Philadelphia Global
Water Initiative (PGWI)
A Regional Model For
Collaboration of WASH Activities
Rupal Prasad, Program Manager PGWI
Stanley Laskowski, President PGWI
March 21, 2013
Philadelphia Global
Water Initiative- PGWI Is:

A NETWORK OF NGOs, Businesses,
Government Agencies, Academic Institutions,
and Individuals in the Philadelphia Region
Working Together to Promote Access to Water
And Sanitation in Developing Countries
(Founded 2006)

A 501 (C) 3 Organization Registered In
Pennsylvania
PGWI Mission And Vision

Mission – To increase global access to safe
drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services,
engaging the resources and expertise of the
Philadelphia region and beyond.

Vision: PGWI envisions a world where all
people have access to safe drinking water and
sanitation; a world free of suffering from waterand sanitation- related disease.
What We Do:

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Projects:
Mainly helps member organizations to be
successful through finding needed
expertise, developing partnerships, and
providing expert technical advice
Education:
 Annual conference on important water/sanitation issues:
April 9, 2013: Gender and Water Leading Beyond the
Burden

Fairmont Water Works Interpretive Center (FWWIC):
education of K-12 students; university classes and research
on water/sanitation issues
Who We Are
Many current/former business professionals in the
environmental field
 Technical experience in hydrology, engineering, public
health, sanitation
 Federal, regional, and local water experts
 Water regulatory experts
 Language services
 Super student volunteers!

PGWI Governance

22 person board meets four times/year

Bylaws have been developed

Eight committees have been established

Network organizations are independently-governed:
have their own boards, fundraising efforts
How PGWI Educates
Providing a forum for network organizations to
exchange ideas on best practices
 Research on key WASH issues (i.e. performance
indicators)
 Holding annual conferences on cutting edge
water/sanitation issues
 Providing experiences for students both in the
classroom, by participation in international conferences,
and on projects in the developing world

Organizations In The PGWI
NETWORK
Dr. Arun Deb
Organizations In The PGWI
NETWORK

Government:
 City of Philadelphia
Water Department
(FWWIC)
 Delaware River Basin
Commission
 US EPA
 Pennsylvania DEP

Academia:


University of
Pennsylvania
Drexel University School
of Public Health
Where PGWI NETWORK
Organizations Have Projects
•
Member Projects In Developing Countries
Afghanistan
Mexico
Nepal
Haiti
Cameroon
India
Guatemala
Kenya
Rwanda
Examples of Success Stories
From the PGWI NETWORK
Dr. Arun Deb
Accessing arsenic-free water for almost 200,000 people
over the past 15 years.
 Looking to complete projects for access to drinking
water in several schools in India.
 2012- completed WASH prj at 8 schools.

Examples of Success Stories
From the PGWI NETWORK
Keiyo Soy Ministries

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
Dr. Elijah Korich
Constructed the equivalent of 18-mile
pipeline gravity based system from the
mountain to villages and schools.
3 concrete water towers serving 6
schools, 6 villages and 3 shopping
centers.
Over 4,000 people have access to
drinking water.
Examples of Success Stories
From the PGWI NETWORK
Aldo Magazzeni

Self- sustaining village with a large
water system

Water system was built at a public
school in Nairobi

Planning to build 2 water systems this
year in Afghanistan
Examples of Success Stories
From the PGWI NETWORK
Penn EWB & PGWI

Collaborative effort between EWB and PGWI

Water assessment of Bome Valley, Cameroon including a health
surveys

Initiated three successful projects in the Bome Valley Region of
Northwest Cameroon.

Still much work to be done including additional education
component.
Examples of Success Stories From
the PGWI NETWORK
Brittany Young


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Founded by a University of Pennsylvania Student
Built 20+ water wells in rural African schools and promoted
education.
Researching and gathering quantitative success indicators.
PGWI Successes Include


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A Close-knit Network Of
Professionals/Students With
Common Interests Has Been
Established
A Hub To Exchange
Information And Make New
Connections
Stronger Projects By Member
Organizations

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Consistent Support Of
Progressive Companies And
Universities
Learned From and Inspired
Each Other
Shared Office Space
Help In Fund Raising (ex.
CETRA)
Guest Lectures
More PGWI Successes
Education

Annual Conferences on key issues: Water
Allocation, The Water-Sanitation-Public Health
Connection, Performance Indicators.

Inspired Offshoots— WH2O Journal, An
Academic Journal For Gender And Water

Student Leadership At International
Conferences- World Water Forum 6; RIO +20

Started Global Partnerships- UPENN-BESU
(INDIA) Joint Workshop, Student Exchange
Where PGWI Would Like To
Do More

FUNDING:

More Projects For Network Members

More Education

Executive Director/Staff to get us to the next level

Establish Philadelphia as a global center for water,
sanitation and hygiene education and research

More use of PGWI expertise by UN, USAID, and Large
NGOs

Sponsor more research on critical issues
Why Would PGWI Be a Good
Model?



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
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Provides additional/ better services to people in developing
countries
Enables network organizations to find the expert help that they
need within regions
PGWI adds value to organizations in the network
Provides a platform for innovation by students and
professionals
Increases the efficiency of helping in developing countries
Raises awareness within the network and with the public
Allows for more people and organizations to be involved
Provides broader and more multi-disciplinary opportunities for
students
Acknowledgements
Our Members
Many others that have supported PGWI
through the years
Volunteers
AWRA-PMAS
www.pgwi.org
Contact information: Rupal Prasad: rupalp@sas.upenn.edu
Stanley Laskowski: laskowski6@aol.com