Civil War forced thousands of villagers to flee their homes; they returned to find their original villages devastated. And with many of the men killed, women and children were forced to travel great distances to the nearest well to carry home 15 gallon jugs of water per day. Even the smallest children helped to carry the jugs. The dry season often left them with no water, and there was the ever-present threat of disease from contaminated water. Donor funds enabled the Salesians to construct a borehole, dig a well 200 feet deep, and install a hand pump that brings enough clean water to drink, prepare food, and tend to the necessities of daily life. Now the children and their families have the gift of clean water right in their own backyard.

Salesian missionaries in Rwanda completed a project that now delivers fresh drinking water and provides improved sanitation to hundreds of school children and their families. In Rukago, students at the Salesian primary school watched as a new water tank and new sanitary bathroom facilities were installed on school grounds. Now, they have access to better sanitation, water for washing their hands, proper hygiene, and clean drinking water. And they no longer lose precious school time in search of a safe water source, or because of water-related diseases. Already impoverished parents will save on medical expenses for children who have consumed contaminated water – one small step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

The Don Bosco Technical School and Children Fund in Kep, Cambodia, benefits handicapped children in danger of exploitation. Salesian Missions knew that special care was necessary to ensure their safety and well-being. This would include providing accessible, clean water and bathroom facilities. Today, thanks to you and the Salesians, there is an on-site self-contained water system. It provides clean water for farming, livestock, cooking and drinking, and sanitary bathroom facilities for 300 children.

Two Salesian training and vocational centers in the Congo needed water and sanitation improvements. It was essential to provide clean water for students, staff, teachers, visitors and residents of local communities who needed a reliable source of water. You and other caring people provided the resources to install an electric pump, build a 30 foot high tower, and install a water tank. Now – even with frequent electricity outages – clean, life-saving water flows each day to nurture, cleanse, and improve the quality of life.