Jacob's Well Fight Against Poverty
Jacob’s Well hopes to break the poverty cycle by sinking fresh water wells in villages, establishing health and resource centres, adult literacy classes, work skills training, small start up loans, and providing full education for tribal and slum children.
Jacob's Well is a registered, not-for-profit charity which was founded in Australia in early 2005. Our Australian Business Number (ABN) is 65 340 113 571. In mid 2008 Jacob's Well Foundation was established in India and is registered as a not-for-profit company, with head office in New Delhi.
The Need is Great
The World Bank estimates that 33% of the global poor now reside in India. Moreover, India also has 75.6% of the population living below $2 a day. We are currently working in the states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
In the small, least populated and poor state of Orissa, the infant mortality rate is one of the highest in India. Starvation deaths go unreported. Gastroenteritis, hepatitis and malaria are rampant. There are over 1000 orphans in one district alone. The oppressed poor are becoming the forgotten people.
Vitamin deficiency is a huge problem. Babies die from malnutrition. Women die from childbirth complications and mastitis. Polio is still rife in India. Gastroenteritis, TB, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis and malaria are all big killers.
During the wet season, when there is no work, often the only food they can eat is a gruel made from the kernel taken out of fungus infected mango stones, which slowly poisons them.
It is difficult to get clean water as the flooding rivers are churned up with mud and silt, and the banks are slippery and very dangerous.
In the dry season, the water levels drastically drop and rivers often dry up. All that’s left are pools of water, which becomes tainted from bathing, washing clothes and animals. But it’s the only water they have.
Daily the women often walk miles each day to get water, carrying one or two 10 litre pots on their head and hips.
Most people don't understand basic hygiene; pigs, goats and chickens all co-exist with the villagers.
According to USAID ‘With a population of over one billion, and more than 4.5 million people infected with HIV/AIDS, the HIV epidemic in India will have a major impact on the overall spread of HIV in Asia, the Pacific, and around the world. India is second only to South Africa in terms of the overall number of people living with the disease.’
Does anybody care? Jacob’s Well does. There are 180 villages in one district alone in desperate need of our help.
How We Break The Poverty Cycle
We are partnering with Indian nationals, who are living and working with the tribal villagers, ensuring a better future.
Fresh Water Wells and Sanitation
Immediate problems such as poor health and hygiene can be overcome. Clean water and sanitation are essential to life. A bore well in a village provides clean water – for drinking, cooking, washing and maintaining a vegetable garden.
After sinking a bore well, we train a villager to be the local hygiene educator and impart practical advice on basic hygiene to the villagers. There are many isolated villages in desperate need of water and the hope that this brings. Bore well sponsorship costs only $2000 to provide fresh water to one village.
Child Sponsorship
Jacob’s Well provides a safe haven and hope for a better future for children in danger. We have established a children's home, providing food, shelter, comfort and education for needy children. Child sponsorship costs only $40 per month to transform a life.
Health and Education
A resource and health centre will provide access to healthcare and timely medical attention, ensuring a better quality of life and assist in lowering the infant mortality rate.
Education is the answer for so many of the problems these people experience. Literacy and new skills classes enable the reading of medicine instructions and documents, and provide better job opportunities. Through education the poor are empowered to become self-sufficient.
Small Business Enterprises
Providing help, support and start-up loans empowers the desperately poor to become self-sufficient. Farming goats and chickens, seed and tools for a vegetable garden or purchasing a sewing machine and material are just some of the seed businesses that can provide an income.
Our life-saving vision of justice and hope is not exclusive to Orissa and Andhra, but extends throughout India and the world.
To continue this life saving work we need finance, sponsors, expertise and partners. Please join us and help break the poverty cycle. 100% of your donation goes directly India.* Our dedicated team of field workers ensure your donation goes to the area of greatest need. Donations to approved aid development activities are tax deductible.
Please download and complete our donation form and either fax +61 3 9803 6115 or post to PO Box 680 Glen Waverley Australia 3150. Cheques made payable to Jacob’s Well India.
On behalf of the villagers we thank you.
* If a tax receipt is not required. Expenses are covered by generous partners volunteering their time and resources (even bank charges).
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