Six years ago, two dedicated EHOs visited Peru to help eradicate cholera. Out of this trip, a charity evolved which aims to set up public health services in the developing world. EHJ explains how you can help.

In 1995, David Clapham and Stewart Petrie, both EHOs at that time working for Bradford MDC, visited Peru as part of an EU-sponsored scheme to help eradicate cholera. Their work was initially concerned with larger-scale water treatment and distribution. However, it was clear that many people in the smaller, less formal settlements were in need of environmental health services - particularly safe water - as, tragically, there are still over five million children under the age of five dying each year for lack of safe water. Having decided that they should "do something to help", and with the assistance of Oficina de Asesoria y Consultoria Ambiental (OACA) a Peru-based NGO, the village of Quebrade Verde was selected as a suitable project - small enough for them to complete without help if necessary. There are many broken promises in aid projects and the two men were determined not to let down the villagers. The return flight home was taken up with planning and it was clear that engaging in environmental health work at Quebrade Verde through other organisations would be impossible, so a charity through which the work could go ahead was formed.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?
While the name, "Water for Kids", is a good description of what the charity does, the aim is to do far more than just help communities to obtain safe drinking water for the first time. When Water for Kids was founded, there were many good charities involved in the provision of aid to developing countries. However, none were approaching the problem from the position of environmental health. Some adopted a medical stance, some an engineering stance and others emphasised their religious background. Additionally, some well-known charities are limited geographically or politically; only operating in one area or only dealing with Commonwealth countries, for example. At its formation, Water for Kids stated that its aim was "to preserve and protect the good health of persons in the developing world, particularly, but not exclusively Peru, by assisting in the provision of safe drinking water, good sanitation and other public health measures".

PHILOSOPHY
In terms of aid, the first and most obvious element involved is humanitarian aid - helping communities to develop safe water, sanitation and other public health services. The host community has to want the project, to contribute to the project and to own the project and aid is achieved by working with the local communities and local professionals. The second element is that of education. It is important that the community can sustain the improvement and make full use of any services developed. This involves educating the people and their political leaders (both formal and informal) and the exchange of information with the local professionals. The third element is the assistance in developing a professional association, as a strong profession is essential in the development of environmental health in any country. By acting as an advocate of the people to government and as an interpreter of government legislation to the people, the environmental health practitioner, with the backing of a strong profession, can successfully spread the message of good environmental health practice and so accelerate the provision of much needed services. From the outset, the charity adopted the approach that fund raising should be fun and a charity ball, a five-a-side penalty shoot-out competition, a South American drinks evening and the sale of the now famous Christmas Puddings augmented the more usual raffles and presentations.

DEVELOPMENT
Many EHOs have expressed an interest in the work of the charity. In 1999, Mr Clapham lead the charity's first study tour in the hope that this would allow EHOs to taste development work without having to commit in the long term, although some EHOs were inspired to become more involved. The work of the charity in Peru is now well established and new projects are planned around the town of Pucallpa. Further work with OACA in the Rimac and Lurin valleys is also planned for next year. Increasingly, Water for Kids has been requested to assist with projects in other countries and projects in Ecuador, Tanzania and the Gambia have resulted. Recent aid requests have been received from India, Columbia, Nicaragua, Namibia and Mozambique.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The charity believes strongly in working with communities to help them develop healthy environments in which to live. It also encourages the donor communities to become involved. Rather than just giving the charity money, Water for Kids would like to see more EHOs becoming involved in its projects at some level. In the host community, the charity always works with a committee elected by that community to help them achieve a safe water supply, adequate sanitation, safe food and a better environment in which to live. By listening to the community and reacting to its needs, Water for Kids helps to provide trained community staff to ensure the people understand how to use their new facilities. There is no special training involved, everyone has skills and experience to offer, and the charity tailors the tasks to the most appropriate skills and time available. Projects are by necessity wide-ranging and varied and are managed by a team which includes environmental and public health specialists from the UK and the host community. EHOs can join an overseas project for a week or a year, while many volunteers combine working on a project with a week of relaxation - the Serengeti, Zanzibar, Machupichu and the Galapagos are all within relatively easy reach of one of its projects. Currently Water for Kids projects include: continuing work in the squatter/informal settlements of Peru. New projects are underway in the Andes and a field trip/working party is planned for June 2002; a water system for the village of Sieto Nuevo in Ecuador; and a wide-ranging water, sanitation and health education programme based around the Yombo school in Kiwalani, Zanzibar.

APPEALS
Each year the charity asks people not to send Christmas cards to as many of your colleagues as possible, but to circulate the card in the December issue of EHJ and donate the money collected to Water for Kids. For as little as US$2 it can provide a safe life-long water supply to those in need. It also sells blue ribbons - worn to represent a drop of safe water - to raise awareness and raise funds. It is hoped that Water for Kids will continue to grow and to involve more and more environmental health professionals in work in the developing world. It will continue to do whatever it can to present opportunities to get involved. Perhaps soon, it can welcome you to another country!

A newly-designed EHJ/Water for Kids Christmas card will be distributed with next month's issue. For details of all the opportunities available through the charity, visit the website: www.waterforkids.org Registered charity number 1059901. Contact Stewart Petrie, 187 The Oval, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 4RJ. Tel: 01274 551934 or Fax: 01274 551917.