 |
Los Angeles, April 2008 — Like many children in the world, the children in Zitundo, Mozambique, wake up every morning looking forward to going to school. However, Zitundo is a remote area of the Maputo province in Mozambique, and the people are very poor. Before the children—especially the girls—can attend classes, they have to walk miles to fetch water from a contaminated water supply and then walk miles back home to bring it to their families. Not only do the children miss school, but their health and that of their families is being severely affected.
Working to counteract this is the Joaquim Chissano Foundation (FJC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace, economic and social development and culture in Mozambique. The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) made a significant contribution recently to the FJC to provide clean water systems for about 11,000 people in Zitundo. The project will construct seven new sources of drinking water, rehabilitate one existing water system, and train the communities in local management to ensure an affordable and sustainable supply of clean water.
 |
Dr. Leonardo Santos Simão, executive director of FJC, reports that not only do the people in Zitundo have to walk long distances to obtain water from currently unsafe water sources, but some of the sources show high nitrate levels. Improvement of the quality and quantity of potable water is part of an overall effort to modify behavior in terms of water usage, safe waste disposal and reduction of water-borne disease. The project is expected to be completed in December 2008 and involves building boreholes with pumps, training users to manage them over time, making spare parts available and improving the life cycle of water sources.
As a result, besides the obvious health benefits from having a clean water supply, the attendance at school, especially for the girls, will increase and their level of education will improve.
Leopoldina Dias, the Zitundo Project Coordinator at FJC, reports that visits have taken place to meet the government authorities, the local leaders and the communities, to jointly conceive the project details, hear from the beneficiaries about the location of each infrastructure, receive their comments and suggestions about the whole project and establish partnerships with them. FJC is reviewing proposals from local construction companies to build and rehabilitate the water systems.
FJC promotes peace in Mozambique, Southern Africa and the world through conflict prevention, management and resolution. It also promotes integrated and sustainable development, particularly in rural areas, and enhancement of the Mozambican culture.
( Photos courtesy of the Joaquim Chissano Foundation)
TPRF advances the internationally acclaimed message of peace of Prem Rawat, known also as Maharaji. In addition, it helps provide the necessities of life for people most in need. The Foundation often partners with other humanitarian organizations to bring food, water and disaster relief rapidly where it is most required.
Discover more about Prem Rawat, his message of hope and peace, and the humanitarian activities of The Prem Rawat Foundation
