Archive for the ‘Mindanao’ Category
Pure water saves lives
Community development is helping 42 villages on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines where impure drinking water was causing diarrhea – a life-threatening situation for weaker members of the community.
Extension workers had been working among the Higaonon tribe for a couple of years, because they were found to be the most economically depressed people in the area. Many have been helped, but at the conclusion of this project, it has become evident that there is still much work to be done to uplift the physical condition of the Higaonon tribe and the rural Cebuanos.
Five months ago, in a remote village where BGR and partners are working with a Filipino doctor who is sponsored by an American NGO, five children died in a two- or three-day period because of diarrhea brought on by contaminated drinking water.
This past July, Filipino development workers were introduced to a simple bio-sand filter technology that can be produced for around $10. They were able, in cooperation with local officials, to immediately deliver and install four of these filters. Since that time, there have been no cases of diarrhea in the community.
A new project is now ongoing in 13 villages that do not have adequate drinking water. Villagers will be formed into co-ops for training, production, training, and distribution of these filters. Pray that fresh drinking water will be available to all!
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The item above was adapted from “BGR to GO,” a prayer bulletin issued by BGR prayer coordinator Lori Funderburk. A children’s prayer letter also is available. To subscribe the these e-newsletters, visit gobgr.org.
