feeling very proud for both of you. We are very eager to receive you all here.

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/09/16/18/feed/ Kick Off of First “Adopt A Village” Program http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/06/12/kikc-off-of-first-adopt-a-village-program/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/06/12/kikc-off-of-first-adopt-a-village-program/#comments Mon, 12 Jun 2006 18:24:29 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/kikc-off-of-first-adopt-a-village-program/ On Wednesday we went to the village of Chilapanahalli to kick off the first “Adopt A Village” program that was sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Haven.  This includes a donation of 50 water filters to the neediest families.  It also includes a paid community steward who lives in the village and is trained as a Bio Sand water filter technician who will help the families with the filter operations for one year.  It also includes a donation of water filters for the school and the child center, a bar of soap for each student, and education about basic sanitation issues.

Chilapanahalli was selected by a government rural development officer, Ibrahim Padbidri, as one of the neediest villages in the area.  The BPL (below poverty level) in India is 11,000 rupees a year (approximately $240).  More than ¾ of these village families live on half that amount per year!

It was truly a gala event. 

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/06/12/kikc-off-of-first-adopt-a-village-program/feed/ Rotary District 7980 Conference http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/05/09/rotary-district-7980-conference/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/05/09/rotary-district-7980-conference/#comments Tue, 09 May 2006 18:21:06 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/rotary-district-7980-conference/ I attended our Rotary District 7980 conference this past weekend that was held in Cape Cod Massachusetts (about a 3 hour drive from where we live).  It was a fabulous weekend and the water filter project got some incredible recognition.

I set up a display table with pictures of the workshop and the filters and had some flyers and brochures that people could take away with them.  The display was available for people to see all weekend long (Thursday through Sunday).  On Saturday morning I was given 20 minutes to speak to the group about the project and I brought a power point presentation with me so people could see pictures of India and the workshop operations.  I was incredibly moved when the group as a whole stood up and clapped after I was finished.  There were several more presentations made after mine that all dealt with projects in countries outside of the United States.  At the end of that series of presentations they gave out an award for the best International project in the district this year and the Bio-Sand Water Filter Project in Kolar won that distinction.  I was called to the podium where a youth exchange student from Bombay (who attends boarding school in Bangalore) thanked us for helping people in her country and helped to present the award.  Once again the Rotarians stood and clapped and I was moved to tears.  It was very emotional for me and an experience I will never forget.  I just wish you and Mike had been there to share that with me.

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/05/09/rotary-district-7980-conference/feed/ Visited Kyasamballi Villages http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/05/03/visited-kyasamballi-villages/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/05/03/visited-kyasamballi-villages/#comments Wed, 03 May 2006 18:13:23 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/visited-kyasamballi-villages/ On Tuesday we visited a village called Kyasamballi, which is home to the Rotary Club of Kolar president Venkatesh.  We were hosted by a village leader named Ranga Reddy whose father was the first chief minister of Karnataka, the state’s highest office.  The family home was built around 1880.  It had 6 inch carved teak doors and an inner courtyard.  At one time more than 40 extended family members lived in the house.  We toured the village schools and water supply.

There is a section of the village that is very poor, populated by “scheduled castes”, who are people that are on the lowest rung of the social ladder.  Their huts had burned down in a fire about five years ago and the government built them concrete replacement homes. We toured the area and Venkatesh has agreed to purchase 15 filters for some of the villagers from this section.  We agreed to donate 10 filters using contributions we received that were designated for that purpose.  The village is hosting a health “camp” or awareness day on Monday and we will attend and bring the 25 filters at that time.

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/05/03/visited-kyasamballi-villages/feed/ India Activities http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/20/india-activities/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/20/india-activities/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2006 18:18:41 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/india-activities/ India activities:

- As of January 25th – 33 clean water filters had been installed, 45 filters were ready for delivery, 35 filters were being painted, and 100 filters were in the curing stage.  We are awaiting updated production statistics for February.

- The Kolar workshop now has ten filter molds in use.  Ten molds have a capacity to produce 50-60 filters per week.

- A display area has been created in the Kolar Workshop including two banners (English and Kanada), demonstration filters, two sign boards: one with technical explanation of filters and second with photos of household installations and workshop operations.

- Local doctors and teachers have shown an interest in the Bio-sand water filters.  Filters have been sold to a general medical clinic, an eye hospital, and two to a renowned high school.  More orders are being taken for similar sites.

- The Managing Director and some of the crew attended a local tradeshow in India, and took orders for 50 filters.  The government has also requested 200 filters for hostels where youths live.  The crew also attended a ten day state level industry exhibition that ended on February 14th and took orders for 75 filters.  They won an award for the best display at the exhibition.

- All workshop efforts are now being focused on washing the sand and gravel and delivering and installing the filters that have been ordered.

- There are now twelve employees at the workshop!

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/20/india-activities/feed/ Stream of Visitors to the Workshop http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/12/stream-of-visitors-to-the-workshop/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/12/stream-of-visitors-to-the-workshop/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2006 18:42:23 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/stream-of-visitors-to-the-workshop/ There has been a stream of visitors to the workshop for a whole variety of reasons.  On 1/5 Rotarian Keith Wescovich from the Rotary Club of Old Saybrook visited to explore the possibility of a future Rotary Matching Grant to provide bio-sand water filters to rural villages.  On 1/18 Rotarian Jonass Beheer from the Netherlands visited and may conduct a Rotary Matching Grant with a club in Bangalore to provide bio-sand water filters to schools in Rotary District 3120.   On 1/30 Allan Remley from a Canadian NGO visited and on 2/16 Bob Horvath and his wife from the same organization are visiting.  They hope to start a similar project in another part of India.  Many local Rotarians have also visited the Kolar workshop and some Rotary Clubs in India have purchased water filters to donate to schools in their towns.  It is all very exciting for us.

]]> http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/12/stream-of-visitors-to-the-workshop/feed/ Installation at One of the Well Renowned High Schools in Kolar http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/11/installation-at-one-of-the-well-renowned-high-schools-in-kolar/ http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2006/02/11/installation-at-one-of-the-well-renowned-high-schools-in-kolar/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2006 17:20:23 +0000 trw http://www.sapwii.org/blog/2007/04/25/installation-at-one-of-the-well-renowned-high-schools-in-kolar/ Good new is that the local Doctors are appreciating our filters & we have sold 2 filters one for general clinic & other one for an Eye hospital. We are getting more orders from doctors & school teachers. we also have installed two numbers at one of the well renowned school in Kolar named ‘Mahila Samaja High School’.

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