Water - the gift of life - for children in Darfur

Dear Friends

It really has been a bad year in Darfur.  El Nino caused severe drought across the Sahil and then the rains started early, and have continued.  It has been so heavy in parts there was flooding and people drowned - extraordinary to think of in a land of such severe heat.   The tragedy is that all this water will sink into the sand without trace and the summer months will again see people walking up to 20 miles to find water.  Although there is now surface water it is unclean as people are using hafirs (small reservoirs) which don’t have filters.  This is why handpumps are so important – it is clean underground water.  Our aim is to raise funds for water now, so that we can provide more handpumps as soon as conditions allow the heavy drilling rig to be moved safely.   

And it is the children of the International School of Brooklyn to the rescue!  Their Annual Walk for Water is coming October 21st.   Now in its 6th year, children who participate in Walk for Water discover the empowerment of actually making a difference as they themselves raise funds to change the lives of children their own age living such different lives.  It is also a true learning experience. They carry water just as the children of Darfur must do if we do not help them. 

Won't you join the children of the International School of Brooklyn today!  

You can help today!

$10 buys 2 Jerry cans and delivers them to where they are needed

$ 95 provides a little donkey to carry water, so children don't have to

$245 provides a strong cross-bred donkey to pull a water cart for tree projects and schools

$460 provides a water cart

$875 repairs a broken handpump – it is heartbreaking to seen them idle

$7,000 provides a handpump which can be named for you, your organisation or a loved one

Thank you for your support.

Links:

• More on children helping children at their schools!

The El Nino climate cycle  has had devastating affect across the world and none worse than the drought it is causing right now in Darfur, Sudan.    As early as February this year animals were dying of thirst in remote villages.   Now, at the height of summer, water is urgently needed if they are to survive.    The health of the animals is directly related to the health of the children, who rely on the milk of the goats when nothing else is growing.     Goat's milk is full of protein, minerals and vitamins.  Without them children's health is affected, including their brain cells.   Many children died last year from from malnutrition.    

Kids for Kids is doing all it can to find ways of giving access to water for families living in remote villages.    "Under Darfur there is the largest aquafer in Africa but people cannot afford to dig for it" says Patricia Parker MBE, Founder of Kids for Kids.    "We are asking help to fund handpumps and, thanks to you, we provided 11 last year, but we need many more,    But it takes time to install a pump.  There is urgent need now.   Villagers are asking for water carts pulled by strong crossbred donkeys so they can bring water back from distant handpumps.   We also need jerry cans for families who have moved from the camps to settle in the 78 Kids for Kids' villages where they know their children will have a better chance.  Global Giving supporters have helped us to save many children's lives already, but water is needed urgently.   Please can you help now?"