Donation to Water is our World Foundation: plastic fittings for water supply in Suriname
Sometimes materials become ‘outdated’. Not because they are no longer usable, but because a newer version is available. This was also the case for our plastic fittings from Hawle, which have transitioned to ISO 2. As a result, the ISO 1 fittings were left unused. In the spirit of sustainability and social responsibility, we don’t simply throw these away. Instead, we found a great new purpose for them through the foundation ‘Water is our World’. Henk Hogekamp, a member of the foundation, explains how the fittings are being used in a project in Suriname.
About the Water is our World foundation
The Water is our World foundation has been committed for 19 years to establishing, restoring, or improving drinking water and sanitation facilities in small villages in developing countries. They use donated materials and give used materials and installations a second life. Henk: “We receive donations from all kinds of sources and use them for great projects in third world countries.” The volunteers of the foundation have many years of experience in the drinking water sector and have already completed numerous international projects in countries like Suriname, Senegal, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Mozambique. This means they know exactly what is needed to make a project successful.
Plastic fittings for Suriname
At Imbema, we still had a batch of ISO 1 plastic fittings that are no longer in use. To us, they might seem like scrap, but we prefer to put them to good use. In this case, we donated them to Water is our World, one of the charities we support. Henk: “The fittings from Imbema are being used for a project in Suriname. We’re building a water supply system there. We’re incredibly happy with this generous donation.”
Projects by Water is our World
"One of our biggest projects is in Vietnam, which is also where our foundation originated. A former colleague began building a drinking water facility there in 2004, and in 2007, Water is our World was founded. Through (used) drinking water materials, we’ve now established 150,000 drinking water connections. In Mozambique, for example, we’ve ensured that 1,300 families have access to water. And in Moldova, we restored 24/7 drinking water supply. And there are many more wonderful projects like these,” says Henk.
The importance of donations
Finding used materials is becoming increasingly difficult for the foundation. Henk: “There are enough projects, but not always enough materials. That’s why all donations are greatly appreciated at our location in Wit Haren. Every Monday, we meet there to assess the materials and determine which project they’re suitable for. Materials we can’t use are passed on to another cause. Without donations, we would never have been able to realize all these wonderful projects.”
At Imbema, we’re happy to know that our donation is finding a meaningful new purpose in Suriname. In the future, we will definitely continue donating, and we encourage other organizations to donate their ‘old’ materials to Water is our World as well. Together, we can contribute to a more sustainable and socially responsible society. Be sure to also read about how both Water is our World and Imbema contribute to the Water Operator Partnerships facilitated by VEI.