We're tackling basic needs gaps in impoverished communities.
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PROVIDING CLEAN WATER
Millions of people in Uganda do not have access to clean water. In these situations, people source water from shallow wells or nearby pools and ponds of water – all of which are highly susceptible to contamination from pit latrines leaching, unregulated pesticides and livestock. The contamination can cause the proliferation of many water-borne diseases and bacteria and just general dehydration due to mistrust, and corresponding low consumption, of a water source. Furthermore, there are simply not enough clean water sources in rural areas which requires people to travel far distances to access clean water. We have found that people often must walk 0.5 to 3.0 miles just to access a clean water source and still often find a long line of ‘jerrys’ waiting to be filled once they get there. The scarcity of clean water sources in rural Uganda is a detriment to the health and human development of all people in those areas.
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TRAINING UGANDANS INTO LEADERS
Nearly 15 years of experience of active service in Uganda has taught us that there are talented and brilliant people everywhere – they often just lack the opportunity to put their abilities to good use. We seek brilliant Ugandans that are eager for a job opportunity and the chance to impact their communities. In finding these ‘gems’, we have the blessed opportunity to come alongside them and help them mature as professionals and leaders in their own communities. Our organization saves costs and operates more efficiently through the leadership of people who know exactly how to navigate their culture. We stand beyond our Ugandan personnel as the ‘doers’ of the work and the ones who deserve the most credit for the good work we accomplish. We celebrate this cross-cultural collaboration.
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ADVANCING COMMUNITY PROGRESS
We do not just provide a clean water source and walk away. FoundRising personnel ensure there is a water management committee that exists in every community and trains them in best practices in the maintenance of the water source and proper hygiene and sanitation from the source to the home. FoundRising adheres to the widely regarded WASH program (Water And Sanitation Hygiene programming recommended by the World Health Organization and Ugandan Ministry of Water). Our staff works hard to improve the sanitation of the vessels that carry the clean water source that we provide. Finally, we actively work with rural communities to set up a community bank account and contribute small monthly usage fees that can accumulate, with interest, to pay for future repairs and maintenance of their water source in the future.
Why we do what we do.
—message from the Founder, Ryan Snyder
I first traveled to Uganda in 2010 and have been actively serving over there ever since, I even lived there for a while. I witnessed, firsthand, how these basic needs gaps cause daily struggle in so many rural Ugandan’s lives. The cycle of poverty is hard to break – anywhere in the world. It becomes daunting when children have to skip school just to help Mom fetch enough water to survive.
I’ve tried to understand. I’ve carried many jerry cans long distances and needed to take many breaks. I’ve danced with communities in joy after a new water source was provided. As much as I have tried, I’ll never completely understand and that is okay – but I better work with people who have personal experiences with the issues I am passionate about addressing.
Over the years, I have learned how to help more effectively. How? By taking a back seat. I work continuously, in the background, to support the efforts of FoundRising staff to change their own communities. They are the faces of change, and they are the ones who inspire others to do the same. These people have clearly inspired me. I love them and they have left an indelible impact on me. There is a lot of inequity in the world, solving that is obviously outside of my ability, but I do not see any reason why any person should have to struggle just to access clean water.
I hope you will join me in eradicating that struggle.
FoundRising aims to create an international partnership of empowerment between the next generation of Ugandan leaders and passionate American volunteers.
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FoundRising aims to construct 10-20 water projects each year in rural Ugandan communities. Our goal is to complete 100 Ugandan-led water projects by 2030.