RISE International
clean water
1 in 11 children in Angola die before their 5th birthday, most from preventable causes
. . . of the rural population, only 27% have access to clean water, 23% have improved sanitation*
Assessment of the Effect of Water Supply on Child Morbidity in Communities of Bie
Infrastructure improvements, including clean water, play an enormous role in reducing child mortality. The under-5 mortality rate in Angola has improved slightly, but is still among the worst worldwide. Funding has been donated for RISE to have wells drilled at 30 school sites to provide clean water. RISE has rich anecdotal data highlighting the impact of clean water on children’s health, but has not had information to quantify and validate that impact.
RISE received a grant for a Validation Pilot Project as a result of being a finalist for the 2013 Caplow Children’s Prize. The grant funded a small study to assess the impact of clean water on the health and mortality of children under age 5, in 6 villages near Kuito, where people go to a river for water. The project included a baseline survey from an independent group, which took place in June 2015. Wells were drilled in 3 of the villages in September 2015. One year later in July 2016, the endline survey was implemented and results have been assessed. The results show a reduction in diarrhea cases in children under-five, from 44% in 2015 to 30% in 2016, which was found to be statistically significant. The 6 villages involved in the study have all received wells, providing clean water, which will continue to impact the health of the children and communities – they are delighted and grateful. Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and the CDC Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) implemented the study.
Rotary Partnership – Water for Angolan Schools
The Wilmette Rotary Club, Wilmette, IL, partnered with other US Rotary Clubs to raise funds for two wells through Rotary International Global Grants. RISE is the NGO implementing partner, and the wells were drilled in 2016 by JAM, Joint Aid Management, at Cubal Koyaya, a school funded by 3 US schools and dedicated in 2008, and at the 4th of April school, in the Benguela Province. A local, in-country partner must be involved as the Host Club, and the Lobito Rotary Club was pleased to be that partner.
In 2021, the Wilmette Rotary Club, Wilmette, IL and the Glenview Sunrise Rotary Club, Glenview, IL again donated funds to drill wells at Denda and Bairro Novo, and at Lalula in 2022. The communities, parents, teachers, and children are thrilled and grateful!
*UNICEF 2019
