Avondale students raise $13,000 for wells in Malawi
Sara Thompson
Public relations editorial intern
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Avondale College students have helped raise more than $13,000 to provide water for a village in Malawi through a project organised by a graduate.
Make a Stand for Clean Water aims to raise $20,000 for two wells in the village of Suzi. The wells will not only provide water but will also reduce disease prevalence and enable many women to receive an education—they will save more than three hours a day by not having to collect water.
Make a Stand for Clean Water aims to raise $20,000 for the building by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) of two wells in the village of Suzi. The money will also provide training for the villagers to help them maintain the wells and to teach them about hygiene and sanitation.
With a population of almost 1000 and the only source of water a contaminated river more than one kilometre away, the village needs clean, accessible water. Krystle Praestiin, who completed the international development studies course at Avondale this past year, says the wells will not only provide water but will also reduce disease prevalence and enable many women to receive an education—they will save more than three hours a day by not having to collect water.
As an ADRA intern in Malawi, Krystle has seen the gratitude for projects such as this. “I went out to a village where ADRA was constructing a borehole and met this woman who was so excited about having access to a clean water source that she did this dance for me,” Krystle says. “Her hips were bobbing, and she even provided her own soundtrack!”
Make a Stand for Clean Water is supported by Regeneration. The young adult group is part of Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church, which gave 30 per cent of its offerings during August to the project. Cafe Rejuve is also fundraising by selling bottled water and Fairtrade hot drinks. The success prompted leaders to raise money for not just one well but two.
The project is not only making an impact on the lives of villagers in Malawi. Students at Avondale have also been touched reports the church’s associate minister Pastor Mark Craig. Bachelor of Theology/Bachelor of Ministry student Nic Kross, a member of Regeneration’s leadership team, is one. “Being involved in this project has opened my eyes,” he says. “It’s not impossible to make a difference.”