Manifesto
Clean water is a basic human right
On 28 July 2010, through Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognised the human right to water and sanitation and acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realisation of all human rights. After over a decade of grassroots organising and lobbying, the global water justice movement achieved a significant victory when the UN voted overwhelmingly to affirm the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.
Contaminated water can transmit diseases such diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. According to the world Health Organization, contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 502 000 deaths from diarrhoea each year.
No More Durty Water is a fundraising campaign to provide safe and sustainable water
No More Durty Water is a fundraising organisation working with existing charities that share our creative and ethical views. By staging parties, concert performances and other creative events we can raise awareness and funds. We are committed to keeping charity administration overheads and event production costs to a minimum in order maximise the income available to go directly to water projects.
Unable to rely those in power to provide clean water, it is up to us to come together, raise awareness and help those who need clean water to survive. We work in remote villages of Uganda in association with ‘Bridge of Hope Children’s Ministry’ (registered charity 1126408) and in West Bengal India with Calcutta Rescue.
History
No More Durty Water was established by Paul Keeler aka DJ Monkey P in 2010.
Paul was originally inspired by a group of music students at Portsmouth’s South Downs College who raised money by charging admission for a course performance. At the suggestion of their lecturers Ben Baxter & Laila Hansen, they donated it to Bridge of Hope Children’s Ministry, an organisation helping orphans in South West Uganda.
Not looking to be involved in the religious aims of BOHCM, Ben asked if the funds could be ring-fenced for a specific project. Barbara and Geoff Skeratt, the founders of BOHCM, confirmed that they were able to deliver at low cost water projects budgeted entirely separately from their own charitable work. They suggested finding a suitable village to build a protected spring for about £1400, such that the residents of a remote village with no existing infrastructure could get access to a sustainable source of clean water.
When Paul learned of his close friend and neighbour Ben’s ability to link up with an organisation that could deliver much needed water projects in an area of acute water poverty, he immediately wanted to get involved and realised that he could use the Southsea music and artist community as a base for fundraising. A skilled graphic artist and well known DJ and event promoter in Portsmouth, Paul had already mounted a high profile successful campaign to save the Skate Park on Southsea Common and raised money for a mini ramp for younger skateboarders. Paul started the original version of this blog, came up with a strong campaign slogan and combined a memorable name with a strong visual identity… No More Durty Water was born.
Dozens of parties, gigs and raffles have been held and thousands of pounds have been raised since Paul developed the simple idea that clean water is a basic human right . The partnership between BOHCM and No More Durty Water has flourished, with BOHCM responsible for building over 30 protected springs in Uganda, of which 10 to date have been fully funded by NMDW.
Providing clean water
Building a protected spring
The process of building a sustainable source of clean water in a remote village is a relatively simple one, but it has enourmous benefits and long lasting consequences for the villagers.
Firstly our fulfillment partner Bridge of Hope Children’s Ministry will identify a site. The criteria are:
- There must be a community in need of clean water
- There must be an existing watering hole (which itself identies where the water table is accessible)
- The site must be in walking distance of a road (so the materials can be carried)
- There must be villagers willing to contribute their labout to support the engineers
BOHCM will then use a surveyor to draw up the costs of the matertials required. One of the advantages of having a partner with significant experience in these projects is that the costs are very predictable, with each protected spring costing £1400 on average. Work takes 6 week to 10 weeks depending on the terrain, manpower required and weather conditions.
For the cost of a holiday, an entire community gets immediate health, educational and welfare benefits. Our protected springs are not allowed to be used for commercial purposes and every single one we have funded is still in use, with minimal maintenance.