Bristol Companion visits Emmaus water project in Benin
Mark, a Companion from Emmaus Bristol, recently travelled to Benin in west Africa, to see a project that is helping to give the people living around Lake Nokoue access to clean water. The project is supported by Emmaus International, the worldwide Movement of which UK Communities are part.
“The area surrounding lake Nokoue in Cotonue has no access to fresh water", explains Mark. "The lake is polluted because they throw dead animals in there and wash in there. It’s their only source of water and so there is a lot of disease. Countless people are dying because they haven’t got any clean water to drink, particularly children and elderly people. Their immune systems just aren’t strong enough to withstand drinking filthy water.”
Mark attended the General Assembly of the inhabitants’ of the area, who welcomed visitors from Emmaus groups around the world to the event. It was a chance for the residents to plan how the project should progress and also to explain to the visitors how the lack of clean water affected their lives.
“While I was there, I had first hand experience of what happens when someone drinks the polluted water. I drank some and got a 106 degree temperature and stomach cramps.
During the assembly we decided on the best way of tackling the problem, which is basically drilling into the ground to gain access to the fresh water underneath the earth. The funds to do this are going to be raised by Emmaus and Sonagnon, which has got all the villages in the area involved in the project.
I am raising money myself for the project. I want to contribute as much as I can. I have started by asking every Emmaus Community to donate one day’s takings as an act of solidarity. If all Emmaus shops donate, then I might raise £7000 this way, plus I have a collection tin here at the Community.
I just can’t understand why in this day and age why people don’t have access to clean water. It dumbfounds me really. You would have thought that maybe the western world would have done something about it by now. Everyone, everyone is entitled to clean water.”
Published on 24th May, 2007
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