Recently, I was invited to join an Effective Altruism club in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to their website:
After visiting the club and then exploring their vast online catalogue of amazing information, it seems to me that Effective Altruism aims to identify and implement highly impactful ways to improve the lives of others (aka "human flourishing"), thus initiating a ripple effect of positive change in the world.
Essentially, Effective Altruism is a philosophy that believes the best good we can do is to increase human flourishing by means of the most cost efficient way.
By asking three questions, I will explore with you why investing in the work of Wells 4 Wellness is the best good we can do.
Essentially, Effective Altruism is a philosophy that believes the best good we can do is to increase human flourishing by means of the most cost efficient way.
By asking three questions, I will explore with you why investing in the work of Wells 4 Wellness is the best good we can do.
WHY WATER?
WHY NIGER, AFRICA?
WHY WELLS 4 WELLNESS?
WHY NIGER, AFRICA?
WHY WELLS 4 WELLNESS?
WHY WATER?
Clean water is fundamental to human flourishing, by directly impacting health, education, and income. Conditions necessary for individuals and communities to thrive are built on health through sanitation. Clean water meets basic essentials and breaks cycles of poverty by increase health, education, & income. Here's how clean water connects to these areas:
1. Health
2. Education
3. Income
The Synergy Between Health, Education, and Income
When clean water is accessible, its benefits ripple across these three areas. Health improvements reduce school absenteeism and healthcare costs, while education empowers individuals to pursue better economic opportunities. Increased income can then fund further investments in education and healthcare, creating a virtuous cycle of development and flourishing.
In summary, clean water is not just a basic need—it is a catalyst for breaking barriers to health, education, and income, enabling individuals and communities to reach their full potential.
Yes! Water is Rocket Fuel 4 Human Flourishing!
1. Health
- Prevents Disease: Clean water reduces the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.
- Reduces Child Mortality: Access to clean water significantly reduces deaths in children under 5 years old, as diarrheal diseases are the second leading cause of death in this age group.
- Improves Nutrition: Safe water ensures better food hygiene and aids digestion, reducing malnutrition.
- Supports Sanitation and Hygiene: Access to clean water allows for handwashing and proper sanitation, reducing the risk of infections and promoting overall well-being.
- Boosts Longevity and Productivity: With fewer illnesses, individuals experience better quality of life and greater ability to participate in daily activities.
2. Education
- Improves Attendance: In communities with clean water, children, especially girls, no longer have to spend hours fetching water and can attend school consistently.
- Enhances Concentration and Learning: Proper hydration and better health improve cognitive performance and energy levels, enabling children to focus on their studies.
- Reduces Dropout Rates: Schools with clean water and sanitation facilities create a safe and comfortable environment, especially for girls during menstruation, encouraging them to stay in school.
3. Income
- Increases Economic Productivity: Healthy individuals can work more efficiently and for longer periods, contributing to household income and economic growth.
- Reduces Healthcare Costs: Fewer illnesses from contaminated water lower medical expenses, freeing up family income for other needs like education and business investment.
- Creates Local Opportunities: Clean water projects often lead to job creation in infrastructure development and maintenance. Additionally, saved time from not fetching water can be used for income-generating activities like farming or small businesses.
- Boosts Agricultural Output: Access to clean water supports irrigation, increasing crop yields and improving food security.
The Synergy Between Health, Education, and Income
When clean water is accessible, its benefits ripple across these three areas. Health improvements reduce school absenteeism and healthcare costs, while education empowers individuals to pursue better economic opportunities. Increased income can then fund further investments in education and healthcare, creating a virtuous cycle of development and flourishing.
In summary, clean water is not just a basic need—it is a catalyst for breaking barriers to health, education, and income, enabling individuals and communities to reach their full potential.
Yes! Water is Rocket Fuel 4 Human Flourishing!
WHY NIGER, AFRICA?
Many countries around the world are in desperate need of water, but few are as adversely affected as Niger.
The United Nations ranks countries on a scale of flourishing called the Human Development Index. Countries at the top of the list enjoy high levels of health, education, and income. In contrast, these essential factors for human flourishing are severely limited in countries at the bottom of the list.
When we produced our documentary in 2020, of the 189 countries on the Human Development Index, Niger ranked dead last at 189.
The annual Human Development Index report considers many factors, but health, education, and income carry the most weight. According to UNICEF, waterborne illnesses, poor hygiene, and inadequate sanitation are among the leading causes of death for children under the age of five. Sanitation facilities are nearly non-existent, with over 70% of the population accustomed to open defecation. Only 56% of the population has access to a source of drinking water.
Health is a crucial factor for improving life in Niger, but so is education. Unfortunately, even if children survive past the age of five and are healthy enough to attend school, more than 70% of schools in Niger lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Health and education are directly linked to income and livelihood. In 2020, Niger was at the very bottom when it comes to income, with a gross per capita income of just $912.
Health, education, & income are so very important for a population, but they are so more important for a young population. As a child grows up, hitting a milestone like living past their fifth birthday is a big one. Being well enough to go to school is also huge. Niger has the largest percentage of children over any country, with 58% of the population being under 18 years old.
The challenges faced by the people of Niger are immense and cannot be solved overnight. Yet, investing in clean, safe drinking water for a very young and proverty-striken country is the best good we can due to increase human flourishing.
The United Nations ranks countries on a scale of flourishing called the Human Development Index. Countries at the top of the list enjoy high levels of health, education, and income. In contrast, these essential factors for human flourishing are severely limited in countries at the bottom of the list.
When we produced our documentary in 2020, of the 189 countries on the Human Development Index, Niger ranked dead last at 189.
The annual Human Development Index report considers many factors, but health, education, and income carry the most weight. According to UNICEF, waterborne illnesses, poor hygiene, and inadequate sanitation are among the leading causes of death for children under the age of five. Sanitation facilities are nearly non-existent, with over 70% of the population accustomed to open defecation. Only 56% of the population has access to a source of drinking water.
Health is a crucial factor for improving life in Niger, but so is education. Unfortunately, even if children survive past the age of five and are healthy enough to attend school, more than 70% of schools in Niger lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Health and education are directly linked to income and livelihood. In 2020, Niger was at the very bottom when it comes to income, with a gross per capita income of just $912.
Health, education, & income are so very important for a population, but they are so more important for a young population. As a child grows up, hitting a milestone like living past their fifth birthday is a big one. Being well enough to go to school is also huge. Niger has the largest percentage of children over any country, with 58% of the population being under 18 years old.
The challenges faced by the people of Niger are immense and cannot be solved overnight. Yet, investing in clean, safe drinking water for a very young and proverty-striken country is the best good we can due to increase human flourishing.
WHY WELLS 4 WELLNESS?
By supporting Wells 4 Wellness, you have the opportunity to be part of something truly life-changing for the people of Niger.
Wells 4 Wellness has mainly been run by volunteers and very few people involved are paid.
Our mission is to provide fresh, clean, drinking water by drilling wells, but our goal is to provide that water for a lifetime by maintaining our wells.
We have a very high level of transparency, with our FINANCIALS post yearly.
Our track record has been proven since 2010 and our wells page keeps growing with frequent updates.
Our average cost of providing water to one person for life, including maintenance & administrations costs is approximately $9.
Join us today in providing the most basic, yet most powerful, resource: clean water.
Together we can do the best good!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Willie Herath - Operations Director
PS - Please take a moment to watch & share our 18 minute short film documentary.
Wells 4 Wellness has mainly been run by volunteers and very few people involved are paid.
Our mission is to provide fresh, clean, drinking water by drilling wells, but our goal is to provide that water for a lifetime by maintaining our wells.
We have a very high level of transparency, with our FINANCIALS post yearly.
Our track record has been proven since 2010 and our wells page keeps growing with frequent updates.
Our average cost of providing water to one person for life, including maintenance & administrations costs is approximately $9.
Join us today in providing the most basic, yet most powerful, resource: clean water.
Together we can do the best good!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Willie Herath - Operations Director
PS - Please take a moment to watch & share our 18 minute short film documentary.