By Olivia Laramie, Student Intern
On September 25, 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nations met at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the organization’s 70th anniversary where they decided to create new global Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the thirty-five page document drafted by the United Nations, the assembly hopes to achieve a healthier more peaceful world.
“We resolve, between now and 2030, to end poverty and hunger everywhere; to combat inequalities within and among countries; to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; to protect human rights and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources. We resolve also to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities.”
The seventeen sustainable development goals come equipped with statistics and targeted solutions.
Pure Water for the World (PWW), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, directly supports SDG-6, set by the United Nations, regarding clean water and sanitation. PWW provides effective tools and education to establish sustainable safe water, hygiene and sanitation solutions. As a result, children and families are empowered to improve their health and livelihood.
According to the United Nations, 1.8 billion people use a drinking water source that has fecal contamination and 2.4 billion people have no access to basic sanitation, such as toilets.
The United Nation’s sixth goal is to ensure access to water and sanitation for all people in the world. By 2030, the United Nations hopes to “achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” PWW’s work directly aligns with this goal.
In alignment with SDG-6 by the United Nations, and to meet our own organization’s vision and goals, we have implemented safe water and sanitation tools, formed comprehensive hygiene education and training programs, and created extensive WASH (WAter, Sanitation and Hygiene) education programs to train other organizations.
The United Nations has reported that in 2015, 91.24% of the population in Honduras and 57.74% of the population in Haiti was using improved drinking water sources. Also in 2015, the UN reported that 82.65% of Honduras’ population and 27.6% of Haiti’s population were using safely managed sanitation services. These services include a hand-washing facility with soap and water. (sources: water & sanitation)
We want to reflect on how the impact we made in 2016 aligns with the SDG-6. Last year, our teams helped 21,696 people in Haiti and Honduras receive access to life’s most basic necessities; 1,646 families received essential hygiene training and now have safe water filters in their homes. In Honduras, 372 families in have proper latrines and are benefiting from a safer environment, improved health and personal dignity. Twenty-five schools in Honduras and seven schools in Haiti received safe water filters as well as hand washing stations and gender-specific latrines (where needed/possible), providing students with access to clean water and safe and healthy hygiene at school.
“As a member of the global community of WASH organizations, PWW is committed to doing our part to help meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We believe that everyone has the right to affordable safe drinking water and access to improved sanitation,” says Carolyn Crowley Meub, Executive Director.
We invite you to join us and get involved in helping the UN to achieve their ambitious 2030 goals.