Clean, running water is a luxury in many villages across the world. Waterborne diseases account for thousands of deaths each year.
The Sisters go where the need is greatest. At many remote villages in Africa, our Sisters live, teach and minister in areas where electricity is a scarce commodity and clean drinking water is non-existent. People can live without electricity, but life without clean water is impossible. The water crisis in Africa is a critical public health concern.
CONSIDER THE FACTS:
- More than half of the water sources in Africa are contaminated by fecal matter (nih.gov).
- Water-borne illnesses impact poor families in remote villages the most, affecting hundreds of millions of people (nih.gov).
- In Africa, diarrhea is now the top cause of death in children under 5, killing hundreds every day (wateraid.org).
- Between fetching water and fighting illness, children miss out on opportunities to attend school and learn the skills and knowledge that can improve their futures (thewaterproject.org).
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
- Providing a safe and efficient supply of clean water means children spend less time tending to survival tasks and more time dedicated to studies and brighter futures. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Africa provide life-changing clean water through the use of:
- Photovoltaic systems that power water purification equipment
- Bore holes and pumps powered by the photovoltaic system
- P&G Water Purification Packets for immediate needs such as an outbreak
May we share with grateful and humble hearts the goodness of God through prayer, fasting and extending empathy this Lenten season.
“And Jesus said to them, ‘I assure you that whatever you do for one another, you do for Me.’”
- Matthew 25:40
PRAYER:
O Lord, during this Lent, help our sisters and brothers in remote African villages who lack clean water and electricity. May their tenacity, resilience and strength secure a brighter and safer future for them and their children. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to do our part in so small a way! Amen. Sister Anne McDonnald, SNDdeN