“We have water!”
The excitement was brewing among the crowd of smiling children and staff at City of Hope, as they anxiously awaited the big moment. Suddenly, the group erupted in cheers, clapping, and hugs as everyone yelled out, “We have water!”
The onlooking children watched in amazement as fresh water gushed from the faucet for the first time on campus. One young girl splashed water toward her friend and remarked, “Now we can have proper showers.” Another excited child added, “And no more long journeys of carrying heavy buckets!” The realization of having fresh water on campus was setting in, and everyone looking on was overwhelmed with joy!
Did you know that on average, each American typically uses between 80- 100 gallons of water every day? Most of us don’t think twice about turning on a faucet, washing dishes, taking a shower, or drinking clean water. Our reality is a far cry from the dire situation in East Africa, where clean water is a precious and rare resource.
As the crowd celebrated the water, a spontaneous time of worship broke out as children and staff began praising God for His provision of this vital need. The long-awaited and prayed-for moment had finally arrived!
From start to finish, this water project was a team effort, only made possible by the generous church partners, supporters, and friends in the US who partnered with HopeCo on this journey! Our leadership team in Africa worked tirelessly to locate the resources, building materials, and manpower. They even had to transport most of the needed equipment hundreds of miles across the Kenya border. The staff and children were vital to this project as well, helping dig a mile-long trench and laying pipes from the water source all the way to the City of Hope campus.
On average, women and children in Africa walk nearly four miles each day to haul water that they need for cooking, cleaning, and washing. Oftentimes, girls are unable to enroll in school because every able body is required to help with the daily, demanding task of getting water. HopeCo is committed to making sure our new water supply is available, not just to the hundreds of people we serve each day at City of Hope, but also to our wider community as well.
Thank you to everyone who played a part in this life-changing project!
Are you interested in partnering with HopeCo and getting involved in the work happening in East Africa? Check out some unique and exciting opportunities to explore, or consider giving a gift of hope today.
