Theme of the Month

Water For Growth And Development

It is estimated that there are still some 5 million South Africans collecting water from streams and rivers. South Africans living a ?developed? world lifestyle have little idea of the back-breaking hours that so many South African women and children spend fetching and carrying water every day for the survival of their families. They are the same hours we spend earning a living while our children are in school getting an education. The lack of convenient access to sufficient water is a cornerstone of the poverty trap, a highly effective barrier to people being able to help themselves and improve their lives. Access to water impacts on every aspect of a person?s life - their health, their opportunities and their human dignity.

Read More about 2006 National Water Week, 20 - 26 March and the UN's World Water Day, 22 March

Click here for Waterwise Tips and Strategies

Our Causes of the Month

Roundabout Playpumps

In remote areas the chore of fetching water usually falls to the women or children. A common sight in rural South Africa is that of water carriers covering large distances in order to fulfill their daily water requirements.

Traditional sources of water collection are from dams, springs, rivers, streams and farm reservoirs, with the introduction of boreholes where these traditional sources of water are unavailable. Until now such boreholes have been operated by handpumps as the use of modern alternatives such as diesel, petrol or electric pumps are costly to install and have the concomitant constant financial burden of fuel and maintenance costs

Now, thanks to a unique South African innovation, clean borehole water is more easily available. The Roundabout PlayPump is a children's merry-go-round that draws groundwater into an overhead tank as children play. The PlayPump can pump water at a rate of up to 1,400 liters per hour, a far higher rate that can be achieved with a hand pump with considerably less effort. PlayPumps are installed in poor, rural communities providing access to free, clean water, and relieving women and children of the burden of fetching and carrying water.

Thanks to its practical, economic, ecological and social viability, the Playpump is a progressive and creative way to provide fresh drinking water to rural communities. To date over six hundred installations have been completed. Each installation costs R55,000.

GreaterGood South Africa's Make Christmas Matter campaign raised R27,000 for Roundabout PlayPumps to erect a Playpump at an Early Childhood Development Educare Centre in rural QwaQwa. In this month of water celebrations we aim to raise the balance. If you would like to make a contribution, please Click Here.

Good Lifestyle Choices

You Make A Good Lifestyle Choice When You Shop At The Good Shop

Kuyasa Homemade Paper Products

The Kuyasa project makes high quality paper products from the thirsty alien Port Jackson Willow and recycled office paper.

These A4 notebooks (210x295mm) contain 30 handsewn pages and are available from the Good Shop at R110,00. Kuyasa Notebooks come in various sizes and range in price from R35,00 to R135,00

This wine cylinder is sturdy and strong and comes complete with a sea grass handle to make it very easy to carry - even when your arms are full with flowers. Priced at just R35.

Experience The Gift

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Wishlists

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa's mission is to promote public participation in caring for the Earth. Its vision is to achieve a South Africa which is wisely managed by all to ensure long-term environmental sustainability. WESSA is a membership-based society and its achievements have been brought about by ordinary South Africans - people who speak out, take action and make a difference every day! You can support our work by taking out a membership for as little as R215 per month. Can you help by subscribing to this Wishlist? Click here

Project Request

Water & Sanitation for Eastern Cape schools
TEBA Developmentadopts an integrated approach to water provision. Rainwater tanks are installed, and boreholes are fitted to pump water into tanks to ensure proper water use. Innovative technology in the form of fog-collector-mistnets is being installed in some areas. Mistnets provide a unique opportunity for clean water provided there is a high frequency of fog and adequate wind. The sanitation system that is being implemented at these rural schools consists of an ECOSAN toilet system (urine diversion system) rather than a conventional pit latrine. Can you help by donating to this Project? Click Here

Volunteer Time Request

Adopt a Beach with WESSA
South Africa has a rich, diverse, but sensitive coastline of more than 3 000 km. This is a huge resource but also a great responsibility in which we should all share. Currently our coast and its resources face several threats due to pollution, poaching, 4x4 vehicles in sensitive areas, inappropriate developments, degradation of estuaries etc. The idea behind the Adopt-a-Beach Programme is to encourage groups of people to adopt or help look after a piece of coast in their region and link with others as part of a national project. Have you got time to volunteer with us and Adopt a Beach? Click Here