News
NGWREF grants go to water well and training projects in developing nations

Westerville, OH – The National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation (NGWREF) has awarded a total of $35,000 to five applicants for ground water supply, and education and training projects in developing nations.

 
The NGWREF’s Developing Nations Fund provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants for qualified projects in low-income, developing, or third-world nations as defined by The World Bank or some other equivalent international body, such as the United Nations, the National Ground Water Association said in a news release.
 
Following are the grant awards:

• Good Neighbor Network, $4,300, to construct a water well for Thule Village in the Southeast African nation of Malawi. The nearest well is 3.7 miles from the village, and the burden typically falls on women and girls to get the water.
• Northern Illinois Research Foundation, $5,000, to conduct two weeks of education and hands-on training to students, faculty, and professionals in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar on groundwater development, well construction, wellhead protection and groundwater quality and quantity sampling.
• Rosshirt Water for Africa, $8,000, for repair and maintenance of 10 wells in the Southeast African nation of Zimbabwe.
• Skat Foundation, $10,000, for development of a short animated film on water well design and construction quality. The film will reach a broad audience, particularly decision makers and advisers in non-governmental organizations, governments, and donors.
• Water for Life, $7,700, to install a well to serve 400 people in a remote village in the Central American nation of Guatemala.

For more information about the association’s Developing Nations Fund, contact Rachel Geddes at rgeddes@ngwa.org, or 800-551-7379, ext. 504.