H2O H2O H2O
Lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in under resourced countries. 1.8 million people die every year from water borne illnesses. That includes 3,900 children a day. We can help.
Nativity will help provide clean water to two communities with whom we have developed close relationships over the past 3 years. Find out more by clicking the links below.
THE COMMUNITIES
The Anawim Home Orphanage in Abuja, Nigeria is run by the Sisters of the Poorest of the Poor. They care for and restore the dignity of orphans, street boys, mentally ill, disabled, young mothers, prostitutes, elderly, and the destitute.
Sister Oresoa:
Sister Oresoa has run the Anawim Home Orphanage in Nigeria for the past 14 years. She founded the Sisters of the Poorest of the Poor who provide ongoing care for the poor, the elderly, the orphans, and the homeless in her local community. To read more about Sr. Oresoa, click here.
Daniel:
After his mother attempted an abortion, Daniel was born with a deformity in his legs that will prevent him from ever being able to walk. He is two years old and brings joy to all who meet him. To read more about Daniel, click here.
John Bosco:
John Bosco is a strong little boy who lives at the Anawim Home Orphanage. His mother is mentally ill and stays under the care of the nuns at the orphanage with him. To read more about John Bosco, click here.
Francis:
Francis was abandoned as an infant, left starving in a small hut. He was rescued by the Sisters, who raised him in the Anawim Home Orphanage where he has grown into a happy teenager. To read more about Francis, click here.
The Faith Alive Hospital in Jos, Nigeria is a free medical facility that provides ongoing care for those affected by HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, as well as emergencies. They operate satellite clinics and home-based care in outlying areas for patients with no ability to travel to the hospital. They offer holistic services including extensive support groups, job training, discipleship classes, and health education that restore the spirit as well as the body.
Dr. Chris Isichei:
Dr. Chris has devoted his life to restoring the dignity of those affected by HIV and AIDS. He founded the Faith Alive Hospital in Jos, which provides free treatment throughout the area. To read more about Dr. Chris, click here.
Amos:
Amos survived an accident that burned 50% of his body. Filled with gratitude for his life, Amos now serves as a free architect for projects that help change lives in his community. He designed the Faith Alive Hospital in Jos. To read more about Amos, click here.
Blessing:
Blessing lost her husband and -- like many AIDS widows in Nigeria -- was exiled from her family. With no means to support herself or her two sons, she traveled to the Faith Alive Hospital in Jos. There she received treatment and job training. Today, Blessing mentors young women like her and gives them hope for a future. To read more about Blessing, click here.
THE PLAN
For the Anawim Home Orphanage
Currently the Anawim Home Orphanage has a borehole well that is in need of significant repair to operate at the capacity necessary for the home. During the dry season (Oct.-Mar.) the well is unusable, requiring the Sisters and children to fetch dirty water from the river 10 minutes’ walk from the site. The river is polluted and not potable.
For the Anawim Home Orphanage, with your help, Nativity will fund the installation of:
- Two electric motor pumps
- Concrete pad to install pumps
- Water filtration system
- Tools and equipment to clean and restore major components on the current system
- Collector tanks to store water
For the Faith Alive Hospital in Jos
Currently the Faith Alive Hospital in Jos sustains a nearby school and community of 500 with no access to clean water. The only source of water is a stream 1 km walk from the village. People and livestock share the same stream for all daily needs (bathing, washing, cooking, drinking) making the water unsanitary, disease-ridden, and non-potable.
For the Faith Alive Hospital, Nativity plans to fund the construction of a borehole well to sustain the community and the school including:
- Geological surveys
- Borehole digging
- Pipe
- Submergible pump
- Concrete slab
- Surface hand pump
- Additional water purification tablets
- Spare parts
- Latrine
When will project be completed?
Both projects are projected to be fully functional within 6-12 months of funding. We will provide ongoing updates on the status of the project throughout the upcoming year.
Will this water supply be sustainable?
Once the wells are completed, on-site partners and a team of experts will provide training on maintenance, repairs, and sanitation.
THE TEAM
Who will oversee the project?
We are grateful to have a team of Nativity parishioners with extensive experience in providing water in developing countries to advise our water project. The team includes:
Diane and Dr. Bill Blattner, Founders of Hope for West Africa Foundation,
Michele Broemmelsiek, Director of Global AIDS Relief for Catholic Relief Services,
Dr. Patrick Dakum, Adjunct Professor Institute of Human Virology at University of Maryland,
Dan Florea, Board Member of International Relief and Development, and
Ed King, US Army Chief of Staff, Civil Affairs Command.
With their help we will be able to partner effectively with water technicians on-site. Already, both Faith Alive Hospital in Jos and Anawim Home Orphanage in Abuja have worked successfully with Nigerian contractors to complete other water projects to bring clean drinking water to those in need.
THE WELLS
What is a borehole?
A borehole is a narrow excavation created by drilling deep into the ground in order to access clean groundwater from underground aquifers.
Why a handpump?
The majority of people in the developing world gain access to groundwater either by means of a bucket and rope, or by using a handpump. A handpump is superior to a bucket and rope arrangement because it has a cover slab that can be sealed to prevent ingress of polluted water or other contaminants. In addition, the handpump keeps the water source safe from a bucket and rope that are continually being polluted by mud and dirty hands. If the water to be raised from a well or borehole is for people to drink, it is preferable to install a handpump.
THE FUNDS
How much will the projects cost?
The two projects together are projected to cost approximately $25,000 USD. This estimate is based on cost of similar construction at local sites and consultation from experienced water advisors (above). The estimated expenses include surveys, materials, labor, ongoing maintenance, and training.
If donations exceed the cost of the water projects, then the money will fund the ongoing Nativity:Nigeria mission.
$2.00 of your donation will be used to pay for your Advent Conspiracy kit.
How will our donations get to Africa?
The Hope for West Africa Foundation looks forward to supporting the well water projects that Nativity:Nigeria is proposing with Faith Alive Hospital in Jos and the Anawim Home Orphanage in Abuja. Hope for West Africa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity founded by several parishioners from Church of the Nativity. In the post 9/11 period, the process for US charities to legally transfer funds internationally was revised to ensure that the funds donated go to the purpose for which they are intended. Hope for West Africa Foundation meets all of these requirements by ensuring that specific projects are identified for support and that implementation of the project is completed and funds accounted for. To this end, bank accounts have been established with both Faith Alive Hospital in Jos and the Anawim Home Orphanage in Abuja for the safe and transparent transfer of funds to Nigeria. Additionally, both partners are compliant in providing the IRS required documentation for the use of all funds sent for projects approved by the Foundation.
The Foundation is poised to multiply the Nativity’s donations through a matching fund provided by a benefactor of the Foundation. For more information about Hope for West Africa Foundation, please visit: www.hopeforwestafrica.org.