For nearly five years, Josue had been collecting rainwater for his family. When it didn’t rain, he would make the long walk to the nearest water source, carrying heavy buckets full of water back to his home. The trip was particularly dangerous on the dark, unlit road where violence often erupted.
On some occasions, even his four children joined him to fetch water so they could haul enough back to last the family for as long as possible.
What had been an inconvenience quickly became critical when the pandemic struck. Fresh, clean water was crucial to staying healthy and clean.
Josue’s eldest son, 11-year-old Abner, is part of the Child Sponsorship Program, and as staff visited Abner’s home to deliver groceries and supplies, they quickly stepped into action. Using critical intervention funds, the church was able to dig a borehole in the courtyard near the family’s home, providing safe and reliable water to Josue and his neighbors.
"I cannot even imagine how this situation would have worsened in the middle of the current pandemic. Water has turned into an even more vital resource due to the need to constantly wash our hands so the virus won't affect us," says Josue. “I cannot imagine what it would have been like to go get water at night because right now in the country there is a curfew. People cannot leave their houses after a certain hour at night, so it would have been impossible for me to fetch water.”