Mennonite
Central
Committee

Water Projects

 

The Display

Create a display of the many water pumps that MCC utilizes all over the world. Every type of handmade pump imaginable—from oil cans and plastic buckets to lard cans—is available on loan from the Material Resource Center in Ephrata, Pennsylvania ((717)-733-2847). These items are working models from which the children can learn and enjoy.

 

Rope Pump

One pump available on loan is a rope pump which makes use of an old tire cut in half, a rope, washers, and PVC pipes. It is one of several pumps which MCC calls an appropriate technology product. It is called appropriate technology because it makes use of materials fairly readily available and affordable in most third world countries. It can be built by the people themselves and is easy to maintain. This is in contrast to other technology (often imported from industrialized countries) that is expensive to purchase and difficult to maintain (parts are expensive and hard to come by).

The rope pump is used most frequently in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Bolivia. It can bring water from 85 feet below the surface. The rope pump is based on the waterwheel concept. The washers strung on the rope "trap" water in the PVC pipe and bring it to the surface. The well is dug or drilled by hand. Even though it is a simple piece of technology, it can make a big difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Children and women don't have to walk for miles to get their water (often from polluted streams). A well with a simple pump also has the potential to improve the health of a community because it provides clean drinking water.

 

Make a Tippy Tap

One of five children in Cambodia dies before he or she is 5 years old, many from diarrhea caused by poor sanitation. Since many people cannot afford to boil their water or build toilets, MCC encourages people to wash their hands before preparing or eating food and after using the toilet. Since clean water is scarce half of the year, MCC is introducing tippy taps, water-saving devices developed in Africa. A tippy tap is a plastic container which hangs on a rope. A small hole in the bottom of the container releases a stream of water when the screw is pushed up, much like some soap dispensers.

Have children give a $1 donation toward water projects and make a small tippy tap of their own. Prior to the sale, drill a small hole in the center bottom of a 3" high plastic pail [possible supplier, Oriental Trading Company, www.oriental.com]. Put a small spring on a 1" screw. Insert tip of screw into outside bottom of pail, add 1" washer and nut. Place label on pail which says, "Tippy Taps" Save Children's Lives. Fill with water, hang and push screw from bottom to use.

 

Learning Activities and Games

1. Walk for Water

Make a 12' path of plastic on the floor that says "WALK FOR WATER." Put an empty pail at the starting point of the path and a pail partially full of water at the other end of the path (consider having a smaller, lighter pail for young children). Encourage the children to carry the empty pail down the path to the "water hole" and there pick up the full container and carry it back. If they accomplish this chore, give them a lollipop.

Many children in other countries walk long distances to fetch water. MCC is helping families construct household water cisterns.
See MCC World for stories from around the world.

 

2. Ring the Camel

Make a large wooden camel and place some signs on him about water and how hard it is for people to get the water they need. Place individual sports water bottles all around the wooden camel. Give children the opportunity to throw a "ring" around the neck of the camel and "win" a bottle of water. Provide children with an activity sheet about water.
See Water is life quiz (Microsoft Word document) and
Water Facts from MCC Water Table.

The person helping at this stand may be talking to the children about not having water and about how difficult it is to get in some parts of the world. To borrow a camel or obtain a pattern, contact the Material Resource Center in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

 

3. Fish Pond

Cut paper fish from old calendars with photos of children from around the world. Put a large paper clip on each fish and label them as follows: School kit fish, Health kit fish, Newborn kit "trout." Make several fishing poles out of dowel rods with string and a strong magnet on the end of each. Place the paper fish in a "pond," and add a fan blowing plastic strips around to simulate water.

As children come to the pond, give each child a fishing pole, "license" (which includes the Material Resource Project brochure) and a list of the fish they can catch. Give each child four chances to fish. If they catch four different fish they can pack a health kit. When finished fishing, let the children keep their paper fish and licenses, and have a few candy fish as a treat.

 

Resources

 

Storybooks and Activity Sheets - contact your nearest MCC Office.

Penny Power

Resource Catalog
Search for "water"

Water is life quiz (Microsoft Word document)