Mission
Opportunities
Living
Waters for the World trains
and equips church
mission groups and others to share the gift of clean water
with communities in need.
Living Waters for the
World has established regional networks in
countries where groundwork has already been laid by previous
LWW mission groups. The purpose of these networks is
to identify clean water mission opportunities
and to bring initiating and operating partners together whenever possible.
If
your group does not currently have a prospective mission partner
in need of clean water, we encourage
you to review the information outlined
below.
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Contact: Katy
BeDunnah, LWW
Guatemala Network Coordinator
Background
The magnitude of the health problems that can be directly
attributed to the lack of clean water in Guatemala is almost
beyond comprehension. In the forefront of these problems
are chronic malnutrition and diarrhea, both of which contribute
to stunted growth, poor attendance and performance in school
age children and high rates of infant mortality.
More than 98% of the water sources in Guatemala are contaminated
and there are very few (less than 20) operational municipal
water treatment systems in the entire country.
To date, 25
Living Waters for the World water systems have been installed
in Guatemala. We are continually searching for and identifying
appropriate locations for additional water systems, and many
potential sites have been surveyed. Bringing partners together
is our ultimate goal, and whenever possible, we will match new initiating partners without a mission partner identified with our Guatemalan operating partners, in order to bring
clean
water for drinking and cooking to their villages.
We are fortunate
to have developed a relationship with Habitat Guatemala that
we anticipate will expand the opportunities for LWW-trained teams to provide
clean water in Guatemala for residents of new Habitat colonias
as they are developed.
Habitat Guatemala, created in 1979, is the largest international
partner of Habitat for Humanity, having built some 23,000 homes
in Guatemala. They hope to install a clean water system in each
of the new "colonias" as they are established. Living
Waters is working to identify potential partners for each of
these colonias and to work out an installation timeline with
Habitat Guatemala.
For
more information,
please contact Katy
BeDunnah,
LWW Guatemala Network Coordinator.
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“Don’t
drink the water!” Anyone
who has traveled to Mexico has heard that warning, for
virtually
all water sources in the country are contaminated with bacteria
and/or parasites, causing serious health problems for local
residents, as well as travelers. But there are now 36
communities in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico where one
can drink safe water, thanks to Living Waters for the World
water systems; and more are in progress at this time!
Opportunity
In January 2005,
a covenant was formed between Synod of Living Waters, Presbyterian
Church (USA) and Synod of the (Yucatan) Peninsula, National
Presbyterian Church of Mexico, whereby those two bodies
became partners in the delivery of clean water to appropriate
areas in the Yucatan. Working together, the two bodies
have identified a number of communities in which a clean water system would be successful.
U.S. congregations
of any denomination or civic organizations wishing
to establish a partnership with a congregation in the Yucatan
for the
purpose of installing
a water
system and developing an ongoing relationship are invited to contact Joanie
Lukins, LWW Yucatan Network Coordinator, to learn of potential opportunities.
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The El Salvador
network is LWW's newest, currently with 3 active
water systems and 4 installations in prospectus.
We work a
bit differently than the other networks in that we have been
dealing with community organizations called ADESCOS instead
of with churches. Each ADESCO is an organization
of local business and other leaders which is chartered
by the national government, and which is tasked with
community development. ADESCOS often focus on water systems,
but they also might have projects in schools, health
and sanitation etc. When we survey a site in El
Salvador, we give
preference to a site with an active ADESCO with a track record.
Dealing with the ADESCO also means that the water system is
going to be run
as a business, but not necessarily for profit. They want to provide
clean water at the lowest price, so that the system
can pay for itself, and no one goes without.
The
El Salvador is network is also blessed with an excellent working
relationship with the Peace Corps. They are glad to help their
villagers get water projects, and having them as local contacts
is very handy.
Opportunity
El Salvador
is a small country, but there is still plenty of demand for
clean water systems. For guidance on forming a partnership with
an El Salvadoran community in need of clean water, contact Nancy
Losure, LWW El Salvador Network Coordinator.
Recent pictures from
El Salvador:
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