Welcome to the first update of 2025, helping to keep all our Volunteers, Community Liaison Team, Ambassadors and supporters in touch with shipments, events and Aquabox news.
Shipments
The last four weeks of 2024 were busy with shipments to Malawi, Lebanon, Thailand and Nepal. The aid sent to Lebanon followed months of negotiations to find a safe route into Beirut and we are pleased to announce that the aid arrived at the Distribution depot on 17th January. Our partner on the ground, Rotary Club Beirut Cedars, are now in the process of getting the 250 Aqua-Aid boxes, 240 family and 20 community water filters to those in need.
Following the success of Aquaboost we have doubled our production capacity meaning plans are under way for our first shipments of 2025. Following discussions with Ghana Outlook and FireAid a shipment of filters is being dispatched early February, to rural communities in Ghana who don’t have access to safe water. Other penned in shipments are Nepal, Ukraine and Pakistan. Alongside these we are looking at more aid being sent to Syria, Beirut, Mozambique and Yemen.
Gaza update
Roger Cassidy meet with Fadi Aldiari, the HiHFAD regional director for the Middle East, last week. Fadi had just returned from a trip to Syria, Gaza and the West Bank. HiHFAD are in discussions with the authorities to support the rebuilding and management of hospitals and clinics that have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, and are currently carrying out a Needs Assessment of Gaza and the West Bank to determine what aid would be required and whether a secure supply route could be established into the area.
The situation in Gaza is still very tense, with many buildings and the infrastructure destroyed, but HiHFAD are in discussions with the health authorities to explore ways in which relief can be provided. We have advised that we are ready to support if there is a need for filters and aid.
The situation in the West Bank is more stable and once the needs assessment has been completed HiHFAD feel that there will be routes that can be established to send aid to this area where many refugees fleeing from the hostilities have found temporary homes.The situation in the West Bank is more stable and once the needs assessment has been completed HiHFAD feel that there will be routes that can be established to send aid to this area where many refugees fleeing from the hostilities have found temporary homes.
Aquabox Challenge and Badge
Aquabox ambassadors Ray, from Rotary district 1070 and Sylvia, a Division Guide Leader, have been working very hard to complete all the documents for the new challenge badge levels. We now have Blue, Silver and Gold which come with easy-to-understand instructions. This fantastic initiative has been gathering momentum over the last 2 years with take up rocketing in the last few weeks.
Take a look at the Aquabox challenge page on the Website to see the new badges and levels.
Cheryl was thrilled when her dedicated team of nearly 40 cutters, stitchers and packers completed the 1,000th re-usable sanitary pad. Once the instruction label was ready it didn’t take long to get the first 500 packed and sent to Nugal who is the Charter President at the Rotary Club of Kathmandu Circle.
This consignment is now being tested in Nepal with 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. Accordingly, many of our clubs including other local and international agencies are taking up this agenda as it is very much needed in our parts of the communities at large”.
The photos below show the consignment in Nugal’s house ready for distribution. We are looking forward to the feedback so we can carry on making the next batch.
Events
Saturday 22nd March is World Water Day. We are attending a large event at Carsington Water.
Aquabox is again taking a stand at Utility Week Live at the NEC 20-21 May. Faversham House have very kindly donated a stand to Aquabox and this year we will be focusing on creating new Aquabox Champions within water and other utility companies to broaden awareness and fundraising.
Thanks to Wirksworth Market Manager Adrian Rose, Aquabox had a demo stand at the Wirksworth Farmers Market on 1st Feb which raised just over £100. We are now looking forward to being at the next Farmers’ Market on Sat 1st March.
Date of the Plant Sale, Sat 10th May for people’s diaries.
A big thank you to the many people who collect and bring towels to Aquabox – these continue to be valuable as aid items which also cushion the filters in transit.
This one from HiHFAD followed a shipment we made last July to Syria showing the conditions and life in the refugees camps 8 months on from the earthquakes of 2023.
When the shipment arrived in Lebanon last month they asked for a video showing how use and backflush the filters.
Colin Petty was drafted in to explain and demonstrate this, we did not have much time and this video will be completely updated in the next two months.
Just one a many initiatives at present we are working on to help tell the Aquabox story to a wider audience.
See Colin demonstrate the family and community filters below.
Let us have your photos and stories of talks or events you are planning for this year.
And finally…
Aquabox would like to thank you for your support.
To keep up to date with news visit aquabox.org
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