Just One African Well From Watercan Can Make All The Difference

WaterCan is a leading Canadian charity that is dedicated to fighting global poverty by assisting the world's poorest countries gain access to clean water, basic sanitation, and hygiene education. Since 1987, WaterCan has reached over one million children, women, and men in the poorest regions and one call to action was building and maintaining an African well in areas that need them the most. By establishing easy access to clean water through African wells, WaterCan gets closer to helping deprived communities in African countries finally break the cycle of poverty and secure a brighter future.

How Can You Make a Difference with WaterCan? You can support their charity through various means such as making a full donation, monthly donation, or honour donation by phone, mail, or online; planned giving; or donating featured gifts of water. Before taking part in this truly generous act, here are some frequently asked questions and answers about WaterCan and their African Well mission.

How much does a well cost?

WaterCan's emphasis on supporting water and sanitation projects that cater to the unique needs of each individual community makes it difficult to sum up an exact cost. Many factors such as size and location of the community, type of water and sanitation facilities deemed appropriate, technology used, labor costs, availability of materials and transportation play a role in the cost from one community to the next. Rather than focusing on the cost of a project or a particular water system, WaterCan believes that cost per beneficiary is a more useful figure to consider. Based on their extensive experience working overseas, on average it costs $25 to provide one person with basic water, sanitation and hygiene education services for life.

Can I volunteer overseas with WaterCan?

WaterCan is not a volunteer-sending organization. They work exclusively with indigenous partner organizations in supporting the development of local and indigenous human resources that lie at the very heart of effective international development.

Can I directly fund a specific project?

To help control administrative and fundraising costs, WaterCan is pleased to assign gifts of $5000 and more to specific projects at Giftsofwater.ca.

How much money is spent on WaterCan's administration?

In the fiscal year 2009-2010 WaterCan spent a total of 17.6% of its total expenditures on administration and fundraising costs. 82.4% was spent on programming, which includes both international project activities and domestic public engagement initiatives.

How does WaterCan leverage my donation?

The Canadian government through the Canadian International Development Agency [CIDA] allows you to leverage your donation through 3:1 matching grants on pre-approved projects. WaterCan is also able to match donations with non-CIDA resources.

Can I request a project to be completed in a specific community?

WaterCan does not accept unsolicited proposals for projects. Beneficiary communities are selected exclusively by indigenous partner organizations in collaboration with WaterCan's program staff on the basis of need, feasibility and community consultations.

Visit Watercan and find out how your support can make a difference.

WaterCan is a Canadian charity that recognizes the impact access to clean water in Africa has on the community, and is working to make this very important basic necessity available to all. For more information, please visit www.watercan.com.