Sunday, 15 February 2009

Dorothy's Well Project, Tanzania

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG












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PLEASE HELP JIM TO BRING US A WELL WITH FRESH, CLEAN WATER


Every 20 seconds a child in Africa dies from a preventable disease associated with lack of clean water and water related diseases are responsible for 80% of all illness and death in the developing world.



We sometimes don’t realise how blessed we are, consider for a moment we have a house, two cars, clothes, food and clean drinking water. This puts us in the top 5% of the richest people in the world. We never even think of it this way. Did you know that one billion people in the world are without clean drinking water? It doesn’t have to be this way; we can actually make a big difference. The provision of clean, un-contaminated drinking water through the drilling of deep, capped water wells can end this cycle of suffering and death.


YOU CAN HELP CHANGE THIS.
Last year, on a two week trip helping in schools in Tanzania I witnessed at first hand the devastating plight of the school children and villagers in this country. They had no access to clean drinking water and the women and children would walk for three hours every day carrying 20kg containers of dirty bacteria infested water which had flowed through villages with no sanitation and which was often shared with cattle and wild animals, knowing that what they were carrying would probably make them sick
This trip had a profound impact on my life and I was greatly affected by the plight of these people.



On my return to the UK I started to formulate an action plan with the aim of returning to Tanzania to sink a deep well to ensure the children and villagers that I had met would have access to clean safe drinking water, because one well will transform the lives of over 1000 people.
Lack of access to clean water and sanitation is one of the root causes of poverty and hopelessness in Africa.
Sustainable initiatives can really transform people’s lives. By providing access to clean water and distribution to a community we open the door to numerous other initiatives.
Children can attend school instead of fetching water, families can irrigate their crops and the community can embrace the sanitation and hygiene practices that support preventative health care.






WHY DOROTHY’S WELL ?


The Well is to be named Dorothy's Well in honour of my wife who died 2 years ago at the age of 56 after a long battle with cancer. Many of the fund raisers are my family, friends, colleagues and neighbours



THE WELL.




The well will be drilled to a depth of 103 meters to ensure that uncontaminated water will be reached. The project has partnered with a Christian based Well Engineering Company from Arushain, Tanzania. The drilling will take approximately a week and members of the project will be on site, at their own personal expense to oversee the work.





TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE
Dorothy’s Well will provide clean drinking water for 1000 people. Currently the women and children walk for 3 hours every day carrying 20kg containers of dirty bacteria infested water which has flowed through villages with no sanitation and which was often shared with cattle and wild animals. They have no alternative even though they know the water will make them
sick.


Can you imagine having no running water for a drink,to do the dishes or have a shower. We take so much forgranted. Please help us to transform a Community and put a permanent smile on these children’s faces







WHEN WATER COMES.....EVERYTHING CHANGES

The Well is a sustainable initiative which will transform the people’s lives. By providing access to clean water we open the door to numerous opportunities. Children can attend school instead of fetching water, families can irrigate their crops and the community can embrace the sanitation and hygiene practices that support preventative health care. Through our partners at the school in Machame we can educate the villagers to use the well correctly.

Would you drink water that was as dirty as this??





Can you imagine fetching water in these containers?




How can you help
* Make a donation: cheques should be made payable to: ‘Dorothy’s Well Project Tanzania’.
* Hold an event and donate the proceeds
* Join us at the fund raising events
* Provide raffle or tombola prizes
* Sponsor me and the team on the Coast to Coast Walk
* Keep in touch with us and add your comments to our blog.


For further information please contact Jim O’Connor, Rose Cottage, Esh, Durham, DH7 9QS,
tel 07711983252 or email: jimoconnor@utilityservicesltd.co.uk.