World Water Day: Partnering to Provide Water
Water. Life giving. Thirst quenching. A building block of life itself. Reliable access to clean, safe water is still not the reality for many people around the world.
In 2020, 74 per cent of the global population had access to safely managed drinking water services, up from 70 per cent in 2015. Still, 2 billion people live without safely managed drinking water services, including 1.2 billion people lacking even a basic level of service, in 2020.
In many countries in the world, women and young girls walk miles every day to access water – sometimes for water that is dirty and contaminated. Walking long, dangerous roadways or pathways, puts women and girls in all kinds of physical danger and prevents many young girls from the opportunity to receive a quality education. Hours are often spent each day to provide families with one of the basic necessities of life, but far too often, the water they bring home causes sickness, disease, and even death.
Deep-Borehole Wells
In West Africa, communities and organizations are being transformed when wells are installed. A deep borehole well provides ample clean water for entire communities to thrive and eliminates water borne illnesses. There is much joy when families learn that a well will be drilled and that joy is even greater when the water bursts forth from the dry, hard ground.
Drilling deep borehole wells is not an inexpensive endeavor, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Partnerships guide the work of well drilling in West Africa. Some churches in Canada have found creative ways to partner with their congregations, communities, and each other to ensure that wells will be drilled to provide clean water, safety, education, and hope in communities and for families around the world.
Partnerships Provide Hope
Two churches from two different provinces, raised money in 2022 and joined their efforts to provide funds to drill a well in Sierra Leone.
Nackawic Wesleyan Church in Nackawic, New Brunswick has been raising money for the past 20 years to drill deep borehole wells in West Africa. Their current pastor encourages the church family to give what they feel they should give to this fundraising effort they do every fall.
Early on a Sunday morning church members walk the distance that many women and children would walk from their homes to access water. This is followed by a church service and a meal together to celebrate. During the weeks between this kickoff service, usually towards the end of September and Thanksgiving, the church and community give to the well fund. Whatever funds come in at this time, are given to help drill a well.
In a community on the south shore of Nova Scotia, you will find West Head Wesleyan Church who decided that they too wanted to partner with World Hope and raise money towards drilling a well. They engaged their church and community through different fundraising efforts and held a rock-a-thon, and BBQ’s, along with partnering with their town, to hold a car show. The local community and antique car club came together to support their efforts and had an amazing day.
These two churches combined their efforts and were able to provide funds for one more deep borehole well to be drilled in Sierra Leone. This well is now providing clean, safe water for 250 people in their community. When we put our resources together and choose to empower community members in places like Sierra Leone, we will see transformation happen.
A Hope Filled Future
Deep borehole wells are only one way we provide clean, safe water. Imagine with me, reading the statistics above 25 years from now and seeing that everyone in the world has access to clean water! It is possible through partnership. Would you donate to our clean water projects on this World Water Day? Water transforms lives, families, and communities which in turn transform the world.
If you would like to find out more or are wondering how you can partner to make an impact through our clean water pillar, we’d love to chat with you. You can access information on our website worldhope.ca or call us at 1-877-482-1499.
