PGWI Projects
Research & Analysis
After hearing about some of Philadelphia's water-related history at the PGWI conference in November 2006, a representative from the UN Development Programme expressed an interest to Stan Laskowski in learning how developing urban areas could learn from Philadelphia's experiences with wate and sanitation.
Niva Kramek and Lydia Loh of the University of Pennsylvania took on this project, and with the advice and expertise of Ed Grusheski of the Philadelphia Water Department and Adam Levine of the PWD archives, they produced this report: The History of Philadelphia's Water Supply and Sanitation System: Lessons in Sustainability for Developing Urban Water Systems. It has been reviewed and is availible for distribution on CD or hard copy; please contact us if you are interested, or feel free to download it here. We have also created a single-page promotional flier providing slightly more details (which is nice and short and perfect for sharing!)
Many of the source documents and nearly all photos, engravings, and maps in the report came from the fantastic website historical consultant Adam Levine produces for the PWD on Philadelphia's water and sewers history: www.phillyh20.org. There's something there for everyone, and a lot for anyone interested in water & politics, water & disease, sanitation planning, and many maps, photos, and digital versions of original documents.
Current Projects and in Need of Funding
Under the recent agreement with Rotary District 7450, the following project proposals have been developed. Rotary and PGWI encourage the adoption of the projects. Please contact John Steele, Rotary District 7450. If you are interested in helping to fund any of these projects (johnsteele220@comcast.net).
- Rotary Project 1: Afghanistan Panjsher Valley Village Water Supply
- Rotary Project 2: USA and Philippines WASH Initiative
- Rotary Project 3: A Sustainable Clean Water Project in Masindi, Uganda
- Rotary Project 4: Kenya Katumoi Area Rainwater Harvesting Dams
- Rotary Project 5: Cameroon Gundom, Bome Valley
- Project 6: Mexcio
- Project 7: Arsenic Probem in India
- Project 8: Suraya Pakzad's Sponsorship
- Suraya's Profile
- Project Proposal
- Time Magazine: The World's 100 Most Influential People
- NEWS STORY: Suraya risked death to teach girls in secret (from the Irish Examiner)
- NEWS STORY: Afghan Women Find Shelter in Service Organization (from American.Gov)
- NEWS STORY: Suraya puts her life on the line for justice (from Newsletter.UK)
- NEW STORY: His camera joins her courage to keep focus on crisis spots: Aldo Magazzeni and Suraya Pakzad share their efforts to improve life in Afghanistan and beyond (from The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- NEWS STORY: Child brides a common sight at Afghan women's shelter (from The National Post)
- SPEECH: Secretary Rice's Remarks at International Women of Courage Award Ceremony, March 10, 2008