A TEARFUND volunteer from Newtownabbey raised a glass with the Bishop of Kigezi from Uganda recently to mark the launch of Tearfund's clean water and sanitation campaign, 'Make Life Flow'.
However, Margaret Myers' glass was full of dirty water to highlight that an estimated 900 million people do not have access to clean safe drinking water.
The Bishop launched the campaign at the Northern Ireland Water Training Centre in Antrim, kindl
y loaned for the occasion and was joined by over 120 volunteers and supporters.
The Bishop urged churches in Northern Ireland to tackle the water and sanitation crisis in countries like his own by supporting Tearfund's major new charity campaign, Make Life Flow.
The Bishop of Kigezi, the Rt. Rev George Katwesigye, when addressing the church volunteers, said: "While taps and toilets are things that many in Northern Ireland take for granted, millions of people around the world - including almost half of the people in my own country - lack access to clean water and a safe place to go to the toilet."
Every minute, three children under the age of five die because of poor sanitation or dirty water. The UN estimates that 2.5 billion people lack basic sanitation and 900 million people are without clean water. 2.5 billion people is approximately one and three quarter times the population of China, while 900 million people is over 100 times the population of Hong Kong.
In Northern Ireland we don't have to worry about such things as clean water and basic sanitation but this is not the case in Uganda.
Caroline Bradley, Tearfund's volunteer manager said: "Tearfund's campaign aims to help tackle the human cost of poor sanitation and dirty water. Every minute three children under the age of five die because of poor sanitation or dirty water. And it's a scandal that this is entirely preventable.
"That's why 'Make Life Flow' is Tearfund's major campaign this year. We can all play our part by campaigning and praying for change or giving as little as £4 a month," Caroline added.
John Magowan, chair of Tearfund Northern Ireland's advisory committee who has visited Kigezi and attended the event said: "Having seen the project first hand, I have been truly amazed how effective the project is in transforming lives.
"I saw children who no longer have to trek for two hours a day, carrying 20 litres of water over rugged mountain paths while in fear of bullying and rape, now enjoying an education and the health benefits of clean water and sanitation thanks to the work of this outstanding excellently managed project."
Since 1986, Tearfund's partner the Diocese of Kigezi, has improved access to clean water and sanitation for over 200,000 people, by helping communities to install water tanks, build latrines and improve basic hygiene.
The Rt. Rev George Katwesigye said: "Tearfund has been listening and responding to the needs of the world, through the local church, for many years. It has had a transforming effect on people's lives. We want to thank all of those who support this work."
To find out more about Tearfund's Make Life Flow campaign, visit www.tearfund.org/makelifeflow
Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency, working in partnership with local churches to tackle poverty. www.tearfund.org
