DG Dave's Corner March 2025

March brings us to a crucial focal point of our Rotary calendar – Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month. We here in the United States take clean water for granted. There are 2.5 billion people in the world that lack access to improved sanitation and 748 million people that don’t have clean drinking water. Nearly 1400 children die each day from diseases caused by lack of sanitation and unsafe water.

This theme, fundamental to human health and dignity, underscores the profound impact of access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene practices on communities worldwide. As we delve into this month, let us renew our commitment to initiatives that ensure everyone, everywhere, has access to these basic human needs.

The importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) extends beyond the immediate health benefits. It catalyzes development, enabling education by reducing disease and allowing children, especially girls, to attend school. It empowers women and girls by reducing the time spent collecting water and fosters economic growth by improving community health and productivity.

Here are several initiatives we can undertake as Rotarians to make a tangible difference in the realm of water, sanitation, and hygiene:

• Clean Water Projects: Implement community-based projects to provide clean and safe drinking water. This could involve installing water purification systems, rainwater harvesting structures, or digging wells.
  • Implementation: Work with local communities to assess their needs, engage experts for sustainable solutions, and collaborate with international partners for resources and funding. Consider adopting solar-powered water systems in areas lacking electricity.
• Sanitation Facilities Construction: Focus on building or improving sanitation facilities, such as toilets and latrines, in schools and communities that lack adequate infrastructure.
  • Implementation: Conduct needs assessments in target areas and work with local authorities and communities to design culturally appropriate and sustainable sanitation solutions. Ensure facilities are inclusive, catering to the needs of women and people with disabilities.
• Hygiene Education Campaigns: Educate communities about the importance of good hygiene practices through workshops and awareness campaigns. This includes handwashing with soap, safe water storage, and proper waste disposal.
  • Implementation: Develop educational materials and partner with schools and community groups to disseminate information. Organize handwashing stations and demonstrations to teach effective hygiene practices.
• WASH in Schools (WinS): Specifically target schools to improve WASH facilities and hygiene education, ensuring children can learn in a healthy environment.
  • Implementation: Collaborate with school administrations and parent-teacher associations to assess needs and implement WASH projects. Include hygiene education in the curriculum and establish student-led WASH clubs to promote good practices among peers.
• Advocacy and Partnership Building: Advocate for policies and practices that ensure sustainable WASH solutions at the local, national, and international levels. Build partnerships with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to amplify our impact.
  • Implementation: Participate in forums and policy discussions on WASH issues—leverage Rotary’s network to foster collaborations that bring about policy changes and increase investment in WASH infrastructure.

Our water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts can transform lives by preventing disease, promoting dignity, and providing new opportunities for education and economic development. Each project brings us closer to achieving Rotary’s goal of providing clean water and sanitation for all and building more robust, resilient communities.

This March, let us pledge to champion water, sanitation, and hygiene. I encourage every club and every Rotarian in our district to initiate or participate in a WASH project. Whether by providing clean water, building sanitation facilities, or educating communities on hygiene practices, your actions will ripple through generations, fostering healthier lives and brighter futures.

Here in District 7120 as we move through Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month, let the spirit of service and collaboration guide us. Together, we can achieve remarkable strides in ensuring that access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene is a reality for all. Let’s harness our collective energy, expertise, and compassion to make a lasting difference in the world.