International Helpers |
Project pitch
For the past 20 years, Ethiopia has been suffering through recurring droughts. Water sources such as springs and ponds regularly dry up. Due to the lack of clean water, Ethiopians must be very conservative with the water they have, having to give up necessities like baths or hand washing after defecation. These sacrifices have led to an increase in diseases among men, women, and children.
In Tigray, the struggle for water. Less that half of the population have access to clean water. Women and children have to walk two to three hours everyday just to be able to provide 5 liters of water for the entire family. Over 250,000 children die each year due to the lack of water and the quality of the litter water they have. Tigray, Ethiopia is a community that lacks and needs water.
My product is for those who lack and need water. It is a rain catcher made out of a 330 gallon barrel. On the top of the barrel, there would be the tops of vinyl umbrellas turned inside out to catch the rainfall. The umbrellas would be attached to pipes leading down to the 330 gallon barrel. Attached to the release pump of the barrel is a hose that would lead to a traditional, 53 gallon barrel laying right side up. The barrel would be filled with multiple layers: a bottom layer of clean pebbles, then a layer of fine grained sand, followed by a layer of charcoal, then another layer of clean pebbles, and finally a piece of cloth over the top of the barrel. (Details on the amount of materials needed and the proportions of the layers can be found here.) These layers will filter the water to make sure it is clean before consumed. Beneath all of the layers, there would be a small, 3 in. tall space for the clean water to gather. This water would exit via a faucet, being able to reach those who lack any clean water. While this system could be use in a large variety of different areas, the people of Tigray, Ethiopia may need it the most. In Tigray, the rainfall varies often, and the rain catchers could be used to save water for a dry day. To ship the product to Ethiopia, we would need to ship all of the pieces, with a guidebook (with many, many pictures to make sure they understand) teaching them how to build the rain catcher and it's filter.
In Tigray, the struggle for water. Less that half of the population have access to clean water. Women and children have to walk two to three hours everyday just to be able to provide 5 liters of water for the entire family. Over 250,000 children die each year due to the lack of water and the quality of the litter water they have. Tigray, Ethiopia is a community that lacks and needs water.
My product is for those who lack and need water. It is a rain catcher made out of a 330 gallon barrel. On the top of the barrel, there would be the tops of vinyl umbrellas turned inside out to catch the rainfall. The umbrellas would be attached to pipes leading down to the 330 gallon barrel. Attached to the release pump of the barrel is a hose that would lead to a traditional, 53 gallon barrel laying right side up. The barrel would be filled with multiple layers: a bottom layer of clean pebbles, then a layer of fine grained sand, followed by a layer of charcoal, then another layer of clean pebbles, and finally a piece of cloth over the top of the barrel. (Details on the amount of materials needed and the proportions of the layers can be found here.) These layers will filter the water to make sure it is clean before consumed. Beneath all of the layers, there would be a small, 3 in. tall space for the clean water to gather. This water would exit via a faucet, being able to reach those who lack any clean water. While this system could be use in a large variety of different areas, the people of Tigray, Ethiopia may need it the most. In Tigray, the rainfall varies often, and the rain catchers could be used to save water for a dry day. To ship the product to Ethiopia, we would need to ship all of the pieces, with a guidebook (with many, many pictures to make sure they understand) teaching them how to build the rain catcher and it's filter.