With Safe Water, She Can Dream

The Water Crisis

About 1 in 10 people globally lacks clean water access, making them more vulnerable to waterborne diseases. Among children under the age of 5, they experience about 1.7 billion incidences of diarrhea each year.

We praise God that in 20233, Samaritan’s Purse Canada teams reached more than 43,000 people in 10 countries through our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects, and we rejoice knowing that these numbers represent individuals who no longer suffer from waterborne illness.

This year in the southern Philippines, because of your support, Samaritan’s Purse teams and partners plan to

• Install 3000 household water filters
• Construct large BioSand Water Filters in four schools, along with handwashing stations and latrines

This safe water access and better health will allow parents to return to work and provide for their families, children to consistently attend school and dream of a bright future, and communities to raise healthier livestock.

“Instead of illness, children can follow their dreams”

Satisfaction fills Alyna’s heart when she’s crunching numbers. Math class is one of her favorites. Plus, she’ll need the skill when she’s measuring heart rates, calculating dosages, and giving medications.

This bright, smiley Grade Six student dreams of being a nurse. But first, she has to stay in school. And every day that she is too weak to get out of bed, each time her stomach cramps in pain, that dream is threatened because of the water she drinks.

Alyna—like tens of thousands of children where she lives in the southern Philippines—has been sick too many times because of contaminated water. It is even a danger to her life.

But today, at Alyna’s school, a towering community BioSand Water Filter gives her and her classmates the protection they need to live, learn, and dream. “Drinking clean water is good for our health and mind,” she said. “I’m not sick in my tummy anymore!”

It’s a gift Alyna knows was given by friends like you in the Name of Jesus, a demonstration of His love in her life. It’s also an opportunity for our partners to share the Gospel in an area where they might not otherwise be able.

Eighty-four of these filters are now in place in the Philippines, primarily in schools. Each one provides daily safe water for over 225 students and staff. Plus, handwashing stations, latrines, and hygiene training help improve their health.

“Instead of illness, children can follow their dreams,” shared one principal who is seeing a sharp decline in absences from illness. “Amazing impact!”

Much work still remains. This year, we are working to install filters in five more schools near Alyna’s—with a goal of reaching all 26 schools in her area with safe water in Jesus’ Name.

“We have 14 schools in our district,” said one superintendent in the north of this region. “All of them need these filters.” Your prayers and gifts make this possible.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” John 7:37