Did you know that when you donate to Aquabox it triggers a response from hundreds of volunteers? From the 150 volunteers making, packing and despatching Aquabox aid, to the logistics teams involving lorries, ships and planes, warehouse teams in remote parts of the world, drivers of trucks, vans, cars and people on foot delivering the aid to those in need and finally the family or community receiving the water filter or Aqua-Aid box.
Without this collaboration between you and everyone else it could all fall apart.
However, as these four stories below show when we all pull together miracles can happen.
Nepal
We have long held strategic stock in Kathmandu as earthquakes, floods and landslides are common events. Getting our aid to Nepal involves the charity Fire-aid, the Nepalese Armed Police, Gurkhas, Gurkha Welfare Trust and two Rotary Clubs in Nepal.
In October last year, in Dhulikhel Municipality, highways and local roads were swept away, and houses were destroyed, by landslides. Locals stranded during the landslides were helped across dangerous fast flowing flood waters by security personnel.
Within 24hrs the rapid despatch of 10 Aqua-Aid boxes to the most affected area helped provide clean water and items for shelter and cooking. This was done by helicopter as road access was blocked by multiple landslides. You can see in the photos just some of collaboration required.
Aquabox has made two more shipments to Nepal, in November 2024 and April this year, to make sure stocks are kept close to impending disasters in the region.
New Initiative tested in Nepal
Our close links with Nepal also meant we chose it for testing our first 500 re-usable Sanitary Pads in December.
Nugal Vaidya is the Charter President at the Rotary Club of Kathmandu Circle and heads our delivery partners in Nepal. The photos below show the consignment of 500 pads in Nugal’s house ready for distribution.
Nepal was chosen as our test country as they have lots of expertise, Nugal adding “I understand that Aquabox is taking the initiative to add this female hygiene project as another flagship program. My club has been doing this for many years and have expertise and dedicated club members. Aquabox adding these vital items to their Aqua-Aid boxes is great news, as it is very much needed in our parts of the communities at large”.
The success of the test in Nepal was welcomed by our team of 50 volunteers who make and pack the San Pads and we are now adding a pack of five re-usable San Pads along with a drying bag in each Aqua-Aid box. See more on our San Pads project here https://aquabox.org/aquabox-san-pads/
Myanmar
At last we have Aquabox aid on the ground in Myanmar.
In one of our most difficult logistics operations we have finally managed to get aid to some of those who need it in Myanmar. On 15th June the Rotary Club of Yadanabon Mandalay, delivered Aquabox community water filters to a kindergarten school in Myanmar which was flooded after the recent earthquake. We are so grateful for the help of Disaster Aid Canada (DAC) and Disaster Aid Thailand (DAT) for their tireless work in what are very challenging conditions.
Very little aid is getting through the tight control of the military rulers and fighting continues to hamper aid deliveries, making it dangerous for aid workers. Each of the Aquabox community filters will provide clean water for around 500, with 6 litres of clean water being produced each minute.
We continue to monitor the situation in Myanmar carefully and more aid is scheduled to leave for Bangkok soon, meaning it will just be over the border when aid movements are safe.
Syria
A story of Rotary collaboration.
When a plan comes together amazing results can happen. Following an earthquake in south east Turkey and northern Syria in 2023, Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HiHFAD) were supporting camps for families fleeing from the ongoing conflicts in Syria and for those seeking refuge from the earthquake. HiHFAD reached out to Aquabox asking for a shipment of water filters and Aqua-Aid boxes to support these families who, in many cases, did not have access to safe drinking water or adequate living conditions.
The Rotary Club of Stade provided a generous donation to pay for the aid, and then asked MSC shipping if they would help with logistics. The MSC Foundation kindly provided a 40ft container for Aquabox and Water Survival Box to fill with 300 Aid boxes, 420 family filters and 20 community filters and arranged the shipment of the full container to Mersin, Turkey.
The collaboration between five organisations: The Rotary Club of Stade, MSC, HiHFAD, Aquabox, and Water Survival Box worked very well. In all over 15,000 people were provided with clean water and the means of building shelters, cooking and hygiene for 3000 family members.
Yemen
Many in Yemen feel forgotten.
Since 2014, Yemen — the lowest-income country in the Middle East — has been the site of a civil war. However, the conflict is only one aspect of a complex humanitarian crisis, furthered by climate change, water stress, political instability, and economic issues which left the majority of the country’s population without the resources or skills to live full, healthy, dignified lives.
Eleven years later, the country has made several “worst” lists, among them the world’s worst humanitarian crises, worst hunger crises, and largest displacement crises. However, besides these headlines, Yemen remains largely ignored in western media.
Working in collaboration with JOY, (Jubilee Outreach Yorkshire) an Ecumenical Christian Charity which is voluntarily run by a small, dedicated staff. JOY has been working since 1990 to provide aid and funds, primarily to Romania, but also to other countries like Yemen where they share aid shipments with Aquabox.
Aquabox has not forgotten Yemen and it’s people. We have been shipping aid to the area for the last few years and only last week sent out 960 family filters and a further 200 Aqua-Aid boxes. This is enough to provide clean water for over 10,000 and the means of building shelters, cooking and hygiene for 2000 family members.
I did say it was all about collaboration and as Jane, our assistant depot manager demonstrates, a little encouragement goes a long way!
and finally…well nearly
I hope this small feature of just four Aquabox stories has given you an insight and peace of mind that your donation is the start of the magic of Aquabox.
Shipments
So far this year Aquabox has sent aid to Ghana, Myanmar, Ukraine, Malawi, Nepal, and Yemen.
Funding
Donations from you, our supporters are the lifeblood of Aquabox without which we would struggle to provide our life saving water filters and Aqua-Aid boxes. Please keep your generous donations flowing.
But again, in the spirit of team work, as demonstrated in the above stories, we also have a fantastic community liaison team who throughout the year run fundraising events like:
Our annual plant sale; what better way to spend a gorgeous spring Saturday morning than browsing the fabulous displays at our annual Plant Sale. The Memorial Garden in Wirksworth was alive with music and song from UkeWirks and the sound of happy visitors.
This year’s event raised over £2,500.
Derbyshire Tradition
Well dressing is an established Derbyshire tradition going back centuries. Could there be a better way than to support a water charity than build a well dressing each year?
This year the team raised £237.00. Well (excuse the pun) done everyone involved.
Visitors not only get to view the amazing design made of flowers, but also a demonstration of our family water filter.
Talks and demos
All the community team like talking…no one is safe, why not invite them to your next event to hear even more amazing Aquabox stories.
Early in 2024 Aston-on-Trent WI invited Aquabox to demonstrate their amazing water filters to the group. Our ambassador Colin Petty impressed so much during the talk that the group decided to adapt Aquabox as their charity for 2024.
Following lots of events and fundraising activities during 2024 a grand total of £1800 was handed over to Pam Fraser in January this year.
Corporate sponsors.
Last but by no means least, Bloc Digital, a world leading company based in Derby, very kindly made an absolutely inspiring animation of our family water filter, showing how it works. See below to view this and many thanks to the creative team at Bloc Digital.