Kevin Kelly &Cathy Jeffrey

WaterCan is a registered charity that is dedicated to providing clean drinking water to the world’s poorest people. Since its creation in 1987, Water- Can has assisted more than one million people in 32 developing countries.

WaterCan supports projects that are long-term development initiatives, use low-cost, locally appropriate technologies, integrate water supply, sanitation and hygiene education activities emphasize community ownership of planning and management, self-help and community participation and it benefits and involves women.

WaterCan attaches great importance to public education efforts in Canada. These activities help to ensure that providing clean water and sanitation services to the world’s poor is an important priority for Canadians and other members of the international community.

WaterCan helps reduce poverty in developing countries. The lack of safe water and sanitation services in the developing world is most acutely felt by rural dwellers and the urban poor. With few resources at their disposal to access to these services, the poor are particularly vulnerable to illnesses that in turn impede their productivity and make escaping poverty even more difficult. In addition to the reduction of disease, improving access to safe water supplies makes collecting water typically the responsibility of women and girls - more convenient, less time-consuming, and less physically demanding. This in turn allows beneficiaries to have more time to pursue productive activities such as attending school, taking better care of the family, farming, or running a small business. In many cases, these social and economic benefits rather than health benefits are the reasons why communities commonly identify improved water supply as a high priority for development.

“Providing clean water and
sanitation services to the
world’s poor is an important
priority for Canadians.”

WaterCan’s vital work is made possible by the generous support provided by individuals, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, corporations and foundations. Last year Lazarus Partners donations helped in the aid of the Meskan District Project in Eastern Africa.

Kevin Kelly and Cathy Jeffrey