New life for valves at "Water is our World" Foundation

In early April, Casper van Ommen and Servan Schuurman of the "Water is our World" Foundation visited Imbema. Purpose: to transfer water supply materials, as many as 204 valves, that will get a second life in developing countries.

Water management worldwide
The Foundation Water is our World is a non-subsidized Dutch organization that focuses on realizing, restoring or improving drinking water and sanitation facilities in villages and towns in developing countries. They provide direct help by supplying and installing materials. But also by transferring knowledge in the field of clean drinking water, sanitation, technical management, health care and hygiene education. Whenever possible, used materials and installations are used and given a second life.

Festive handover
Casper van Ommen (founder and chairman of the Water is our World Foundation), Servan Schuurman (volunteer with the Foundation and employed by Vitens) and Bert van der Giessen (initiator and senior sales engineer at Imbema) were present for the festive handover of the water supply equipment.

Bert: "We think the goal of this foundation is a powerful example of looking beyond national borders: finding a new, valuable use for materials. It appeals to us enormously. In addition, it fits well with Imbema's CSR policy."

"I have known Henk Hogenkamp, a volunteer with the foundation and employed by Vitens for over 20 years. We regularly work together. Through him I came into contact with Water is our World. At one point I heard that products were going to be written off at Imbema, after the inventory of the warehouse stock. That gave me the idea to donate these products to this foundation. So that they can still serve in water supplies in developing countries."

The Foundation receives support from Vitens, they provide the logistics center in Lelystad where the materials will be delivered April 11, 2019.

Casper says, "The donated products are directly applicable. We receive materials and then see what we can do with them. We get our projects in different ways. For example, we got a project in Vietnam through a former boat refugee, an engineer. We have such projects in Suriname, Serbia, Vietnam, Moldova and Senegal.

What impact do these valves have?
Some of the substantial stock of valves now available to the Foundation can be put to good use for a project in Vietnam. The remainder will continue to be discussed at the Foundation. Projects such as these connect local residents to the drinking water network. With that thought, we know the materials have been put to good use!

More info:
Water is our World Foundation: http://waterisourworld.com

Bert van der Giessen, Imbema: bvandergiessen@imbema.com, www.imbema.com