In October of last year, we shared with you an innovative development for the PlayPumps initiative when we announced that PlayPumps International-U.S. (PPI-U.S.), a fundraising entity based in the U.S., selected Water For People as its new implementing NGO, and made a significant grant to the organization. Water For People supports the development of sustainable safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities in developing countries around the world, including three African countries: Malawi, Rwanda and Uganda.  Under the grant, Water For People received funds and our remaining uninstalled PlayPumps, and assumed responsibility for completing implementation of these projects.

For almost 20 years, Water For People has pioneered innovative approaches to safe water supply, empowering communities and utilizing local entrepreneurs for sustainable operations and maintenance. Water For People will now offer PlayPumps as part of a larger portfolio of water solutions from which rural communities in Africa can choose. We believe that Water For People’s model will maximize the benefits of the PlayPump technology, and is the best way for taking the PlayPumps initiative forward.   The transition of our assets to Water For People is now complete, and implementation is beginning in Malawi.

Our hope and expectation is that other organizations will take advantage of the opportunity to leverage play and pump technology to serve those in need and contribute to ending global water poverty. We’ve already seen some exciting developments on this front.

We at PPI-U.S. are delighted to see clean water technologies flourish in this way. As our own role has transitioned, we look to Water For People to take this effort forward in the near-term. As a result, it is no longer necessary for PPI-U.S. to continue as the fundraising entity, and effective March 1, 2010, all traffic to playpumps.org will be redirected to Water For People. In this way, we hope to generate more support and encouragement for the continued development and deployment of innovative solutions to bring clean water to communities around the world.

We thank you for your support of our work, and encourage you to continue your support for solving the global water crisis by contributing directly to Water For People.

Carrying Water

Dear friend of PlayPumps International – U.S.,

As I shared in my letter to you last month, our team at PlayPumps International – U.S. (PPI) has spent the last several months diligently focused on how to more fully apply key lessons learned since the launch of the initiative in 2006, and how to use innovative new approaches to install our finished PlayPumps and maximize their benefit for those in need of safe water. I’m excited to share with you today some recent developments that we think will expand access to safe water in Africa and provide African villages with a portfolio of choices for their water needs, including our inventory of PlayPumps. 
 
You may have seen today’s news from Water For People, announcing a grant from PPI and an investment of resources from the Case Foundation, an early supporter of PPI, to expand Water For People’s efforts to bring safe water to rural Africa. I’d like to take this opportunity to explain what this announcement means for PPI.

PlayPumps are now bringing play opportunities and improved access to safe water in hundreds of communities and schools in Africa. Our efforts have helped spark a number of new play-related technologies now being offered by various organizations. Our initiative has also highlighted the important role that social entrepreneurship can play in global development.

At the same time, we have learned that PlayPumps, like other water solutions, are best offered as part of a portfolio of technologies from which communities can choose. We have also learned that delivering safe water is humbling work, and that ongoing operations and maintenance is a challenge for most players involved in the delivery of solutions.  We must continue to innovate to find models that can ensure sustainability.

Water For People is a leader in this effort globally, with water and sanitation programs in Africa, as well as in India and Latin America. For almost 20 years, they have pioneered innovative approaches to safe water supply, empowering communities and utilizing local entrepreneurs for sustainable operations and maintenance.  Under our grant to Water for People, they will now take responsibility for completing implementation and maintenance of our remaining inventory of manufactured PlayPumps.

These PlayPumps will become part of a portfolio of solutions that Water For People will offer to communities in Africa, while harnessing the power of local private sector entrepreneurs to help bring an end to water poverty. The focus of installations over the next few years will be in Malawi, with expansion plans for Rwanda and Uganda. This is a compelling way to maximize the benefits of our inventory of PlayPumps, leverage our commitment to social entrepreneurship, and promote the sustainable supply of safe water in Africa.
 
Even as we look forward with today’s Water For People announcement, we are continuing to assess the status of PlayPumps that have already been installed with PPI funds.  As noted previously, we have engaged the Global Environment and Technology Foundation to facilitate a review of operational requirements in the field and make recommendations on next steps. As we proceed with this assessment, we will be deferring fund raising for new PlayPumps, and will focus 100% of our fundraising efforts on our “Keep It Flowing” initiative to direct funds to our greatest needs, including maintenance.

We hope you join us in our enthusiasm for the expansion of Water For People’s efforts, and the opportunity to transform both lives and livelihoods in Africa. Thank you for your continuing passion for and commitment to bringing safe water to the people of sub-Saharan Africa.

Sincerely,

Gary Edson