Information about the project

Archive:

The Project

In Friesland we drink water from the tap, after we go to the toilet we wash our hands. A primary school without toilets is for us unthinkable.

In Mozambique children often have to use a corner of the playground as their toilet and the lack of clean water means that washing their hands is a total impossibility.

The consequences are huge: sickness and disease among the children are commonplace and the ground water (which in turn is used as drinking water) is contaminated. And we want to do something about it! The Frisian project ‘Clean water for Mozambique’ will make a contribution by among other things building toilets in schools in the towns. The local authorities in Mozambique welcome this initiative

The local authorities in Chokwe and Xai Xai in Mozambique realise the importance of clean drinking water for their inhabitants. So they are also delighted with the Frisian project ‘Clean water for Mozambique’.

You can help too

The first toilets have been built and are in use. But there is not yet enough money for all the plans. And that’s where we need your help! With a small donation you can help give children a healthy environment.

Working to the future

An important part of the project is passing on knowledge and experience to the local authorities concerned in Mozambique. In Friesland, local authorities have a lot of expertise in the field of drainage and waste disposal and with cooperation with the local population via community councils in villages and towns. By working together with the local authorities in Mozambique in this project we can help them to build up the know-how within their own organisations such that they will be able to take over and further develop such projects themselves.

Eight agreements for a better world

In the year 2000 the leaders of 189 countries signed up to agreements designed to significantly reduce poverty, disease
and hunger in the world before 2015. These are translated into eight specific Millenium goals.

Millenium goal 7: Safe drinking water

Enough clean drinking water is the basis for good health. Worldwide nearly 1 billion people have insufficient clean drinking water. This leads to serious health problems such as dehydration and infections. And millions more have no proper sanitation. The 7th Millenium goal specifies that in 2015 the percentage of people without access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation shoud be halved compared to the level in 1990. Clean drinking water in combination with sanitation and advice and information about hygiene provide in practice the major step forward in improving health levels.

Who are the participants in the project?

The following organisations are working together in this project: the Province of Friesland, the Water Authority for Friesland (Wetterskip Fryslân), the water supply company Vitens and the Frisian local authorities. In addition, the Organisation Water Help Friesland (Stichting Wetterhelp Fryslân) and the Higher Technical College in Leeuwarden (the NHL) are also involved.

The Ministry of Overseas Development is also involved

The Ministry of Overseas Development (DGIS) has provided a grant for the next two years, so doubling the budget for the project. That means that every euro that you donate will also be matched by the Ministry!

Friesland lives with water

The strength of this project lies in the joint working between the different Frisian partners (the Province, the Water Authority, the local authorities and Vitens) who also work together in improving the water cycle in Friesland and the experience of the local authorities in working with the local population.

In addition, in recent years the Province has gained (inter)national recognition for its innovative projects in the field of water technology. The scientific institute Wetsus and the Higher Technical College NHL in Leeuwarden are involved in many water projects. This cooperation and expertise is also applied in providing education and training in Mozambique. This is to be found in the lectureship in Water Service Management at the Higher Technical College in Leeuwarden which has close cooperation with the universities in Mozambique.