News

First Well and Pump Completed

Our first well in the village of Porajasahi is now complete and ‘gushing sweet water’.

This is such a blessing to the villagers as a very wet ‘wet season’ is in full force, with accompanying cyclonic winds. It is difficult to get clean water as the rivers are churned up with mud and silt, and the banks are slippery and very dangerous. During the summer, the water levels drastically drop and the river often dries up. All that’s left are pools of water, which become tainted from bathing, washing clothes and animals drinking from them.

Now the Porajasahi villagers have a guaranteed supply of clean ‘sweet’ water all year round. One of them came into town and sought out our team to thank us.

The bore well has made an enormous difference to their quality of life. Children can be easily washed with fresh, hygienic water at the pump instead of having to climb down to the riverbank. This means they actually get washed!

The women don’t have a long walk down to the river – risky in flood times – and, more importantly, they don’t have to walk back up the hill carrying one or two 10 litre pots of water on their head and hips. Imagine trying to manage all your family’s daily water needs from just 20 litres of water.

We are currently sinking a new bore well in the village of Siskudi, 3 kms from Porajasahi, which we hope will be completed by the end of August. Finishing time will depend on the weather as they’ll need a couple of dry days to set the cement.

Following Siskudi, our water team will go to another village 2 kms further away called Dolimal. There are many more isolated villages like these in desperate need of water and the hope that this brings. .

Rejoice Children’s Home

Our children and house parents, Majhi and Prenati and their three children, were so excited to move into their new home at the end of June, in time for the commencement of the new school year. There is so much room for the children to run around, to play and to just be kids! They are taking care of the veggie garden and have their special plots where they’re doing their own gardening. We still need to buy furniture, bookcases, books and equipment for the school; however we’ll do this as the funds come in.

Building Fund

If the wet weather has eased, work will commence on the Dining/Multi-purpose hall, Kitchen & Store room and Health Clinic the first week in September. It is hoped that this will be completed by the end of the year and that we will be able to offer health services to the local community and the surrounding district. Later on we plan to send out medical teams from our base here, visiting the villages in the more remote areas and provide many services to the needy. We must raise another $15,000 to build the hall, and will have to forward funds as the work progresses.

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 are fully tax-deductable.

Please download and complete our donation form – 83kb PDF 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. Credit card transactions incur 1.5% bank fee.

Back To News   Next