Water is precious, to be cared for and shared by all. Like millions of people around the world, the woman pictured in this year’s poster is grateful for water, the gift of life. The World Health Organisation’s recognized minimum domestic water consumption is 100 litres per person per day but many people in the world receive far less. Today, there are more than 80 countries with 40 percent of the world’s population subject to water shortages.
This year’s CWS Christmas Appeal focuses on the rebuilding efforts of four partners. Creating easy access to safe drinking water is a vital part of the long-term capacity building needed for these communities.
Building a better future in Zimbabwe – the Zimbabwe Council of Churches is training women to build water tanks for their communities. In the past five years, 2000 tanks have been built. In rural areas, it is mostly women who take on the daily task of walking miles in search of a clean water supply. Rain-water harvesting programmes have enlivened communities, improved health conditions, and allowed families to plant kitchen gardens near their homes and grow fruit trees where none grew before. The extra time made available has meant communities can focus on other needs, such as the introduction of more fuel-efficient stoves.
Water in a dry land – in occupied Palestinian territories, the issue of water is becoming more significant. Water is increasingly scarce due to a combination of natural causes, population growth and recent political conditions, coupled with an economy in crisis. At least 45 percent of Palestinian communities suffer from a lack of water-supply services. The Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees is helping to alleviate the situation for some Palestinian families, by building water tanks for homes, and latrines in communities.
Supporting families in the Solomon Island – the Women’s Human Development Programme in Lauru/Choiseul works with young people and their families from tribal groups to achieve self-determination through self-help. Values are placed on the respect for basic human rights, access to services and education for all, and in maintaining traditional values and a respect for the natural environment.
Holding fast to livelihoods and the environment – the fourth partner featured in the Christmas Appeal is the Neythal Women’s Network in south India. Since the 2004 tsunami, Neythal has supported fishing families to re-build their homes and to return to their traditional craft and main source of income: fishing. There has been much pressure from the government to move fisher families inshore to make way for new big business on the coast. But for many, to live with the sea and tides, to maintain a traditional diet and to sustain an income source from fishing is the gift of life for these communities.
A Christmas Appeal resource kit with information on these partners, worship ideas for advent, and a reflection for Christmas day are available by mail order. Contact: cws@cws.org.nz