Overview
AQUA PROGRAM is a joint project with a jewelry brand “4℃” and Japan Water Forum.
It aims to bring “beauty” and “inspire” the women in developing countries who face serious water and hygiene problems by addressing water issues.
Since it’s establishment in 2008, projects have been carried out in the Republic of Kiribati, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The outlines of the AQUA PROGRAM 2020 are described below.

Outline of the 4℃ AQUA PROGRAM 2020
1) Project Site
Morrelganj Upazila, Bagerhat District, Khulna Division, Bangladesh

Bangladesh	Khulna Division

2) Project period
From October 2020 to June 2021

3) Local partner
People for Rainwater Bangladesh

4) Problems
Unlike urban settings, water supply systems are absent in the rural areas of Bangladesh and it is less likely for the areas to have such systems implemented in near future. Therefore, people in the areas where the project is targeting at are relying on ponds and wells for drinking water. However, the quality of such water is not good and securing safe drinking water is hard to attain.
Women and children are the most affected as they are to bear burden to secure drinking water. Every day, they have to go far away from home to get some water from a water pond or well, at the expense of the time for household works and education.
Also, drinking poor-quality water often causes water borne diseases such as diarrhea, which requires additional medical cost for families who are already suffer from poor income in the farming community.

5) Project plan
The project will install a rainwater harvesting system for each family of the targeting village, which enables storing rainwater for drinking purpose. Furthermore, the villagers will be trained to use, maintain and manage the system appropriately so that they can maintain the system for themselves.
Particulars;
– Install rainwater harvesting systems for households in the farming area.
– Conduct trainings regarding the usage and maintenance/management of the rainwater harvesting system.
– Conduct knowledge and experience workshop.
– Follow-ups: Status review and guidance on the usage and maintenance/management, as well as quality test of the rainwater stored in the system.

6) Beneficiaries
30-40households (expected)

7) Potential Impacts
– People in the rural neighborhood will be able to access safe drinking water by utilizing rainwater.
– Women and children will be freed from the burden to get water from distant sources.
– Expenses of medication and medical treatment for water-borne diseases caused by drinking water of conventional way will be reduced.

8) Current Situation of past project sites
We conducted follow-up observations with some beneficiaries of AQUA PROGRAM 2016 and AQUA PROGRAM2017 in July 2019. They have operated and managed their rainwater harvesting systems and benefited from the positive impacts mentioned in 7).

Beneficiary of AQUA PROGRAM 2016	Beneficiaries of AQUA PROGRAM 2017

(Reported by Shigenori Asai, Director and Miyo Tabata, Assistant Manager)