Going global on World Water Day
In Ghana, World Water Day celebrants
included the physically disabled, who face
some of the greatest difficulties accessing
water.
Taking place all over the world, through every medium imaginable, to reach the widest possible range of people, End Water Poverty celebrations on World Water Day were truly far reaching.
In Nigeria, the End Water Poverty campaign was promoted on the radio, one of the most powerful communication tools in the developing world. Coalition members discussed water and sanitation issues on a Radio Benue talk show.
Members in Nigeria also reached out to those at the top with the political clout to bring about immediate change, by holding a debate with government officials to focus on poverty eradication through clean water.
Similar talks were held with powerful actors in other countries. In Ghana, Patrick Apoya of the National Coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Water and Sanitation, presented the campaign to the German embassy, hoping to influence the G8 Agenda. The coalition also presented the campaign to representatives of the German embassy in Mali and in Bangladesh, members, government officials and dignitaries met to discuss national water and sanitation issues. In the UK, End Water Poverty campaigners queued up with empty buckets outside the German embassy to demand that they do everything in their power to tackle the global water and sanitation crisis.
Spreading the End Water Poverty message
through song and dance is a really effective
way to reach and motivate people.
Celebrations on the day were packed full of enough activities and excitement to rival the biggest festivals. In Ghana, a three-hour-long street procession took place with more than 500 celebrants including 42 physically challenged people. A brass band played as copies of the End Water Poverty manifesto were distributed to a curious public. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the Village Education and Resource Center staged rallies, cleaning initiatives and put on drama performances highlighting water and sanitation issues in local communities.
In Nepal one day was not enough and the celebrations continued all week. A week-long programme involving Kirtipur's communities and civil society organisations in the Kathmandu valley included a photo exhibition which showed traditional and historical water resources such as hand-dug wells, springs, stone spouts and ponds as well as a Water Walk that attracted lots of young people and students.
The launch in Ziniaré in Burkina Faso was attended by over 500 people and activities included exhibitions of pictures, publications and low costs technologies. There was also a discussion on a local TV show that takes place during the lunch time news broadcasting, a brilliant time slot to get the message across.
And back in Nigeria, a rally around the city of Makurdi was organised that stopped at an area with deplorable water supply and sanitation to symbolise the need for change. Participants included people from all sections of society; government representatives, traditional rulers, men, women and children.
In one day, our message to End Water Poverty travelled all the way around the world, into the furthest corners, creating the motivation for action in every level of the population. It was a fantastic day and sure to be the first of many more to come.