Wells for Chepnyal,
Kenya
Daughters of Charity have been working in Chepnyal,
Kenya,
for the past five years. Since arriving they have seen that one of
the biggest needs of the people is the lack of an adequate supply of
clean water. A fundraising campaign, spearheaded by Sister Mary Holland,
has begun to pay for the materials to build wells while the local
people provide the labour and expertise. A shallow well dug by hand
with a hand pump to draw water is the best solution as the roads
cannot transport the heavy drilling machinery. Each well costs
about £750, the biggest expense being the pump. It is hoped that 28
wells in total can be built.
Eileen
McDermott, the Youth St Vincent de Paul Society Co-ordinator for
Portsmouth
diocese, heard about this project through Sister Maureen Tinkler DC
and the Vincentian Millennium Partnership. After several meetings with
Linda Guilding and other local YSVP advisers, the project has been
'adopted' by the local Youth SVP members.
On 26th April 2007, at St Swithun’s Parish
Hall, Portsmouth,
about 30 youth SVP took part
in “SPLASHOUT” a workshop about water.
The day explored how we in the West use this precious natural
resource, and then looked at what things are like for people in developing
countries. Sister Josephine O'Mahony DC, who had made a recent visit to Kenya, followed on with a PowerPoint
presentation to introduce the young people to the villagers of
Chepnyal, showing them building a well at all the stages that this
involves. The young people who took part in SPLASHOUT are currently fundraising to
help the people of Chepnyal realise their “dream” for clean water.
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