Youth volunteers mobilizing to meet the urgent need for clean, safe water in storm-ravaged Philippines
Santa Barbara, Calif. (Nov. 12, 2013) – Youth-led and operated non-profit Hands4Others (H4O)is currently mobilizing in response to the critical needs of the Filipino people in the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan. H4O is working closely with Water Missions International (WMI), the organization’s long time implementing partner, to raise immediate funds and spur volunteer support.
“Two Living Water Treatment systems and twenty chlorinators have already been sent to the Philippines,” said youth H4O Founder Spencer Dusebout. “Those shipments alone have the ability to help over 50,000 people. It’s a solid start, but there is still so much that needs to be done.”
In the wake of this devastation, H4O is asking that donations be made at http://www.hands4others.org/donate.php and designated as “Haiyan Relief”. Following successful H4O and WMI relief efforts in Haiti, H4O is proud to support and partner with WMI for the distribution and implementation of funds and materials.
“We’re so blessed and encouraged by our partnership with Water Missions International, as they are an amazing implementing partner and have the global reach to respond quickly and effectively in the face of natural disasters,” said Dusebout. “It’s a harsh reality that those in the Philippines are still facing very real, very immediate physical and economic dangers stemming from the destruction. Chief among them is the lack of safe drinking water and we refuse to stand idle during this time of need.“
WMI has already deployed three international employees to the site to receive shipments and coordinate and manage aid efforts. Funds will be used to provide more water purification systems as well as send staff to oversee and ensure the machines’ proper installation. For additional information and other ways to get involved, please visit http://www.facebook.com/hands4others or http://www.hands4others.org.
“It is exciting to see young people around the world come together in response to this tragic disaster. It gives all of us hope at H4O that we will be the generation that solves the world’s water crisis,” said Dusebout. “I encourage everyone to consider supporting our movement of young people as we reach out to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan, they desperately need our help!”
About Hands4Others (H40)
Hands4others (H4O) is a grass roots organization founded in fall on 2008 in Santa Barbara by several teenagers from the community. Having traveled outside the United States, they could not shake the images of children and families forced to spend most of their time gathering insufficient amounts of dirty water – water most of us would not bathe in, let alone drink. Their response to this crisis was to form Hands4others (H4O), a movement of young people (who together with their families) have been called to change the world one person, one family, one village at a time by providing sustainable access to safe, drinkable water for those in need. To date, children and families in ten countries around the world are currently provided with safe water because of the efforts of H4O and the generous contributions from supporters.
About Water Missions International (WMI)
Water Missions International is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization providing long-lasting safe water and sanitation solutions to people in developing countries and disaster areas. Water Missions International has nine permanent country programs and has operated in 49 countries on five different continents. Water Missions International has provided safe water access and sanitation solutions to more than two million people since it’s founding in 2001. Water Missions International has received Charity Navigator’s top rating six years in a row, a distinction shared by only 3 percent of the charities rated by the organization. Water Missions International is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina for more information, visit: www.watermissions.org.
