Ponds as a water source in the Sunderbans

I was visiting the Sunderbans earlier this year as part of the AIF annual board and trustees trip to India.  What I saw there was fascinating but also highlights the importance and dependence of the villagers on water.  This picture shows a pond that is in the center of almost every few huts in the village.  It serves as a communal water source.  People bathe here, animals drink and sometimes bathe in it and it is also used to wash clothes and to irrigate their fields which are often right next to the pond.  During high tides, water fills these ponds and helps clean them up a bit and to freshen it.  It got me thinking about not only the innovation of these ponds but also about the inherent health risks posed by these ponds.

Rains or Not, India Is Falling Short on Drinkable Water

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/world/asia/rains-or-not-india-is-falling-short-on-drinkable-water.html?_r=0

I highly encourage you all to read this article. It talks about why India doesn't have clean water, and how this affects the population. A shocking factoid from this article was,
"every year, about 600,000 Indian children die because of diarrhea or pneumonia, often caused by toxic water and poor hygiene,". Not only is India going through a drought and has limited access to water, but the water that some "lucky" people have access to is contaminated or poisonous to humans. This article talks about how even the big cities in India have inferior sewage systems, resulting in the Human waste flowing from the sewage pipes into their main water sources and bodies of water. They also do not have good filtration systems resulting in consumption of Human waste through water.
-Sophia Nesamoney

Hello
Thought it would be interesting for you all to see examples of frugal innovation/Jugaad in India
http://www.quora.com/India/What-are-the-best-examples-of-Indias-Jugaad-used-to-solve-everyday-problems

Usha Nesamoney

Kickoff and Orientation Event

The Ambassadors and their parents attended an orientation event at the Nesamoney's house.  Amidst Chai and snacks, the kids learned about the trip and some of the things we will be doing during the trip.  Stacey Kertsman presented a mini-workshop on Innovation that got the kids creative ideas going!  

Parents were told about the logistics and how to stay in touch.  This blog is the best way for parents to know what their kids are doing on the trip!

CocaCola's "Slingshot"

Check out how the CocaCola company has made it possible to deliver clean drinking water to rural India.  Check out the "Slingshot" technology!

Click to view

Welcome!

Welcome to the AIF Youth Ambassador Summer Program blog! We had our informational meeting at the Nesamoney's house a little while ago but remember to submit the survey and get all of your forms signed and turned in. Our theme for this trip is water. If you come across anything interesting things about water in India feel free to post a reply. Also, if you could post a little bit about yourself to help the other students on this trip get to know about you that would be great! We will be using this page to communicate during the trip. 
-The Ambassador Program Organizers