By Purnima Iyer,
200 Worldwide perfectly exemplified its core mission to spread sustainable solace recently. A long-awaited clean water well finally started making deep – like really, manna-from-below deep – and immediate impact on the lives of the children at St. Teresa Orphans Foundation (STOF) in Songea Tanzania.
On the outskirts of town, the well started pumping buckets and buckets of full, fresh, naturally cooled water every day. Previously, this absolutely essential elixir of life was harder to come by. Long treks to much more distant water sources by the elderly and very young as their daily tasks taking time and expending much energy. This project was Phase 1 to provide clean, accessible water for the organization and neighboring residents in the East African country, which is home to some 1.3 million orphans.
A wellspring of compassion
Although only a short drive from Lake Nyasa, one of the largest, deepest and biologically diverse freshwater bodies in the world, access to H₂O has never come easy in this southeast corner of Tanzania. But digging deep, 200 Orphanages Worldwide tapped a wellspring of compassion in devoted donors to fully fund the construction of the $63,000 project. All phases of the project consisted of 20 toilets, 15 sinks and 12 showers, pipes and plumbing a soaring water tower and multiple holding tanks.
After two years, this generosity of donors and grants from Redmond Rotary Club and Rotary District 5030 led to the completion of the well, which has been producing an average of 10,000 liters in four hours. The well came online in July 2020. Under Phase 2, the benefit of a working well is expected to flow to the surrounding settlement more fully. Phase 2 was completed in August 2021.
Next to be funded will be four solar water heaters at a cost of $1,500 each.
STOF in the name of love
The orphanage, which was established 20 years ago, whilst humanity and Africa in particular was being ravaged by HIV/Aids, the last pandemic before Covid-19 to affect humanity so significantly in terms of hospitalizations and deaths, helped turn the tide of suffering by providing formulae for mothers in need.
The project to provide fresh and easily attained drinking water reflects the core values of the project’s supporters. The complete project cost about $63,000 and funds were raised by 200 Orphanages Worldwide, St. Teresa’s Orphan Foundation, as well as Redmond Washington Rotary Club and Rotary District 5030 grants.