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Los Angeles, March 15, 2007 — Following a grant by The Prem Rawat Foundation, five major community water projects have been completed as part of an initiative providing safe drinking water and improved sanitation in poor areas of Ghana.
These projects address the need for safe drinking water, community access to clean drinking water, eco-toilets to improve health conditions, reforestation to maintain the flow of water, and local management and maintenance. Accomplishments to date include eight hand-dug wells and one dam rehabilitation providing potable water to nearly 10,000 people, reforestation to protect spring water used by 3,500 people, public eco-toilets servicing thousands of people, and local committees trained and empowered to maintain and improve water and sanitation systems.
Nana Takyi XI, Chief of Kwasilansa community, said: “Today, Kwasilansa has come out of the doldrums of underdevelopment. We have good drinking water and excellent sanitation conditions. We have said good-bye to guinea worm infestation.” Magazia Saratu Mamuna of Sanga community said: “I can’t believe that we have good drinking water during the dry season. It has never happened before. It’s a miracle. We thank the people who have changed our lives.”
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George Ortsin, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme Coordinator in Ghana, who is implementing the projects, said: “The funding provided by The Prem Rawat Foundation not only improves water supply and sanitation, but also enhances the welfare of women and children.”
Nick Remple, the GEF Small Grants Programme Deputy Manager, said: “We are proud to be a partner with The Prem Rawat Foundation in this important endeavor.”
Sally Timpson, Senior Advisor, Community Water Initiative, said: “In all of these projects special attention has been paid to community ownership, establishing community water committees, and training and empowering their members so that they can oversee the functioning of the systems and ensure their maintenance over time.”
The Global Environment Facility is an independent financial organization providing grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods. GEF projects are managed by GEF Implementing Agencies: the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank.
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Since 1991, GEF has provided $6.8 billion in grants and generated $24 billion in co-financing from other sources to support 1,900 projects that produce global environmental benefits in more than 160 developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
The Prem Rawat Foundation supports significant humanitarian initiatives that improve the quality of life for people in need around the world by providing basic necessities such as food, water, medical care, and disaster relief. The Foundation also makes significant grants to effective relief organizations such as the United Nations World Food Programme.
In addition to its humanitarian activities, the Foundation also furthers the message of peace of Prem Rawat, widely known by the honorary title of Maharaji. Prem Rawat has spent the last four decades traveling the world with the message that each person can find fulfillment by discovering “a peace that is already within, waiting to be discovered.”
More than 10 million people have sought inspiration from him, and his message is now made available in more than 90 countries and 70 languages.
(Photos courtesy of George Ortsin)
Discover more about Prem Rawat, his message of hope and peace, and the humanitarian activities of The Prem Rawat Foundation
