Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
Clean Water | Dignified Sanitation | Healthier Communities
WASH is more than just a basic necessity; it is a cornerstone of sustainable development. At OBAT Helpers, we are committed to transforming the lives of camp communities through our comprehensive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) projects. We understand that access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene facilities are essential for health and well-being.
Our initiatives include the renovation and construction of new bathrooms, community centers, drains, and sewage systems, ensuring that camp residents have the infrastructure they need to thrive. To combat the critical shortage of potable water, we have installed tube wells and hand pumps in various camps, bringing safe and clean water directly to those who need it most.
Our Goals
Enhancing Water Access:
Install and maintain tube wells and hand pumps to provide safe drinking water for underserved communities, reducing the prevalence of waterborne diseases.
Improving Sanitation Facilities:
Renovate existing bathrooms and construct new sanitation facilities to promote hygiene and reduce health risks associated with inadequate sanitation.
Raising Hygiene Awareness:
Implement educational programs and workshops to teach community members about proper hygiene practices, such as handwashing and safe water handling, to foster a culture of health.
Emergency Response and Relief:
Quickly mobilize resources and support during disasters to provide immediate relief to affected communities, ensuring they have access to essential services and recovery resources.
Our Projects
Installation of Water Wells
In collaboration with our valued partner, OBAT Canada, we installed 15 hand pumps in Susua, benefiting 3,000 villagers with access to clean water. The materials were transported through challenging terrain, demonstrating our commitment to reaching remote communities.
In 2021, we installed 6 semi-deep tube wells and 3 motorized deep tube wells in various cities, providing clean water to over 14,150 people. Notable locations include Mirpur and Mohammadpur in Dhaka, and Mymensingh, Halishaher, Bogra, and Khulna.
In 2022, Two motorized tube wells serving approximately 6,000 people, were installed by OBAT in the ADC Camp in Mirpur Dhaka and Town Hall Camp in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
Six semi deep tube wells were constructed in Rangpur in February of 2022. These wells are now providing clean water to around 5,000 people who can use it for drinking and for daily tasks such as cooking and bathing.
Seven semi deep tube wells were installed in the cities of Raufabad, Halishaher, Jesssore, Khulna, Rangpur and Bogra. Altogether, the wells will provide clean drinking water to over 2,700 people.
Other semi deep tube wells constructed in the areas of Bogra, Khulna, Raufabad and Rangpur in 2022 are providing potable water to approximately 2,000 individuals. Two bathrooms were constructed in SB Nagar for men and women and are together providing sanitation facilities to over 100 people.
Rainwater Harvesting Project
Sardar Bahadur Nagar School Camp:
Our first Rainwater Harvesting Project captures rainwater from the roof of a ladies' bathroom and a tank, storing 6,000 liters of water for use by 40 families. This initiative is a crucial step towards sustainable water access in an area with limited resources.
Construction of Bathrooms
Ladies Bathroom in Sardar Bahadur Nagar
In response to the urgent need for sanitation facilities, we constructed a ladies' bathroom that serves 40 families, providing privacy and improving sanitation for women in the camp.
Ferozeshah Boys School Camp:
We constructed four restrooms, benefiting approximately 150 adults and children, improving overall health and sanitation standards in the community.
Baitulfalah Camp in Khalishpur:
Our new toilet facilities, featuring four stalls and a Western toilet for accessibility, will serve around 400 people, promoting dignity and safety.
New Bathroom for Female Students
Most of the students at OBAT's Primary and Junior High School in Ferozeshah are girls. Previously, the girls had to use community toilets located far from the school. This posed safety concerns for the girls as they had to walk long distances to use the facilities. In addition, the community toilets were often dirty and unhygienic. To address this issue, OBAT was able to construct two toilets - one each for the female students and staff.
Our Gallery
WATER SANITATION/CONSTRUCTION
Imagine a world where every drop of water brings hope and health. In Bangladesh, thousands of families lack access to clean water, a fundamental right many take for granted. But together, we can change that.
A single hand pump costs only $250 and can provide clean water for approximately 100 people. Your support can save lives and help prevent waterborne diseases.
Impact Stories
Hafiza Begum is 70 years old. She lives in the ADC camp in Mirpur, Dhaka with her son, his wife and their three year old daughter. Hafiza helps her daughter-in-law with daily home chores by fetching water for cooking and drinking. Due to her old age, it was very difficult for her to walk for almost ten minutes to another camp to get water. She had to wait in a long line with other camp residents to collect water and had to walk back home with the heavy water cans.
To address the challenges faced by the camp residents, a motorized deep tube well was installed in the ADC camp by OBAT. The well provides clean water to over 3,000 people on a daily basis. Hafiza Begum is delighted that she will no longer have to stand in a long line to collect water and carry it back home from a far distance. The new well is near her home, giving her quick and easy access to clean water. Hafiza Begum shared her happiness and gratitude with OBAT’s staff and requested them to convey her thanks and prayers to OBAT’s donors
To address the challenges faced by the camp residents, a motorized deep tube well was installed in the ADC camp by OBAT. The well provides clean water to over 3,000 people on a daily basis.
Nearly 120 families live in Kabristan Galli located in Raufabad Colony in Chittagong. This population had been suffering from lack of access to clean drinking water for a long time. A water pump located here yielded water laced with contaminants, making it unfit for bathing, washing and other needs. Hence, people had to walk a long distance to gain access to a source of clean drinking water. As the residents of this area belong to a very impoverished community, they couldn’t afford to install a well on their own. With the support of a generous donor, OBAT was able to install a deep motorized tube well in Raufabad Colony. The well is now fulfilling the water needs of members of this community.
With the support of a generous donor, OBAT was able to install a deep motorized tube well in Raufabad Colony.
Munni Begum is one of the residents of the Raufabad Colony whose life has changed for the better due to the new well. She now feels at ease having a source of potable water near her house. Munni Begum is elderly and due to her ill health, she did not find it easy to walk back home with a heavy can of water. The new well fulfills all her family’s needs and adds a lot of value to her life.
