Aruba, September 7, 2023 — The Water Cooler Project, overseen by The Rotary Club of Aruba, drew inspiration from the pioneering efforts of The Interact Club of Colegio Arubano. The Interact Club took the lead by initiating the Water Cooler in Schools project, on March 22, 2021, World Water Day, with the installation and inauguration of the FIRST water cooler at Colegio Arubano. This innovative project is designed to benefit students aged 4-18 years across Aruba, with the overarching goal of providing access to clean and revitalizing drinking water in all 75 schools, thereby fostering a healthier and more sustainable community.
To date, 19 water coolers have been installed in various schools across Aruba. Currently, many schools are buying bags of ice several times a week and storing these in freezers to cool water. , With the Water Cooler Project, this practice is slowly but surely being eliminated significantly enhancing the efficiency of distributing clean, chilled water.
An important advantage of this initiative lies in its objective to combat obesity within the community. By encouraging the consumption of clean, cool water as a much healthier alternative to sugary beverages, the project aligns with broader health objectives. It also plays a crucial role in the areas of disease prevention and treatment, especially in reducing the risk of transmitting bacteria (such as COVID-19). Additionally, the project promotes child health, and enhances environmental sustainability by reducing the use of (disposable) plastic water bottles.
Despite the continued success of this project, our primary ongoing challenge revolves around sourcing these units locally at favorable prices. However, the realization of this initiative has been made possible through the generous sponsorship and steadfast support of our sister clubs, including the Rotary Club of Curacao, Rotary Club of Willemstad, Rotary Club of Bonaire, Rotary Club of Kentville (Canada), Rotary Club of Moncton West and Riverview (Canada), and District 7030. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to Bon Bini Cargo for their invaluable assistance in transporting the units, a critical factor in achieving project milestones.
This impactful project is led by a dedicated committee from the Rotary Club of Aruba, including our sincere Don de Veer, Orlando Hoevertsz, Lufrido Croes, Ravee Nandwani, Geert Rep, and Frederick Nuboer. Their commitment and consistency have been instrumental in driving this project’s success.
The Rotary Club of Aruba invites the public to join in preserving these water coolers for the benefit of our children, ensuring access to clean and refreshing drinking water for a healthier future.
For more information, please contact https://rotaryclubaruba.org
