Thursday, April 17, 2014

@runforwater visits Ethiopia

This past month, a group of eight teachers, one student and 2 society members of the Run for Water embarked on a journey to Ethiopia to visit some of our projects that they support. We could not be more grateful for all that they to do bring clean water to families in Ethiopia. It’s exciting for them to have the opportunity to visit the families they’ve touched.




The team visited three communities: one that had a completed water system, one with a project that is set to be complete in the next few weeks, and one that is going to be underway shortly.

The Run for Water team have spent years raising funds so that families in Ethiopia can have access to clean water and the opportunity to transform their lives.

The pipeline they’ve funded that’s soon to be completed will provide clean water for more than 2,000 people. They were able to see just how close it is to reaching the village, and the excitement of everyone involved as the pipe stretches further each day.

(L) Original, unprotected water source  (R) New, disease-free water source













Later on this year, the village of Yella will also be getting a pipeline starting from this fresh water source that will be come down from an altitude of 9,000ft.

This clean water will mean an enormous difference in the lives of thousands of people – such a simple thing as clean water can absolutely transform lives. It will free up hours everyday currently spent fetching water and it will improve overall health as it’s a clean source, free of bacteria.

That means an opportunity to focus on making more income. It means children going to school. It means families that are strong and independent.

The team had an amazing experience and they return to Canada more inspired and motivated than ever to keep fighting for families that need clean water. Again, thank you to Run for Water for being a part of this incredible work and for their ongoing fight to bring clean water to families in Ethiopia.

Learn more about Run For Water and upcoming events.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Back to self-reliance in the mountains of Honduras

After decades of suffering and struggle, indigenous Lenca families in rural Honduras are returning self-reliance with the help of an initiative that provides the resources and training families need in order to transform their lives.

Becoming self-reliant in rural Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, is a major challenge, especially if you're a Lenca family forced to the margins of society. Most Lenca families live, if you can call it that, on less than $2 a day. Malnutrition is a major problem and children under the age of five are especially at risk.

The initiative provides training that enables Lenca families to grow enough food to sustain themselves as well as set up small businesses raising and selling fish, pigs, and chickens. Families also learn how to feed their fish, pigs, and chickens in a manner that doesn’t damage the local environment.

Visit www.hope-international.com to learn more about the initiative and how you can help.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Meet Kokota Marie and her husband

Kokota Marie and her husband live in Gbatikombo, a rural village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have four children and are incredibly happy together, through thick and thin.

In 2012, Kokota Marie and her husband harvested just 3 sacks of corn on their tiny farm. Some they kept for themselves and the rest they sold for $10. Imagine sustaining a family of 6 on just $10, or for that matter, even $50 or $100. It’s difficult to fathom how any family could survive on such a meager amount of income.

Sadly, their situation is not unique. Millions of families wake up to face the same problem every day – too few resources and too little income.

Thankfully, their situation has changed for the better. Kokota Marie and her husband are part of growing number of families who are transforming their lives through our “Farmers to Markets” initiative in their area.

Last year, their participation in our initiative resulted in a bountiful harvest of 34 huge sacks of corn, 25 of which were transported to the big market in Kinshasa where they fetched $50 per sack, earning a total of $1,250 in income! 

Prior to participating in our “Farmers to Markets” initiative, Kokota Marie and her husband would have never considered selling their harvests in Kinshasa - it’s too challenging, too far, and too expensive. Yet each of these barriers has been removed through their participation in our cooperative-based initiative. Selling harvests in Kinshasa is now a regular practice for everyone involved in the cooperative, as is earning significantly more income.

It took agricultural training, micro-loans for tools and seed, and a group of farmers to come together to support one another in making positive change. It also took you and the support you provide through your giving. Thank you for making all this possible.