About 50% of us are currently struggling with water shortages – sufficient water (according to WHO) is between 50 and 100 liters of water per person per day.
This shortage means:
Disease
Water is taken from the contaminated location or the same sources used for bathing and washing clothes.
Time and Effort
Mothers and children sometimes walk 4-12 hours for water. Physically accessible water (according to WHO) has to be within 1000 meters of the home and collection time should not exceed 30 minute.
Ignorance
Children getting water can’t be in school.
Poverty
Time fetching water can’t be used to create income and the water fetched turns out to be unaffordable. Affordable water for personal and domestic uses costs 3% of household income (as per UNDP’s suggestion)
Danger
Hippos and crocodiles and other natural predators may live in or near the river or lake.
So, when Titi Kadu envisioned Solutions for this, he wanted:
He wanted a unique way to serve his nation, Kenya… and other water starved areas in the world. He wanted to build rainwater harvesting systems in the areas.
high quality
The water is to be cleaned
in-kind contribution from villagers & their friends
He wanted those aware of villages with inadequate water and the villagers to contribute a significant part of cost of the solutions without spending money.
in-kind contribution from organisation
He wanted a cost-free opportunity for businesses to contribute another significant part of the cost, without spending extra money.
publicity
It was vital he gets the word out about the solutions he wanted to give the people. He also wanted to publicly honor businesses that promote solutions by advertising for free on the Solutions.
Promoting public access to water is not simply about increasing provision, improving the quality and cleanliness and signage; it is also about increasing information about its availability. This is important for local people and visitors alike.
RaHa aims to improve connections between different elements of the environment: better coordination of projects, information and branding – including small details like signposting and mapping of local water services – can help to shape an image for villages, towns and cities that makes a lasting and positive impression on local people and visitors.
RaHa Solutions includes wide publicity. Information on websites and in local leading newspapers will provide information on where water supply systems are located.
2 (Two) RaHa Solutions for Water Starvation came to be (click on either to see details):