Newsletter

Happy 2025! We've been busy since our last update, both internally (adding members to our board and a change of executive directors, bye Nikki!) and externally (completing our big water and sanitation project in rural Tanzania). In this issue of the AVFCW update, we focus on the details of our Tanzania project, along with updates regarding our ongoing partnership with Banyan Tree in Cambodia to establish clean water and sanitation in remote schools and villages there. Big thank you to local Tanzanian project manager Stephen Marco, who was our point of contact on the ground and who oversaw the procurement of supplies,...

It's been a while! We've been hard at work over the past year on a variety of projects, so this fall issue happens to be the very first newsletter we've managed to get out the door this year. This time around we focus on the school sanitation project we collaborated with Banyan Tree on in Tanzania. Eileen Heasley and  Patti Lee had a chance to visit Tanzania in 2023 through Board Member Scott Brills' safari company and fell in love with the country. This led to wondering how they could give back to the local community that they had formed such...

Although it's pretty much winter by this time (for many of you), we wanted to be sure and send out one more email before 2023 comes to a close. This edition of the AVFCW newsletter covers our work with Days for Girls (Worldwide), Banyan Tree (Cambodia), and local Rotary Clubs. We recognize the importance of addressing menstrual health as a crucial step toward ensuring girls’ consistent attendance in school. This leads to increased body literacy and decreased stigma and shame. DfG’s reusable kits have been a game-changer in the lives of millions of young girls worldwide already. Don't forget to like our Facebook...

We hope you're all staying as cool as possible during this summer, the hottest in recorded history. The droughts and wildfires around the world serve to highlight the importance of water to the planet and everything that lives on it. This edition of the AVFCW newsletter covers updates regarding the Walk for Water fundraiser held in Ontario, Canada last May. Our goal of having 40 walkers was met and exceeded. Also, the Water Walk got a bit of attention from local media where a few of the participants and AVFCW volunteers were interviewed. The feedback was so positive that we plan to...

As it does every year, spring is upon us yet again. We're enjoying the longer days, increased sunshine, and warmer temperatures! This edition of the AVFCW newsletter covers updates regarding our ongoing clean water and sanitation collaboration in Cambodia. A few board members visited the country in January (on their own dime), and along with local staff were able to check on the projects we have been implementing and supporting over the past five years or so. AVFCW has worked closely with Banyan Tree Organization (BTO) in Cambodia which implemented the water projects. Our board members were impressed with the way BTO...

Welcome to fall! We hope everyone has been enjoying the change of seasons and staying warm during our slow journey toward winter. This fall edition of the AVFCW newsletter introduces our two new board members—Julia Bazner and Simran Singh. We're excited for them to join the AVFCW mission, and looking forward to applying their knowledge and expertise toward our core vision of clean water and sanitation for all. We are also wishing a fond farewell to longtime volunteer and board member Sue Cicerone.  A big Thank You to Sue Cicerone, retiring volunteer and board member. She has been an important part of AVFCW...

We hope everyone has been staying cool during this sweltering summer! The summer edition of the AVFCW newsletter highlights our core values and mission, as well as updating everyone on the changes in the relationship between AVFCW and CAWST—the Canadian organization we have been partnering with for years to assist in implementing our clean water and sanitation workshops every year. CAWST is a globally well-known organization for Water and Sanitation and our training sessions were always very popular, bringing together implementers, academics, regulators and other government folks from different countries to learn and share. In the last year, CAWST has made a...

The weather is slowly but surely warming up again, and we're excited for the onset of spring! This newsletter highlights an update to our Navajo Nation handwashing station hygiene project, as well as the education initiatives we are supporting in Guatemala. Water is an extremely limited and precious resource in the dry environment of the Eastern Navajo Nation. Of course it is a constant concern for the approximately 30% of Navajo households who do not have running water in their homes and must rely on hauling water to meet their daily water needs for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. In some cases,...

Happy Halloween! We hope you are enjoying the fall weather and festivities, and are still staying safe and happy despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our current newsletter provides an update on our partnership with the Navajo Nation regarding installing handwashing stations throughout their land. These hygienic upgrades will help to lessen the spread of Coronavirus and other transmissible diseases. The Iyanbito Chapter (of the Navajo Nation) requested individual hand washing stations for the families in their community that lacked access to running water. They felt this would have the most significant impact for their community. AVFCW volunteers went to work to find...

We hope you are enjoying the summer and staying safe, given the ongoing epidemic that seems to not be going anywhere anytime in the near future. This newsletter covers a topic very important to us here at AVFCW—volunteering. More precisely, we are looking for volunteers to assist us with all we do. Are you a student or recent graduate interested in global water and sanitation issues? Are you interested in supporting projects aimed at reducing the global burden of disease associated with water quality or scarcity? As a volunteer you need a passion for helping others, an interest in a specific project...