Safe Drinking Water in 12 Villages through bore wells in the drought affected villages of the Khammam District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Why?   The most drought hit areas where people really suffered for want of drinking water were selected. Safe and clean water would protect those people from water borne diseases like diahorea, malaria and typhoid.

Result :  The bore wells have solved the drinking water problem. They have brought unity and “helping nature” among all the people of different castes, religions and creeds.  Usually women of different castes come together to draw water at the hand pumps and it gives them a chance to exchange their ideas and be united.

All the hand pumps are being used by the people and they are happy that they have drinking water at their reach. In the surrounding areas there are no drinking water facilities due to severe drought. Now the beneficiaries are very happy and they are very grateful to you as they have clean drinking water.

The water from each bore well is being shared by 30 to 50 families in the neighbourhood.
List of 12 Villages

1. Morampally Banjara     2. Bhadrachalam     3. Aswaraopeta     4. Mittapalli                        5. Rebbavaram    6.Peddakorukondi    7. Sulanagar   8. Allapalli    9. Ayyanapalem           10. Enkoor  11. Naidupet  12. Budidampadu

“In the name of the beneficiaries I thank you and all the benefactors for your financial assistance to provide drinking water to the drought affected villages of Khammam district.

Yours Sincerely

Sister  Daisy Athickal
Chief Co-ordinator”

The photos show the newly installed borewells and SOME of the people who are actually using them – what a fantastic result!       

(If you would like a copy of any of the above photos, these have been put on the "Picture Gallery" page - right click the photo and "save image as" to your computer, this can then be printed).

WOMEN REACHING WOMEN

Have you seen the dvd "Sisters on the Planet" yet?

This is part of the NFWI campaign we are undertaking in partnership with Oxfam and the Everyone Foundation. Your Group Convener has a copy for you to borrow and see. If you would like your own copy you can order one at : http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/climate_change/sisters/dvdform.html

Please keep talking!
Talking IS doing!
Do let Sue Watkins know what you think of the dvd. While speaking to non WI people. please encourage them to see the "Sisters on the Planet"  - you could lend them YOUR copy!

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Next year’s Million Women Rise walk ( organised by NFWI) is an event taking place in central London to call for an end to violence against women and to mark International Women’s Day.
WI members are once again invited to join the walk. The theme for this year’s event is "each one teach one, each sister bring a sister to the million women rise 2010 march ". So if you took part in last year’s event, why not come along in 2010 and bring another member from your WI or link up with a nearby branch and invite them to join you?

Million Women Rise – Details

Saturday 6 March 2010.
Meet 12pm: Park Lane, opposite Hyde Park, Speaker’s Corner. (Nearest Tube: Marble Arch)
Route: Oxford Street, Regent’s Street, Piccadilly (Approx 2 miles).
Rally and celebration: 3pm Trafalgar Square. (Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross).

ECO TEAMS

How are you doing? Let us know!

Doveridge Eco Team is into its second year and the chairmanship has been handed from Sue Watkins to Marian Burton. So far, the team have drastically reduced their own rubbish that goes to landfill, while making improved compost and recycling many items. Team member Jean Hayward said "It's just amazing how much we can learn from each other!"

The team has hosted a very successful Composting Day, involving many different members of the community and has also been in contact with the Primary School Eco Team. Members usually meet at each others homes to discuss progress and a variety of topics over a fairtrade cup of tea and homemade cake ( no wrappers, just egg shells to compost!)

They visited a local farm produce shop and have other visits planned. Sue Watkins reports: "We have discussed insulation, secondary glazing, how to save water and use what we do need more efficiently. My own target of changing to energy saving light bulbs is near completion and I know that because of our meetings one local business has chosen more energy efficient cars than before: we are making a differnce!  We learn so much each time we meet - it's the detail that helps us make a difference. And of course, we have such fun and plenty of laughter!"

SUSTAINABLE  COMMUNITIES

If there is a Sustainable Community near you do go and join it .Get involved NOW in Local Actions required. Together we can make more of a difference!

ASSOCIATED WOMEN OF THE WORLD 

Known as ACWW or referred to as Pennies for Friendship             

          ACWW has its own website at : www.acww.org.uk/

Project 0719: To Empower Poor Rural Women In India through Pickle Making. Ladies you are fantastic! We have sent the full £1,221 to ACWW.

The Kirinda Water Project is nearing completion; both bore holes have been drilled and 4 of the 7 springs have been upgraded. The Tideswell service raised a further £315.28 while  £566.97 was collected in the jam pans at the Council Meeting.

WONDERFUL NEWS! We have done it! 
Due to everyone's hard work, all of our efforts came together just before Christmas and we successfully completed the fundraising for our Thanksgiving Project.

Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Kirinda Water Project; no matter the size of each donation, together we have raised £2,982 which means clean water for 19,500 women and children in the Nebbi District of Uganda. This will improve the life and prevent the death of so many people in this region. Photographs will be coming to your ACWW rep soon.

It is great to know that by each of us adding £1 we can make such a difference together!

Congratulations to everyone. This is a wonderful way to celebrate 90 years of the WI in Derbyshire!

PUBLIC AFFAIRS BLOG

NFWI have informed us that they have launched a WI Public Affairs Blog to update members of the public on the work of the department. The NFWI Public Affairs committee and staff will make updates. The direct  link to the blog is :

http://theWIpa.blogspot.com

or you can find a link through the Campaigns or Public Affairs pages on the national website.