CHARLESTON, SC (ANS) -- Thirty leaders from around the world, representing 10 different countries, are gathered in Charleston, SC, for a week-long organizational workshop in order to plan how to provide safe drinking water to the needy in 2010.

Water Missions International (WMI)  www.watermissions.org is hosting a select group of its foreign directors, staff and volunteers for the workshop, which will end on Wednesday, December 9.

These 30 leaders from gathering at WMI's International Headquarters in Charleston, represent 10 countries, including Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Peru, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, where safe, clean drinking water is a critical issue.

Children enjoy a glass of safe, clean drinking water, courtesy of Water Missions International (Water Missions International photo)

A media release says the WMI leaders attending the workshop are challenged every day in the countries where they reside to deal with the effects of the global water crisis.

"They are the ones who see the need for safe water first-hand, and they are the ones who are responsible for delivering the solution, safe drinking water that changes lives," the release explains.

It adds: "During this week-long workshop, the leaders will discuss success stories and operations from the field and use them to create and implement new, more efficient plans to help provide safe drinking water to needy people in the upcoming year."

Josue Mpayamaguru, WMI's Sri Lankan Country Director, stated: "I've been looking forward to this meeting for a long time."

"I've never met the directors from other countries before. I want to hear what it is like for them and if they experience the same things that I do in my work. Mostly, I am looking forward to working with the other WMI staff members to reach even more people with clean, safe water this year."

Water Missions International (WMI) is a nonprofit, Christian-based engineering organization whose mission is to provide sustainable access to safe water and an opportunity to hear the Living Water message in developing countries and disaster areas. Assistance is provided regardless of age, sex, race, or faith.

WMI's safe water solutions bring immediate and lasting benefits in health, dignity, education, productivity, and income generation to some of the world's most marginalized and forgotten people. WMI has provided safe water to more than 1.6 million people in 40 countries around the world. Visit www.watermissions.org  for more information.

_______________________________________________ 

Media Contact: Lindsay Wine,
Water Missions International,
843-769-7395

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649,at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' To suggest a news or feature story idea for Michael, write to him at:ANS Chief Reporter.