Sharon Kleyne Hour Radio Host Announces New Global Women for Water Mission

Press release - June 6, 2014

Sharon Kleyne Hour Radio Host Announces New Global Women for Water Mission

Women Historically Are More Impacted by Water Shortages than Men Says Host Sharon Kleyne

Hear the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water on World Talk Radio, Voice America, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes

Radio Host Sharon Kleyne has announced a new global women's mission to educate the world about water shortages, water recycling and the need for governments to work together to solve water problems. The mission will be called "Women for Water." Kleyne made the announcement during an interview on her radio show, the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water®, while interviewing guest Jerry Wiles, President of Living Water International. Wiles and Kleyne had been discussing the critical importance of women to the success of his agency's many water projects around the world. The show aired on June 23, 2014

Wiles suggested the name "Women for Water."

The globally syndicated Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water® radio show is heard on VoiceAmerica and Apple iTunes. Kleyne is also Founder of Bio-Logic Aqua Research, a fresh water, atmospheric and water technology research and product development center. Nature's Tears® EyeMist®, a 100% fresh water mist for dry eye, is the Research Center's global signature product.

As a woman entrepreneur, researcher and educator, Kleyne has been an outspoken water advocate and activist for over 30 years. Kleyne is a member of the International Woman's Association.

Living Water International was founded in 1990 to bring safe and reliable water to rural areas in developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. As of 2014, with an annual budget of $28 million, the organization has constructed over 14,000 water wells. Jerry Wiles, PhD, was President of Living Water International for 12 years and is now President Emeritus. The current president is Gary Evans.

During the interview, Wiles noted that historically, women are far more impacted than men by water shortages and unsafe water. In rural villages in developing nations, the task of fetching water each day from the nearest creek or pond is considered "woman's work." This sometimes entails carrying water for several miles. The women usually bring their children, and young girls are trained to fetch and carry water at an early age.

Creek and pond water, especially from a community source and/or an animal drinking or wading area, is usually contaminated. As a result, says Wiles, water borne diseases are rampant in these villages. Worldwide, someone dies every 15 seconds from water borne disease.

The lack of a safe and reliable water source, such as a community well, prevents women and children from attending school and prevents women from becoming involved in their community. Given the opportunity, Kleyne notes, women often become deeply involved in local economic development. According to the African Development Bank, says Kleyne, 48% of small business entrepreneurs in Kenya are women (African Development Bank, "African Women in business, African Women in Business initiative report, 2010, http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Generic-Documents/d%C3%A9pliant%20AWIB%20ENGL.pdf

Women who had formerly been relegated to daily water carrying, according to Wiles, often serve on the organizing committees for local well projects and become deeply involved in educating their village on the importance of water to health, sanitation, hygiene and economic development

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Woman herbalists, according to Kleyne, were the world's first healers. Kleyne believes that the most important medicine by far, available to these early women healers - and to modern physicians - is pure, fresh water. Wiles confirmed the importance of water as a healing medication by noting that half the world's hospital beds are occupied by individuals suffering from a disease or condition related to water or dehydration, including cancer.

Dr. Wiles mentioned the Samaritan woman at the Well of Jacob, in John 4:4-26. The Samaritan woman shared her water with Jesus because Jesus had no bucket, even though Jews and Samaritans did not normally interact. The woman had been fetching the daily water for her family - as women had done for thousands of years and still do in many places.

Women tend to be nurturers, healers, conciliators and teachers, Kleyne observed. This makes them ideally suited to set an example for the world and spread the message regarding water and health, hydration, sanitation and hygiene, water conservation and recycling and the equitable and peaceful resolution of water conflicts. That is the mission of Women for Water.

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