Rhode Island Working for WASH
Briefing Prepared for _________________
Improving Access to Clean Water Is at the Top of Americans’ Global Health Priorities
People in the state of Rhode Island are leading the effort to solve the global safe drinking water,
sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenge. There are numerous faith-based, civic, and academic
initiatives for WASH underway throughout the state. The top programs in the state include:
a) The Rotary Club of Wakefield implemented water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in
Cambodia, Guatemala, India, and Peru, resulting in increased access to safe drinking
water and sanitation facilities.
b) Brown University’s Engineers Without Borders Chapter provided a Dominican Republic
community with sustainable composting toilets and educated 40 families about toilet
use, maintenance, and repair.
c) East Greenwich High senior Paige Dellerman created a bracelet for Alex and Ani to
benefit Living Water International and since 2011 it has raised over $700,000 for clean
water projects.
d) Dr. Elizabeth Hermann, Professor of Landscape Architecture, founded and co-directs
RISD’s DESINE Lab, an applied research lab that works with partners in South Asia,
Africa, Latin America, and the US to develop and implement social and economic
empowerment strategies for under-resourced, post-conflict, and post-disaster settings.
For more information, please contact John Oldfield at WASH Advocates:
202.293.4049  joldfield@WASHadvocates.org  Updated: December 2015
Other notable efforts include:
Rotary Clubs in Rhode Island
 Rotary Club of Providence
o Partnered with the Dominican diaspora in Providence and Rotary Clubs in the
Dominican Republic to provide water filters, latrines, and sanitation education
to families living in migrant labor camps
 Rotary Club of Woonsocket, Burrillville, and North Smithfield,
o Fundraised $3,000, collaborated with the Providence Rotary Charities
Foundation to provide ceramic water filters to 600 homes in the Dominican
Republic
o Educated families on the proper maintenance and use of water filters
 Rotary District 7950, Massachusetts & Rhode Island
o East Greenwich and Wakefield (RI) Rotary Clubs contributed to a thirty Rotary
Club $100,000 fundraising effort that supported a Guatemala WASH project that
provided a gravity fed water system and VIP latrines to 1,200 people (240
families)
 Rotary Club of Wakefield
o Delivered bio-sand filters and integrated health, hygiene, and sanitation training
into literacy classes that targeted young women in Cambodia
o Collaborated with the Manchester Rotary Club to fund the installation of latrines
and water distribution systems for Guatemalan villagers
o Funded the construction of three wells in southeastern India and reduced water
supply contamination for 600 people
o Provided bio-sand filters that increased access to safe drinking water and
educated community members about hygiene and proper filter use in Peru
Faith-Based Organizations in Rhode Island
 Church of the Epiphany, East Providence
o Raised $17,847 in the Giving Water, Giving Life Campaign that provided a deepwater well and supported World Vision’s WASH program in Ghana
 St. Gregory the Great Church Religious Formation, Warwick
o Raises awareness among members about global water, sanitation, and hygiene
challenges and collects money to fund H2O for Life projects
Schools and Universities in Rhode Island
 Brown University Engineers Without Borders Chapter, Providence
o Established two water storage and supply points for community use and
implemented a slow-sand filtration system in the Dominican Republic
o Partnered with Binghamton University’s EWB Chapter, a New York EWB
Professional Chapter, and Amazon Promise to construct a health clinic that
provides WASH education in Peru
 Portsmouth High School
o Raised funds that supported the construction of a rain catchment tank, latrines,
and handwashing stations at Danijo Shiners Academy in Kenya
For more information, please contact John Oldfield at WASH Advocates:
202.293.4049  joldfield@WASHadvocates.org  Updated: December 2015
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University of Rhode Island, Kingston
o The College of Engineering offers an International Engineering Program that
prepares students to address global engineering challenges like water,
sanitation, and hygiene
o Rhode Island Water Resources Center Professor Harry Knickle hosted a clean
drinking water conference for college students, engineering faculty, and industry
professionals
o Dr. Thomas Boving, a professor in the Department of Geosciences, teaches a
“Sustainable Solutions for Developing Communities” course and has
implemented water treatment projects in rural communities in India, Jordan,
and Indonesia
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence
o Dr. Elizabeth Hermann, founder and co-director of RISD’s DESINE Lab,
presented case studies of RISD’s DESINE Lab work with vulnerable populations
living in the Bay of Bengal at the MIT Water Workshop
Le Salle Academy, Providence
o Le Salle Academy freshman Robert Checani was awarded the 2010 Stockholm
Junior Water Prize for Rhode Island
o Le Salle Academy science teacher Leslie Martinelli was named a Rhode Island
Science Teacher of the Year Finalist for her mentorship of two Stockholm Junior
Water Prize winners and for promoting water-related student activities
WASH-Focused Organizations in Rhode Island
 Alex and Ani, Cranston
o Supports WASH organizations through its Charity by Design line by donating
20% of proceeds from jewelry charms to Plan International’s Because I Am a Girl
Campaign, The ONE Campaign, and Living Water International
For more information, please contact John Oldfield at WASH Advocates:
202.293.4049  joldfield@WASHadvocates.org  Updated: December 2015