A different venue was Cookbury Parish Church where Ann and Stan Bird invited DAK to give a power point presentation and when attendees were given an excellent snack lunch. There was also a gathering in the Village Hall at Germansweek when  Sylvia Kaye offered a wonderful afternoon tea for those who came to see another powerpoint presentation.

Last Friday 29 teams came together at Bratton Clovelly Parish Hall for another successful annual Wine and Wisdom quiz with Question Master David Arney. Once again the winners, Richard Verschoyle and Friends squeezed into the winning position ahead of The Isaacs Family who were present with only an incomplete team.

Some great and successful fundraisers and, as with all our events, we are very grateful for all the help and support given by local friends with the preparations and manning the various chores throughout.

Another long, straddling village on one hill has a strong flow of water on a hill some distance away. Rather than make the long,  strenuous  journey down and up to fetch the water, holes have been dug in the valley between.  The water within is dirty and readily dries out so we are trying to raise sufficient funds to install a gravity pipeline crossing the valley to carry the clean spring water to the 3,000 inhabitants, giving them taps at six different locations through the village so that all will have a much easier access. In time we would like to extend the pipeline to a neighbouring village with a population of 2600 – when we can raise the large sums needed.

A well is under construction by DAK  in  a Maasai village we visited which is normally very dry  and where we found water with a terrible, dirty colour; it had come down from a village where the night before there had been very  heavy rain  that had swept away houses killing many inhabitants.  Cattle were stood in it and children were drinking it.

The women  are all thrilled to know they will soon have some good clean water to drink within easy reach.

We visited many more villages needing DAK’s help.

” I think you should know that it matters to me what happens to people far over the sea.”

Such awareness of less fortunate children’s lifestyles and problems is much to be encouraged. It was an altogether praiseworthy celebration. Thank you to both the children and staff!

Silas, accompanied by his friend, Ken, completed the Coast to Coast cycle ride, passing through Okehampton. The first day they experienced heavy rain, the second was sunny and the amazing total raised so far is almost reaching £1,000. Brilliant Silas!! Thank you very much!! Thanks go also of course to all sponsors, without whom it wouldn’t be as much!

Thank you children!

In the villages that DAK has already helped, the women don’t have such long distances to walk to fetch clean water for their families. School teachers tell how more children are attending school regularly because they are no longer drinking the contaminated water that so frequently made them ill.

Fetching the water can also be dangerous.

Many rivers are dangerous places to obtain drinking water, often polluted and crocodile infested. In many instances the water has to be shared by livestock adding further health risks. DAK has installed shallow wells in situations like these, but there are still many more villages waiting for help.

Sometimes there is water in the river – sometimes it has dried out.

Other communities have a good clean spring up in the mountains – although this means a long and tiring trek. DAK installs gravity piped schemes to help these villages.

DAK insists on a ‘partnership’ with the villagers so that they are made to feel responsibility and ownership towards their new water supplies. If contributing their labour is not an option, because of the topography of the area, then a financial contribution is agreed upon. They are made aware of the importance of good hygiene practices and encouraged to look after the pumps with regular maintenance.

Women have more time and energy for other occupations like tending their crops or generating some form of income activities.

Trustees frequently visit the area to check that all is being done as it should be and to hold village meetings to keep up to date.

It is just great to be able to pump good clean water.