Fundraising Campaign: Drinkable Water For The Kids at KYDA (Kawempe Youth Development Association)

We came here in Kawempe, Uganda, doing a transnational project: four countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Spain. We came here with the intention of building a better life for the children in KYDA, empowering them with EVS. However, this process turned out to be slower than we imagined. When we got here we thought it is just the buildings that need fixing, or some hygiene, language and life skills classes that we can have with this children. But it is so much more. We realized we have to deal with the most basics things that we never thought they were missing. Like water. Drinkable water. The undergroud water resourses almost inexistent and the ones that are found are too dirty to even try cleaning them.

”My throat hurts. I need water. I am tired of licking ice”. This girl complained to me one day. I felt my hands were tight. I asked her if they receive any drinkable water at school and she said they are given some ice cubes that they are licking to ease their thirst. If you look around, sometimes they pick small rocks from the ground and lick them. There is a water tank inside KYDA, but it does not have a filtration system. Moreover, a water tank needs to be cleaned at least once in six months. This water tank has been here since 2013, and was never cleaned before.

They should at least boil the water before drinking it. But who has time for that when your throat is dry and the heat outside is stronger than your patience? Sometimes you can see children running to the water tank, collecting a bit of water in their hands and drinking it as it is the most delicious thing they ever tasted. They don't care that calming their thirst with this water can lead to diseases. They are just blocking those thoughts; they drink it and go back to playing. But then, the next day, or the next week, you see that their missing school, that they cannot attend classes because they don’t feel well.

Right now, we are trying to find a way of providing clean water for these children, we already contacted some experts in the field and they created a plan for collecting the rain water from the roofs. It means that all roofs in KYDA should be connected through some plastic tubes (some of them are metal tubes and they need replacement) and then the water gathered will be filtered in the ground through a pumping system that will lead it to the water thank in the end. We already have an action plan made for water treatment and collection and we have the people right there, ready to start working. Unfortunately we do not have enough funds. We need around 11 million shillings (around 2800 euros, without including the labor). We need people from all over the world to help us create an impact in their life, any small donation matters. Any small action can create an impact.

This is a message for all the people out there, all the people who never have to worry about having clean drinkable water, just imagine one day without having it or without having the money to procure it. How would you feel what action would you take to fix this?

Thank you in advance for your contribution to the cause and if you cannot donate sharing is for free.

"I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."

Lily Tomlin