Chiapas International

The Wishing Well Campaign…
making wishes come true one drink at a time

2011 GOAL: Raise $35,000 to fund a Water Sanitation Plant in the Dominican Republic.

10% of the rural population in the Dominican Republic has no access to sterile drinking water

Attend the 3rd Annual Divot Dash on October 1, 2011 at Santa Anita Polo Club! Visit our events page to learn about the details!

Project Rationale:
Few resources are more basic or more necessary to the health of a community than clean drinking water. In the Dominican Republic drinking water must be purchased because the tap water is only minimally filtered and is full of harmful bacteria and other impurities. Although drinking water must be purchased, many families in rural areas of the Dominican Republic lack the resources to do so, forcing them to put their health at risk and drink unfiltered or minimally filtered water. Other families may have the money to buy water, but they are forced to forego other important purchases in order to do so.

The Dominican bottled water market is essentially controlled by a few large companies that charge no lower than RD$40 but currently charge up to RD$50 pesos per 5 gallon bottles (US$1.25-1.35). Typically, one person consumes a 5 gallon bottle a week. Many Dominican families have 5 or more people, so the cost of water can really add up. At US$1.25 a bottle, a typical family can easily spend over US$6.00 a week on water, or US$300+ a year. In lower income communities where the majority of families are trying to get by on US$100- US$250 a month, this is just too much for water (10-25% of household income).

Overview:
Esperanza, the MFI we are partnering with in the Dominican Republic, has been providing 100% clean and filtered drinking water to under resourced families for several years. This water project helps eliminate water born diseases, especially in children, and also assists family economics because the water provided is sold at 1/4 of the market price of commercialized water sales.


Every year the Young Professionals dedicate their time and efforts to a particular project. Through various educational and social events, the group works to raise sufficient capital to fund the yearly project. The project chosen for the year is directly aligned with the Parent Organization’s efforts to break the cycle of poverty through microfinance and microfinance plus. More broadly, the Young Professionals are committed to educating a broader audience about the impact of microfinance.		The Wishing Well Campaign… making wishes come true one drink at a time 2011 GOAL: Raise $35,000 to fund a Water Sanitation Plant in the Dominican Republic. 10% of the rural population in the Dominican Republic has no access to sterile drinking water Attend the 3rd Annual Divot Dash on October 1, 2011 at Santa Anita Polo Club! Visit our events page to learn about the details! Project Rationale: Few resources are more basic or more necessary to the health of a community than clean drinking water. In the Dominican Republic drinking water must be purchased because the tap water is only minimally filtered and is full of harmful bacteria and other impurities. Although drinking water must be purchased, many families in rural areas of the Dominican Republic lack the resources to do so, forcing them to put their health at risk and drink unfiltered or minimally filtered water. Other families may have the money to buy water, but they are forced to forego other important purchases in order to do so. The Dominican bottled water market is essentially controlled by a few large companies that charge no lower than RD$40 but currently charge up to RD$50 pesos per 5 gallon bottles (US$1.25-1.35). Typically, one person consumes a 5 gallon bottle a week. Many Dominican families have 5 or more people, so the cost of water can really add up. At US$1.25 a bottle, a typical family can easily spend over US$6.00 a week on water, or US$300+ a year. In lower income communities where the majority of families are trying to get by on US$100- US$250 a month, this is just too much for water (10-25% of household income). Overview: Esperanza, the MFI we are partnering with in the Dominican Republic, has been providing 100% clean and filtered drinking water to under resourced families for several years. This water project helps eliminate water born diseases, especially in children, and also assists family economics because the water provided is sold at 1/4 of the market price of commercialized water sales.