| Type | Non-profit organization Water/Sanitation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder(s) | Doc Hendley |
| Headquarters | Boone, North Carolina, United States |
| Area served | Developing countries |
| Services | Clean water distribution and training |
| Website | www.winetowater.org |
Wine to Water (WTW) is a non-profit organization focused on providing clean water to people around the world.
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The following quote was taken from the homepage of Wine to Water:
| “ | Wine To Water is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit aid organization focused on providing clean water to needy people around the world. Nearly 1 billion people in the world today lack access to adequate water and sanitation. We are devoted to fighting this epidemic. Wine symbolizes fortune in our society. Our goal is to give the fortunate population an opportunity to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.[1] | ” |
The idea for Wine to Water (WTW) was born in late 2003, with the first fundraiser being held in Raleigh, North Carolina in early 2004. The founder and current president, Doc Hendley was a bartender in Raleigh and had a strong desire utilize the bar and nightclub industry as a way to bring about positive change in the world. After becoming aware of the world's water crisis, Doc held fundraisers at wine tastings and bars in the Raleigh area. The funds from the events would be used to implement clean water projects around the world.[2]
Nearly one billion people worldwide lack access to clean water,[3] and roughly 3.5 million people die each year because of water related issues.[4] Almost half of these deaths are attributed to diarrhea.[5][6] Wine to Water has expanded greatly recently and is currently working on water projects in Sudan, India, Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Peru, and Kenya.
Wine to Water is currently located in Boone, North Carolina and has clean water projects running in multiple international locations. Wine to Water has received a great deal of media attention on the local, national and international levels. Doc Hendley was selected by CNN as a top ten finalist for CNN Heroes[7]. As of 2009, Wine to Water had implemented sustainable drinking water initiatives to over 25,000 individuals.[8]
Sudan was one of the first countries to receive aid from Wine to Water. Much of the work in Sudan is focused on the rehabilitation of old wells that have stopped supplying water due to faulty pumping mechanisms. WTW has also helped truck water in to many of the war torn regions of Sudan. In addition to the above successes, WTW has constructed and installed an entire water system for an orphanage located in the country's capital. Prior to WTW's contribution to the orphanage, children were drinking out of a basin of standing water. This is very unhealthy because the basin was the same basin they washed in and standing water is a "breading ground" for bacteria. Thanks to WTW, the children and staff now have access to clean running water. Many of the locations WTW has visited in the Sudan area have been deemed "unsafe" for humanitarian work. However, Doc and his organization have traveled to these areas and successfully implemented water treatment facilities and practices.[9]
A leper colony located on the outskirts of New Delhi lacked access to clean water. WTW has installed a new running water system for this colony.[10]
Cambodia is a country surrounded by water, yet most of the citizens lack access to clean water. Roughly 3/4 of the deaths in Cambodia can be attributed to a lack of clean water.[11] One focus of Wine to Water in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is to supply Bio Sand filters for the residences and communities that do not have access to clean water. The primary focus, however, is the drilling of new water wells for communities. As of October, 2009, WTW has drilled over 70 wells for the people of Cambodia. Using local supplies and hand pumps, WTW is able to cut the cost of drilling a well to one fifth the original cost.[12]
Work in Uganda is focused on several areas: first is the distribution of Bio-Sand filters, second is the training of local persons to manufacture their own filters, lastly the formation of training centers around the country to educate the citizens about how to clean water and the importance of this process.[13]
Wine to Water's work in Peru is currently centered in Trujillo. Water projects underway as of 2009 include hand digging wells, as well as supplying households, orphanages and daycares with a water pumping and storage system to ensure clean water for the community. Individual filtration systems are being distributed in additional areas exposed to contaminated water sources.[14]
In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Wine To Water responded by partnering with Filter Pure[15] to distribute 500 ceramic water filters. The filters provide clean water for a family of 10 for up to five years. Along with Filter Pure, Wine to Water has also began to build a Haitian run ceramic filter factory to ensure clean water will continue to get to those who need it most.[16]