Celebrating Our 15th Year of Water Projects With 2 New Projects At Merasi School~ Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
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Water is a scarce and highly valued commodity in the Thar Desert where Merasi School is located. At the same time, the children and families of Merasi School are considered untouchables and as such are denied access to most education and government services. Having clean drinking water and functioning toilets is a human right, yet sadly there was little government help to ensure that students at Merasi School received their own drinking water until 2015 when, in close collaboration with Folk Arts Rajasthan and Lok Kala Sagar Sansthan, WaterBridge Outreach engaged in installing a sizeable water tank, with water purifier, to remedy this need. A few years later, WaterBridge collaborated again to install additional water tanks on the roof to service two newly built school toilets.
In 2024, due to increased attendance at Merasi school, it became necessary for the school to use both their buildings for academics requiring the Lok Kala Sagar Sansthan building to have its own filtering system. From April to July, with temperatures hovering between 100–115°F,. Waterbridge Outreach worked with FAR to install a filtering system in this building as well. Now, with water purification systems in both buildings, storage tanks on the roof and one underground, ample purified water is available to all students and staff at the school even during the hottest months when supply is erratic.
Our latest water project was initiated when FAR Executive Director Karen Lukas, noticed that many families lacked proper water storage and were using old oil or industrial containers. Recognizing health issues related to unsuitable vessels WBO helped to provide each student’s family with designated safe storage water bottles.
On World Water Day as we celebrate water, and reflect on the sobering thought that 1 in 4 people in the world lack access to clean, safe drinking water, please take a moment to reflect on this story that Karen shared with us.
As the last children’s gathering drew to a close, most children hurried to board their bus; the air buzzing with the day’s excitement. A small cluster lingered by one water cooler. Each took slow savoring sips. And then a refill. Curious, I watched until a passing teacher explained that these children had never tasted water that wasn’t salty before. To them, it was a revelation.
Catching a glimpse of a pivotal experience, for me too: A simple glass of clean water not experienced as basic necessity but rather pure luxury.
 Reverse Osmosis SystemThe Merasi School has never had its own drinking water and, in close collaboration with FAR and LKSS, WaterBridge Outreach engaged in installing a sizeable water tank, with water purifier, to remedy this need. |  Library BooksBuilding Up the Library at Merasi School: an Interview with WaterBridge Outreach "book mules" Angelo Lamola and Jenny Li |  School WashroomsMerasi School was opened in 2007 and is the only learning space where Merasi children are welcomed and treated with respect. It functioned for the first decade with a funky single toilet. Now thanks once again to a wonderful alliance, two gender-specific stone-tiled toilets have been constructed. They are made of the Thar Desert sandstone that along with the dunes earned Jaisalmer the name “The Golden City”. The days of the funky toilet at Merasi School are no more! |
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 The Merasi SchoolThe children of the Merasi School are considered untouchable. As such they are denied access to most education. Since 2010 WaterBridge Outreach has been working to put books into the hands of Merasi School students. |  COVID-19 SupportFunds provided by WaterBridge Outreach to the Merasi School and Folk Arts Rajasthan have helped families to meet some of their immediate needs for kitchen staples including water during the COVID crisis |