Tuesday, May 17, 2011


DEDICATION OF WELLS PROVIDED BY CHILD ACTION INITIATIVE AND WORLD VISION IN KASUNGAMI, DRC


CHILD ACTION INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER   MAY 17, 2011

In the previous edition we outlined the events leading up to the completion of the Child Action Initiative (CAI) well drilling project in Kasungami, DRC which spanned a period of 4-1/2 years. See blogspot for archived editions.

The following narrative and photographs by Isaiah Njimbu Chot describes the dedication of the wells on March 22, 2011:

DEDICATION OF THREE WELLS IN KASUNGAMI

On the morning of Tuesday March 22nd, 2011, Kasungami community was extremely honored with the presence of Lubumbashi Mayor’s representative, World Vision staff, UNICEF delegate, community leaders, various officers including local chiefs, children, women and men who attended the dedication of the community wells,

Until recently, most Kasungami Community had taken for granted the safety of their drinking water. The events alerted all of them, have stimulated and reminded the importance of effective health prevention. Also the event was a best opportunity to inform and sensitize the population through speeches, role playing and songs to protect drinking water to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses.

The community drank dirty water with parasites and bad sanitation conditions. People attempted to combat waterborne diarrhea and guinea worm disease, but they were unsuccessful. So we recognize that we are fortunate in Kasungami to have these wells. “Thanks to the generosity of donors of The Water Project, the entire community will benefit from safe drinking water”, said the children.

World Vision director: “We would find it extremely difficult to drill wells this year if other people could not do something to help. Because of the generous donations sent to Child Action Initiative for the water project, we were able to continue with this effort to take it beyond that to helping the people with safe water. We appreciate to partner in these collaborative efforts for the first time. The community should then protect and maintain these pumps.”

Representative of the City of Lubumbashi Mayor's Office: “On behalf of the Lubumbashi City, we truly appreciate Child Action Initiative’s work for providing three wells to the community. We recognize, as you do, the valuable role you play in building brighter futures for Congo’s next generation. It is through the positive efforts of people like you that we can “Change a Lifetime” for a child in need. We appeal to your donors to do more wells which will help many families to have access to safe and protected drinking water all through the day. People can survive much longer without food then without water. Thank you for your continuing support.”

Therefore, after experiencing the first event dedicating the three wells, the community pumped with eager anticipation, praising God when water flowed freely. The people were excited to begin using their new source of clean water.

Reported by

Isaiah Njimbu Chot
CAI Founder and Executive Director



On behalf of the residents of Kasungami, we wish to thank everyone for their prayers and financial support of the well drilling project over the past 4-1/2 years. Your support has has been a blessing. Now, we will focus on: a. Implementation of a developmental farming program to enable the residents to raise crops to improve their health, nutrition and become self-sufficient; b. Creation of United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Building Teams to construct a parsonage for Nazareth United Methodist Church, the summer of 2012 and c. Purchase a vehicle for Isaiah's use to enable him to more efficiently serve the people of Kasungami.


Blessings,

Isaiah Njimbu Chot, Dave Heiser, Bev and Ed Wentz

Bev Wentz, R.N. (Retired) ; Ed Wentz, P.E. (Retired)
U.S. UMVIM Coordinators for Child Action Initiative
Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, NC
Greensboro District, Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference

Dave Heiser, P.E., B.C.E.E.
U.S. UMVIM Technical Advisor for Child Action Initiative
Fuquay Varina United Methodist Church, Fuquay Varina, NC
Raleigh District, North Carolina United Methodist Conference



School Children Dancing at the Well Dedication Ceremony

Children thanking the donors for the wells


World Vision Director, center, Arlette Ngonso and Julie of World Vision


World Vision Director’s representative, School's coordinator, Isaiah Njimbu Chot,  Mayor’s representative, Assistant to the Bishop’s representative, UNICEF delegate. Woman sitting with yellow and green, is Nazareth UMC lay leader

Kasungami Chief with drinking glass, plate and bowl for the dedication ceremony

World Vision Director’s representative, Julie, DS’ secretary, Education Coordinator, Nazareth Pastor, Isaiah Njimbu Chot, Mayor’s representative, Assistant to the Bishop’s representative, UNICEF delegate,

Deacon Tshilomobo DS’ Secretary, Ms Sylvia, Rev Jacques, Isaiah and Arlette Ngonso






Tuesday, May 3, 2011

WELL DRILLING PROJECT FOR THE PEOPLE OF KASUNGAMI, DRC



CHILD ACTION INITIATIVE AND WORLD VISION COMPLETE WELL DRILLING PROJECT IN KASUNGAMI, DRC

CHILD ACTION INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER                     MAY 2, 2011

With the Grace of God and a concerted effort by many following four and one half years of praying, planning, and fund raising the well drilling project in Kasungami, DRC has been completed. Thanks to the assistance of the dedicated staff of Christian engineers, geologists and well drillers in World Vision’s Lubumbashi, DRC office this need has been fulfilled. This was made possible through negotiations by Isaiah Njimbu Chot, Founder & Executive Director of Child Action Initiative (CAI) and Dave Heiser, Technical Advisor with CAI, during their meeting with World Vision personnel July, 2010.

World Vision expressed gratitude to Isaiah and Dave for CAI’s primary mission working with and educating AIDS orphans and for this reason decided this was a project worthy of their support which benefits many.

In December, 2010 World Vision began delivering well drilling materials and supplies to Kasungami and meeting with the residents to discuss water use, conservation and sanitation. The drilling of the first of three wells in Kasungami, DRC was started in early January, 2011. (See photographs below) One of these wells is located on the property of Nazareth United Methodist Church (UMC), the focal point of CAI.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this project: A $15,000 donation from Hershey Rotary Club, Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and additional sums from anonymous donors. Kasungami residents now have access to a larger supply of clean drinking water.

In a recent e-mail Isaiah Njimbu Chot wrote:

THREE NEW WELLS FOR THE COMMUNITY IN KASUNGAMI

December 20th 2010 was another beautiful day as World Vision started delivering drilling materials in Kasungami. It was a happy and joyous moment for people. Happy faces of the aged mothers and fathers together with the young men and women and their children expecting to get new wells for safe drinking water.

After putting everything in place, World Vision people started drilling with the participation of the community and church members:

January 7th -8th the first well was drilled at the community Maternity Building. January 10th -11th 2011 the second well was drilled at Nazareth United Methodist Church. January 13th -14th 2011, the third and last well was drilled at Church of God.

The parents, guardians and community members came in large numbers to witness the well drilling. Everyone wanted to say thank you. Many of them reported that now it will enable (them) to avoid getting sick from water disease because drinking clean water will be available at their households.

There was one woman who gave a testimony describing the new well as their only savior. She said:

“They have been suffering from water related diseases for example, typhoid as a result of taking turbid, muddy water, she also added that they had difficult time to concentrate on their daily activities such as going to school and to church instead they were forced to walk miles away looking for dirty water.”

Now she believes that this will never happen again with this new well near them. On behalf of the orphans and Kasungami community she expressed thanks to the donors for caring (for) the lives of the community by providing them with safe clean water.

One man stood and said:

“We are the most blessed and now we look like other human beings, we never thought to have a well in our area. GOD came inside you people and brought life to us.”

On behalf of the community and children he was very thankful to the UMVIM Child Action Initiative coordinators for being ambassadors and Hershey Rotary Club in Pennsylvania and other donors funding the project.

Watch for the next issue of this newsletter which will feature the dedication ceremonies of the wells during which many local dignitaries were in attendance.
Blessings,

Isaiah Njimbu Chot, Dave Heiser, Bev & Ed Wentz

Isaiah Njimbu Chot
Founder & Executive Director of Child Action Initiative
The United Methodist Church South Congo & Zambia Episcopal Area
Lubumbashi, DRC

Bev Wentz, R.N. (Retired),  Ed Wentz, P.E. (Retired)
U.S. UMVIM Coordinators for Child Action Initiative
Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, NC
Greensboro District,  Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference

Dave Heiser, P.E., B.C.E.E.
U.S. UMVIM Technical Advisor for Child Action Initiative
Fuquay Varina United Methodist Church, Fuquay Varina, NC
Raleigh District,  North Carolina United Methodist Conference