BARKA Foundation is taking a long-term perspective. We believe that we have barely begun, so how can we possibly declare failure? BARKA is a relative babe in the WINS woods- we began focusing on issues of clean water in Burkina Faso in 2008. It is only through our affiliation with the UN that we learned about UNICEF's WASH in Schools program and the importance of an integral and holistic approach toward water, sanitation & hygiene education to create lasting impact. Through Ned Breslin's article on Rethinking Hydrophilanthropy, we came to understand the vital importance of a village financial mechanism to collect funds to be used to replace broken water systems when they inevitably fail... only then can local communities permanently reverse the cycle of poverty.

We want to add three things to the discussion:

1. The need for sensitivity to indigenous culture and identity within the context of development. In the Declaration of Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples, "Free, Prior & Informed Consent" is established as a robust set of guidelines for NGOs, govts and outside entities to follow during any intervention. It was self-determined by indigenous people for indigenous people and we in the WASH sector must not take it for granted or forget to apply it in every aspect of our work.

2. Ceramic water filters: an effective, inexpensive, locally sourced, easy-to-use, low-tech solution for clean drinking water at the household level. At the very least, every school should be filtering water for its students and teaching the proper use and maintenance of these filters so the children grow up with filters as a part of their lives. They're readily adaptable and familiar within an indigenous context (at least in West Africa) because water is already stored in ceramic urns. We don't understand why every family on the planet that needs one doesn't have a filter in their home. This is an economic (and socio-political?) issue. BARKA includes ceramic filters as an integral part of its WASH in Schools efforts. In addition, there is a wonderful opportunity to administer basic hygiene education in the process of distributing filters within a community.

3. Inter-Cultural Dialogue: it is important to teach kids who have clean water and sanitation about their counterparts in the developing world who don't, and furthermore to offer a platform for today's youth to get involved in helping, changing and impacting the situation. Through service-learning education (Walks for Water, "WASH ART") water consciousness is raised within schools and communities. This can have life-changing effects on individuals and their relationship to water.

With so much inspiring work currently taking place around the globe, with new awareness that is dawning on all of us about HOW to do what we do, how could we possibly declare failure? Thanks to you all for your hard work and important contributions to the field.

'Barka' is an African word of gratitude, blessing & reciprocity.

Peace, Water & Wisdom