Our August Gift - Water@Work Ministry
For most of us, water is something we take for granted in our day to day life. But for hundreds of millions of people around the world, access to clean water can’t be found or is hard to come by.We are excited to partner with Water@Work Ministry to bring life changing access to clean water.
Our August Give – Water at Work Ministry
Water. It’s a necessity for a healthy, clean life. It’s something we have access to multiple places in our home. We never have to step outside (unless we’re watering the grass or plants) to get the water we need. And we certainly don’t have to walk miles with buckets and jugs to get the water we’ll need for the day.
Your donation & support of DollarFund this month will go towards providing clean water to those in need! You are a part of something big and helping change the lives of people in need of water!
When was the last time you had to worry about where to get clean water? Have you ever had to worry about your water supply? For most of us, water is something we take for granted in our day to day life. But for over 700 million people around the world, access to clean water can’t be found or is hard to come by.
Enter Water@Work. It began in 2006 when Tom Flaim visited the Dominican Republic for the first time on a short-term mission trip. As a trained civil engineer working in a water purification business, he knew that access to clean water might be problematic in the rural area where they would be visiting, so he brought a portable filtration unit with him. Tom used the unit to purify water at a cistern that was holding collected rainwater (and presumably a whole host of waterborne diseases). Soon enough, local women and children were lined up with various vessels desperately asking for clean water. After witnessing this great need, Tom felt God call him to use his training and resources to help bring clean water to the most vulnerable communities of this nation. He began setting up water purification systems with local churches in 2008 but discovered that approach would not be sustainable. Based on the idea that the water plants would have to be self-supporting, Water at Work Ministry, Inc. was incorporated in Georgia in 2012. Water@Work’s in-country, non-profit organization, Fundacíon Water Work, was established in the Dominican Republic in 2014.
The Challenge
Almost all water supplies in the Dominican Republic are contaminated and it’s estimated over 1 million people there struggle to obtain clean water. Before Water@Work founder, Tom Flaim, began constructing water plants in 2008, clean water was physically and economically inaccessible to the poorest people, most of whom are Haitian-born and treated as outcasts. Ingestion of contaminated water and poor sanitation leads to interruption of children’s education, significant loss of income, serious illness, and even death.
Water@Work
Water@Work’s Mission: To transform the lives of over one million of the poorest people in the Dominican Republic through clean water distribution plants, business development, and access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How Water@Work’s Model Works
Through ten years of experimentation, collaboration and refinement of our model, we are now able to bring a holistically Christian, economically sustainable, locally led, and technically strong solution to the Dominican Republic’s clean water shortage. Water@Work currently has seven robust water plants operating. Together they are producing an average of 135,000 gallons per month and serving the needs of over 9,000 people.
Holistically Christian
You can trust this mission is founded in faith in Jesus Christ. From the beginning, each person on our staff or board has felt called by God to serve in the mission of clean water and Living Water. Today, every water plant is connected to the local community’s church. Often the pastors are the plant managers. Additionally, all profits are used by the church to reach more people with the Gospel.
- Clean water to Living Water is the foundational mission.
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Every water plant is connected to a church.
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Plant profits fund gospel outreach.
Technologically Strong
You may think a mission of clean water and Living Water is great but wonder about the quality of technology used. Because of generous givers and an excellence-focused staff, each water plant is built with state-of-the-art water purification technology, including reverse osmosis systems, to consistently produce clean, safe water. Each plant is certified by the Ministry of Public Health.
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8 complete water business/water plants in-country.
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All certified by Ministry of Public Health.
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135,000 gallons of clean, safe water each month.
Locally Led
You know how valuable it is for a community to have ownership in their own growth. We agree with you! That is why our in-country, non-profit, Fundación Water Work, is staffed and led by Dominicans. They know their peoples’ culture and values better than anyone. When you give, you can know that it is being utilized through well-advised, local leadership on where and how plants can be best implemented.
Economically Sustainable
When you give, you are supporting the start-up of a Dominican water plant business. The water is sold below market price so everyone can afford it, but also so the community can maintain the plant and provide clean water for many years to come! Less than 4% of people cannot afford it and receive the water for free.
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Water business model run by the community.
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1,300 reusable bottles at each plant.
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Delivery to remote places rather than building more plants.
Over 770 million people lack access to clean and safe drinking water. DollarFund is on a mission to change that – we are working to quench the thirsty!
With your donation to DollarFund, you are a part of helping to transform the lives of over one million of the poorest people in the Dominican Republic through clean water distribution plants, business development, and access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
With our growing community of donors, we’re ready to help fund the true forces of good in this world. All it takes is $1. We welcome you to join us and share this message. Do you know of an accredited non-profit working to quench the thirst of those with limited or no access to clean water? Let us know by nominating them and we’ll consider them for future gifts.