Our goal is safe drinking water for all indigenous schools.
“Schools should be a center for learning, not a center for spreading disease from polluted drinking water.”
By Joe Bass
Project LONG REACH installs safe drinking water rain-catchment tanks on the distant Peninsula Valiente.
Out beyond the most distant islands; out beyond the barrier reefs protecting the Bocas del Toro archipelago from the open seas, lies the remote and isolated Peninsula Valiente, home to several thousand indigenous people.
The peninsula juts into the open seas, but is cut off from all land access. The people there live in isolation, far from the mainland of Panama and far from neighboring islands.
The first boatload of two tanks and supplies are loaded up and ready for sea.
Ken Eide of OSDW drives, wth Lucky, his "navigator" by his side.
OSDW volunteer Ken is welcomed by PEACE CORPS volunteer, Audrey.
The best safety procedure is for two boats to go together in case one runs into trouble. That wasn’t possible, so we were relieved to complete the open-sea part of the passage and enter the sheltered bay of the peninsula.
Audrey greeted us with her big North Carolina smile, and the villagers quickly helped move the tank and all the supplies and equipment to the school, where they all pitched in to help.
Everyone works together to install the rain-catchment tank which will provide safe water for 80 children.
Our goal is to catch, store and share the abundant rainfall, feeding it into the school kitchen where parents cook hot meal for the kids and wash dishes afterwards. Until now the water supply has been very limited and of very doubtful in quality.
From left: Our chief installer, Audrey of the Peace Corps, a local village leader and Ken Eide of Operation Safe Drinking Water. Date: Oct. 23, 09 at Ensenada, Peninsula Valiente.
Polluted water at schools causes large-scale illnesses among the kids.
Schools should be centers of learning, not centers for getting sick from polluted water.
There is an urgent need for safe drinking water tanks for more indigenous schools.
2 tanks installed at 2 schools, the empty boat is ready to go back for another load of safe drinking water tanks for the schools. One school has oveer 400 children and little safe water. The need is NOW.
Our goal is safe drinking water for all indigenous schools.
We of Operation Safe Drinking Water are all volunteers.
We give our time before asking you to give your donation.
We are a 501 c 3 nonprofit charity. Donations are tax deductible. Please share your support today so indigenous children can have safe drinking water.
Thank you!
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Joe and Maribel Bass. Joe is executive director of OSDW. Maribel is a teacher and First Aid worker. Both are volunteers and live among the people they help.
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