Success

Yes, the drinking water project was successful thanks to Peasant Solidarity's determination and thanks to those of you who supported them financially.

 Considering that 10%  of the world's population still lacks safe drinking water,  this project and its success is in real terms microscopic. However if you do not start somewhere, you will never get anywhere. Reading Etienne Katchelewa's report you will understand that they are on their way.

Please take the time to read Peasant Solidarity's report and browse this Google photo album containing all the photos.

 

N.G.O. Peasant Solidarity.

Kalima, Maniema/DR.Congo.

Av. Kamisuku II, Quartier Munyangi, Kalima, Pangi, Maniema Province. DR.Congo

Tel: +243 998735042, +243 998735649

email: pieadc2006@yahoo.fr

www.kamparanasolidareco.weebly.com

Drinking water project. Report re: use of financial assistance for water project 4a/2015.

1. Project's completion.
2. Period: 2015.
3. Project number: 4a/2015.
4. Project title: Project for access to drinking water in the town of Kalima, Maniema Province in DR-Congo.
5. Place: Camp Plessy and Camp Famille
6. Organization with responsibility for the project: Peasant Solidarity/PIEADC
7. Project's purpose: Access to safe drinking water.
8. Financial support: This support came from: Stiching Voor Internationale Komunikatie, Foundation WKV.AG, World Association of Green Esperantists and individual esperantists and others throughout the world.
9. Sum available: €11,500.
10. Project benificiaries:Kalima citizens, in particular 2,300 families/4200 individuals living in Avenue Camp Plessy, Avenue Toyota and Camp Famille Mapendo.
11. Start date: 2015.12.14
12. Completion date: 2016.01.29

INFORMATION ABOUT PREVIOUS PROJECTS.

In 2013 Peasant Solidarity/PIEADC started solving the drinking water problem that affects the vast majority of Kalima residents. Our first successful project, which cost €3,000 provided General Hospital, Kalima with access to pure drinking water. It was financed by Foundation WKV.AG.

In 2014 the second stage of our plan was also financed ($10,000) by Stiching Voor Internationale Komunikatie, Foundation WKV.AG, World Association of Green Esperantists and individual esperantists and others throughout the world. This enabled us to provide pure drinking water for citizens living in Camp Central. (Fountain Betty, please see report for stage 2.)

At the end of December 2015 we started the third stage of our plan, which has successfully provided clean drinking water for 4,200 citizens living in the Camp Plessy and Camp Famille – districts in the centre of Kalima. As with the previous projects we were funded by the same generous benefactors.

The money (€11,500), which we received paid for the necessary materials (cement, gravel, pipes etc.), the wages for the masons and plumbers and modest grants for the non-skilled helpers. N.B. As the necessary materials were only available in Goma in North Kivus Province they had to be transported to Kalima by lorry and plane.

We started work on the 14^th December 2015 and completed it on the 29^th January 2016. We drew the water from the same source (Omari Chami station) as we did in 2014 for Fountain Betty. We transported the water using one and two inch pipes the 1,002 meters from Omari Chami Station to Camp Plessy. During this part of the operation we also repaired, where necessary, some of the existing pipes. 

 

RESULTS

We constructed two water-posts in two different neighbourhoods. Originally Peasant Solidarity/PIEADC planned to construct only one water-post in Camp Plessy. However when Camp Famille residents asked Peasant Solidarity, if it would also be possible to build a water post with two taps for them, we were able to oblige and we built a second one and called it «Fountain Ans». The main water -post with four taps at Camp Plessy is called «Fountain Hans Bakker».

Camp Famille residents, who had been drawing water from ''Fountain Betty'' (built in 2014) now draw their water from their own water-post.

Two committees were established. Their role will be the collection of modest water tariffs and supervision of maintenance and repairs:

Hans Bakker committee. ( Camp Plessy).

Chairman: Mr. Mutuza Musafiri Pul

Treasurer: Mrs. Binigwa Mawazo

Adviser: Mr. Kibwe Minono

Adviser: Mr. Kika Gedeon

Adviser: Mrs.Victorien Elenga 

Ans Bakker committee. (Camp Famille).

Chairman: Mr.Lazare Ngumbi

Treasurer: Mrs.Museme Ngalya

Adviser: Mr. Kibiswa Amisi

Adviser: Mr. Ngabo Kalala

Adviser: Mr. Kulyanzigy Ibonga 

Difficulties

The poor road conditions during the rainy season made it more complicated and difficult to transport the materials. It was difficult working during the rainy season. Another problem was the need to repair some of the old pipes so that the water could flow freely.

The greatest hindrance for future plans is that the water-source that we used for the first three projects is insufficient for any new ones. Because of that we have to use another source. River Abuki is the one we have in mind. 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Budget: $11,500

Material and labour costs
Plastic pipes, adhesive, taps etc.	$ 7,005
Transport in Goma ĝis transport firm	$ 84
Bricks, sand and cement	$ 1080
Transport Goma-Kalima-Kalima	$ 1350
Wages for masons and plumbers	$ 1100
Wages for unskilled workers.	$ 400
Fee to Health Office.	$ 80
Communication: internet and telephone.	$ 50
Wage for project's administrator	$ 350
Total Balance	€11,499 + €1

CONCLUSION

The 3^rd stage of the water project went well. Peasant Solidarity/PIEADC extends its sincere thanks to the contributors: Stiching Voor Internationale Komunikatie, Foundation WKV. AG, World Association of Green Esperantists, Esperantists of Uonbulismo, individual Esperanto speakers and non-Esperanto speakers from many different countries.

Paying honour to the memory of Hans Bakker, Peasant Solidarity/PIEADC named one of the water-posts after him; Fountain Hans Bakker and the other in honour of his widow, Fountain Ans.

FUTURE PLANS AND A REQUEST.

The projects in the last three years have been successful. Without doubt the provision of clean water for the hospital and the construction of three water-posts has improved the situation in Kalima. However it is not the end of the story. We estimate that 90% of Kalima residents still need access to clean water supplies in their neighbourhoods. Because of this our battle will continue until everybody in the town gets this essential amenity.

Kalima citizens long for your continued support, because they hope that the 4^th project in 2016 will solve this problem. We therefore beg you to support us. Please help us by appealing for funds from organisations, foundations and generous public-spirited individuals. Doing this you will help us fulfil achieve our goal, which is to provide everybody in the town of Kalima with clean, safe water.

We propose to do it in the following way. River Abuki is 5 km away from Kalima's town centre. Peasant Solidarity/PIEADC would like to dam the river and make a reservoir, from which we would pipe water into town. This plan is estimated to cost € 250,000.

For Peasant Solidarity/PIEADC,

Etienne Katchelewa Kandolo Chairman.

It's not too late to help.

I have got friends - Facebook friends, but friends all the same, in a town called Kalima, Maniema Province in DR-Congo. Alphonse, Etienne and Marceline have never been to Europe, I have never been to DR-Congo and we do not speak each other's native languages. So we chat mainly in Esperanto, but sometimes also in French. Although our friendship is virtual we have got to know about each other's every day lives, our hopes and our fears. 

Here they are!

Etienne

Marceline, Etienne's wife(on the left)

Alphonse

 

Because, like everybody else, they watch television and have access to the internet, nobody needs to tell them about our seemingly unlimited supply of water, electricity and WiFi, that we have got public transport and it works efficiently, that we have got a national health service and that our children get ten years' free elementary education etc. etc.

 I too know that they have not got any of those amenities. Etienne is a practical visionary. Although he dreams of the day when 100% of Kalima residents are in the same enviable position, he knows that even wishing for one tap per household is utopian.

Yes, what Etienne, Alphonse and Marceline are most concerned about is the water situation in their part of the world. As members of the N.G.O.Peasant Solidarity the lack of clean drinking water – is their number one priority. Since 2013 they have succeeded in improving the situation. In 2012 approximately 2% of the 136,000 + residents * had access to clean water. By the end of 2014 10% had access to it. They did this with financial help from foundations and individual do-gooders and their own sheer hard work and determination. This photo album shows how they constructed a public water post in December 2014.

This year they hope to continue the good work, but this can only happen if they get enough funds to do so. They plan to build a public water post in one of the districts. All in all it will cost 11,000 Euro. So far A.V.E. (Green Esperantists) has raised 10,400 Euro: 7,000 Euro from two German foundations and the rest from private contributors. All they need is another 600 Euro.

If they get enough money the water post will look like the one in the following photo. It will provide clean water for 4,800 people.

If not it will be business as usual. These 4,800 fellow human beings will have to rely on water from sources like the following.

Alphonse has given me permission to share the following photos and video. Although they were taken in Goma, they are still relevant, because Goma residents have precisely the same kind of problems.

The photos show the multitude of plastic containers that the local people use to collect their daily water supply. They get up every single day at 4 am and walk miles to collect water before they can get on with all the other jobs. What is particularly horrifying is, that the water is polluted and  it is the women and especially the young girls who do this back-breaking and often dangerous work. Dangerous, because far too often they get raped on their way there or back. Although emancipated feminists like me can be appalled knowing that husbands, brothers and fathers do not safeguard their women folk, it is not, in my opinion, our job to finger-wag.

Some seem to be able to make a living selling it in town:

The woman in the following video tells Alphonse, that it is good to have water near home, but often there is not enough of it, because there are so many people that need it.

She puts her finger on the problem: too many needy people and not enough help either from the DR-Congolese government or prestigious agencies in the outside world. Although do-gooders and tiny organisations cannot save the world they seem to be the only ones who do close their eyes to their problems.

*They cannot say exactly how many people live in the town, because in 2013 they accommodated about 5,000 of the internally displaced DR-Kongo's Shabunda district. ''They'' being ordinary citizens who welcomed the newcomers in their own homes. Generosity is not only the prerogative of rich do-gooders. 

My friends in Peasant Solidarity need help to help themselves.

Please show your solidarity.  If  120 people give 5 Euro each they will be able to start work on the water post.

Payment options.

1. PayPal: If you wish to use this option, please send me a mail informing me, how much you would like to donate. chatterjeebetty@hotmail.com

2. Danes can either send money to Danske Bank BIC/Swift: DABADKKK 0274-4594628225 

OR by Mobile Pay (+4542211972). Please label the contribution 'water for Kalima 2015'

3. UEA members can send contributions to UEA-konto de AVE: avex-z 

4.KATCHELEWA KANDOLO Etienne,
  Goma, D.R. Congo
  Bank : BIAC (International  Bank for Africa in DR-Congo 

 Adresse:
Avenue Butembo, Quartier de Turisme, Goma, DR-Congo

 BIC/Swift : BIACCDKI
Account no. : 37572568701-73

Water for Kalima 2015.

The 22^nd February 2015 I posted information about last year's successful campaign to improve the deplorable drinking water situation in Kalima, Maniema Province in DR Congo.

The water supply for far too many of Kalima's residents. This is why they needed and still need our help.

 Here is an excerpt of the report:

''The drinking water project was successful and we sincerely thank all our benefactors: Stiching Voor Internationale Komunikatie, Foundation WKV. AG, Asocio de Verduloj AVE and private contributors. As a result of your generosity a small part of Kalima now has clean running water. Nobody could have ever imagined this before. Certainly the need is enormous, but we hope, that little by little one day the entire town will have clean running water. Understandably we hope, that you will still want to stand by Peasant Solidarity, so that we can together make the lives Kalima's residents happier.

On behalf of Peasant Solidarity /PIEADC. Etienne KATCHELEWA KANDOLO Chairman.''

Please read the full report, as PIEADC's achievement is very impressive.

It was hard work. They had to hack their way through the rainforest to lay the pipes.

 

This was the end result of last year's campaign; modest  but thoroughly  clean and healthy.

 

This year Asocio deVerduloj AVE has applied once again to Foundation WKV.AG for a grant for the third stage of the clean water project. The total cost for this year's plan is approximately 10000 euros. AVE is optimistic that the foundation will once again grant them help. However even if they do, there will be a shortfall of 5000 euros. AVE has launched a new collection campaign, so once again I am appealing to your generosity.

 Please help! 

 All contributions great and small are very, very welcome.

Payment options.

1. PayPal: If you wish to use this option, please send me a mail informing me, how much you would like to donate. chatterjeebetty@hotmail.com

2. Danes can either send money to Danske Bank 0274-4594628225 OR by Mobile Pay (+4542211972). Please label the contribution 'water for Kalima 2015'

3. UEA members can send contributions to UEA-konto de AVE: avex-z

Membroj de UEA povas sendi kontribuojn al UEA-konto de AVE: avex-z

Water for life progress report.

The last entry was dated 28th August 2014. After  thanking the few people that had contributed to the appeal, I added that  the grand total was 400 euros.

Fortunately this was not the only help they got. The following organisations helped them very generously, so in the end they received 10,000 euros:

  Stiching Voor Internationale Komunikatie, Foundation WKV. AG, Asocio de Verduloj AVE. 

                         Although this was less than they asked for they made good use of the money.

                                        BEFORE young girls walked a long way to collect water.

 The good news is, that 10%  of Kalima's residents have NOW got access to clean water near their homes.

The bad news is, that 90% of Kalima's residents still do not have access to clean water, and too many young girls make long and risky journeys to collect unsafe water.

If you are interested in this matter, please read the chairman's report which follows and my previous posts about Kalima. 

 Here is the chairman's report.

ACTUALIZATION OF THE PROJECT 13.11.2014 - 27.01.2015.

In order to solve Kalima's drinking-water problem once and for all, Peasant Solidarity decided to launch an appeal for a project, estimated to cost, at the most, €1,000,000, that would ensure pure drinking-water for all the residents. However as Peasant Solidarity did not receive the entire sum, we decided to use the money to solve part of the problem. Choosing CAMP CENTRAL district as the beneficiary we estimated that 3000 residents would get pure drinking water. In other words - 10% of Kalima's residents would get a safe drinking supply. The € 10,000 grant was spent on materials, transport and salaries for technicians etc.

The project's phases.

1. 13 – 18.11.2014. Peasant Solidarity searched for and chose the most suitable well-spring and route from the source via General Hospital to Camp Central, where we intended to place the taps. Peasant Solidarity chose a source at OMARI CHAMI.

2. 25.11 – 5.12.2014 The second phase involved finding the pipes previously used by Society Sominki and determining their condition. As there is a long way between OMARI CHAMI and Camp Central finishing the project would only be feasible, if at least some of the pipes were still in good condition Thanks to Sominki's previous employees, who knew exactly where the pipes were located, this went well. Public Health officers tested the water at OMARI CHAMI and confirmed that it was perfectly satisfactory.

3. Purchase of tools and other materials (pipes, cement, adhesives, taps, pickaxes, shoes, knives and spades etc.) and digging trenches for the water pipes. Alphonse WASEKA from Goma kindly bought and dispatched the purchases. Ten young volunteers from Kalima dug the trenches and transported the materials. In order to safeguard the pipes from accidental damage that could occur on arable land we laid them in the forest.

4. The fourth step was to lay the pipes, connect them and check the water pressure. These operations were supervised by plumbers and other technicians.

5.

Technicians connected the pipes between General Hospital and Camp Central. During this operation we discovered that some of the pipes, that Sominki had previously installed, were contaminated. So to avoid polluting the water supply we had to buy extra pipes.

6. Construction of the public water-station at Camp Central. Three weeks later, when the walls had dried, we connected the pipes and the water began flowing rapidly.

7. 27^th January 2015 we invited the mayor to attend the inauguration ceremony for the public water-point, and the families finally turned on the taps and drank pure water.

III. PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE

Peasant Solidarity employed two plumbers to check the water pressure and professionally supervise the project. In particular their help was essential to cope with a blockage that occurred midway. In addition Peasant Solidarity employed two builders and four assistant builders to construct and tile the water point.

IV. RESULTS

We renovated the water-point at OMARI CHAMI, which had previously never worked, and we fortified the pump that serves General Hospital in Kalima. The hospital now receives abundant water and residents in Camp Central, Kiswakal, Camp Famille, Avenue Mapendo as well as some others in the vicinity now have got clean running water. We estimate that 800 families or 3000 people have benefited.

V. DIFFICULTIES.

90% of Kalima's residents are still facing the drinking-water problem. After installing a clean water supply in Camp Central many people asked us, why only there in Camp Central? Why not in our neighbourhood? In short, they are jealous of Camp Central's residents and they are angry with Peasant Solidarity.

As necessary materials were not available in Kalima, we had to buy them in Goma. Due to the non-existent road or rail infrastructure in the areas these goods had to be airlifted, which of course was very expensive.

Bank charges for money transfer were high.

VI. FINANCIAL REPORT

Grant: $11671 (message from Alphonse WASEKA 28.11. 2014)

No	Use	Kosto	Sume
1	Materials( Plastic and iron pipes, lubricants, adhesive, taps, etc.)	5724
2	Materials building( Bricks, sand, gravel, wood.)	1226
3	Transport costs from Goma-Kalima-Kalima	1979,6
4	Salaries(Plumbers and builders)	1500
5	Meals for volunteers 20 days.	600
6	Miscellaneous expenses volunteers	30
7	Hire of camera	50
8	Inauguration ceremony	100
9	Internet	64
10	Alphonse's travel expenses in Goma due to purchases	40
11	Bank charges	348,1
12	Total expenses Balance:	11661.7 9,3	$11671 €10.000

VII. CONCLUSION

The drinking water project was successful and we sincerely thank all our benefactors: Stiching Voor Internationale Komunikatie, Foundation WKV. AG, Asocio de Verduloj AVE and Betty Chatterjee. As a result of your generosity a small part of Kalima now has clean running water. Nobody could have ever imagined this before. Certainly the need is enormous, but we hope, that little by little one day the entire town will have clean running water. Understandably we hope, that you will still want to stand by Peasant Solidarity, so that we can together make the lives Kalima's residents happier.

I. RECOMMENDATIONS

To all our benefactors and to those of you who have not supported Peasant Solidarity, I should like to draw your attention to the fact that € 80,000 would enable us to provide Central Kalima with clean drinking water. Our organization is tiny, but we are really convinced that we can achieve a great deal, if only we can get modest support. Come and visit us and see for yourself what we are capable of.

On behalf of Peasant Solidarity /PIEADC

Etienne KATCHELEWA KANDOLO Chairman.''

 

Your help will make all the difference.

Peasant Solidarity is certain now, that they will get 6000 euros from Wasserkraft Volk AG and AVE. 

What they hope for now is to get another 4000 euros so they can gp ahead and provide safe drinking water for at least some of the Kalima residents.

How many people would benefit?

They would start by providing water for an 8 square kilometer neighbourhood in the centre of Kalima called Munyangi. It has 48000 residents.

If they get the 4000 euros I have been appealing for,  it will mean that 80000 Kalima residents will get an amenity that we take for granted - clean drinking water.

 Please help! All contributions however small are very, very welcome. 

1. PayPal:  If you wish to use this option, please send me a mail informing me, how much you would like to donate. bettychatterjee68@gmail.com

2. Danes can send money to Danske Bank 0274-4594628225. Please include label 'water for Kalima'

Encouraging News!

After receiving some very despondent messages  I have just got some  encouraging news from Kalima.

Wasserkraft Volk AG, the German firm that sponsored Peasant Solidarity's water project in 2012 has promised them another 5000 euros.

 In addition A.V.E. the (Esperanto equivalent of Friends of the Earth) is giving  them 1000 euros. 

 6000 euros will not solve all their water problems, but it will  improve the situation for more  Kalima residents.

Below is a UNEP photo of one of Kalima's  less than perfect water sources.
 

<< In Kalima, Maniema Province, the Baganda spring box combines several features of poor construction and maintenance including: reduced flow rate, damaged spring box cover, sediment build-up and clogging of the drainage ditch, lack of fence enclosure and upslope footpaths increasing erosion and contamination.>>

This collection looks as though it is going to be depressingly  modest, unless I get a few more contributions.

1. PayPal:  If you wish to use this option, please send me a mail informing me, how much you would like to donate. bettychatterjee68@gmail.com

2. Danes can send money to Danske Bank 0274-4594628225. Please include label 'water for Kalima'

Please help! All contributions however small are very, very welcome.

Pipe dreams.

In a world where there are countless good causes it is  difficult to promote a new one. As we are all inundated with appeals for help, it often seems overwhelming. Many people already contribute to a charity or charities, and often they choose to do it through a well-established organization. So when they see an appeal like the one I  launched last week,  they ignore it.

 Do  they suspect that the beneficiaries will misuse their money through lack of expertise or even worse?

Last year, Peasant Solidarity's members received 3000 euros from the German firm "WAsserkraft Volk AG" . They spent this money on replacing the existing water pump and pipes for the Kalima General Hospital, which is situated in the district where white settlers lived; the water installations had deteriorated during the 1998 – 2003 war.

Due to their wise use of a relatively small amount of money the hospital and a small number of homes in the vicinity have now got access to clean water.

They want to go further by giving other people in Kalima the same 'luxury' – safe drinking water. Peasant Solidarity has drawn up plans to do this. However without financial support the plans will remain pipe dreams.

My relatively modest goal, the 4000 euros I dream of raising for this project, seems to be a pipe dream too - there are only 30 euros in the kitty.

Please support this cause.

 Water is Life 

P.S. Are you a new reader? If so please read my other articles on the same topic. (April 2014)

 The hospital.

The new water pump and other equipment.

The district surrounding the hospital.

Let's make a dream come true - Water Is Life - DR Congo

When I chose the slogan 'Water is Life' I did not realize that this was also the title of a video about the water situation in DR Congo. Although it was not made in Kalima, it shows the same kind of problems.

              

If you are a new reader you might care to read my two previous blogs about this topic. Water is hope and Dirty water is death, clean water is life.

Assuming that, as Peasant Solidarity had managed to solve the local hospital's water problems with the 3000 euros they received last year, 4000 euros from us would enable them to do even more. Some days ago I asked Etienne how 4000 euros would improve the water situation in Kalima.

Etienne Katchelewa's reply:

''What could we do with 4000 euros? Last year's donation of 3000 euros was enough to solve the hospital's problem, because there was an existing well. We bought a new pump and replaced the worn-out water pipes. The hospital's immediate neighbors benefited too, but if we tried to extend the network by merely adding new pipes, the hospital's well would be insufficient to satisfy the needs of the new consumers. So it would be a waste of your money to even try.

To tell you the truth, we need at least 240000 euros for a viable water project. However 4000 euros would benefit our fish-farming or our rice and maize projects. Thank you for trying, but we pray for a benefactor capable of giving us the 240000 euros.''

Not always, but often people start praying for a solution only when they have exhausted all other possibilities. I have not reached that point yet. Peasant Solidarity needs either the support of 24000 people willing and able to donate 10 euros or financial support from an established charity or socially conscious firm.

Clean water means a great deal  for their progress and well-being. My goal is to help raise money for Peasant Solidarity's water-project; but, if we cannot raise enough to do the job properly, then certainly it would  boost Peasant Solidarity's secondary projects: fish-farming and agriculture.

Peasant Solidarity's Committee. Etienne Katchelewa is sitting on the far right.

How is the campaign going?

30 euros so far. We need 497 donations of 10 euros and there are 138 days to go before the dead-line 1^st September.

One of my friends mailed me yesterday afternoon to say that she had not been able to make contribution,because of a technical fault on the Caremaker site. I immediately got in touch with the webmaster, who promised to look into the problem.
They have just got back to me, here is the explanation.
'' It happens when people use an old version of Internet Explorer. So either update it or use Firefox, Chrome or Safari'.

All contributions gratefully accepted. Please let other people know about this campaign, Let's make a dream come true!

Dirty Water Is Death - Clean Water is Life.

After writing my last post about Peasant Solidarity's water project I have launched a crowdfunding appeal, which I have called Water is Life.

Here is my appeal, which I am repeating below, mainly because the links disappeared when I uploaded the text.

''Dear known and unknown Friends,

I am a British born, retired teacher resident in Denmark, who apart from leading an active life as a grandmother, a soprano in an international women's choir, an esperantist, a blogger, a volunteer for DaneAge Association, has hundreds of international contacts mainly thanks to social media.

Recently, one of my Esperanto-speaking Facebook friends, Etienne Katchelewa from DR-Congo told me about the problems in his home-town, Kalima in the province of Maniema. Although I already knew the dry facts about high infant mortality rates, malnutrition, lack of clean drinking water, rape, illiteracy, corruption and desperation in DR Congo, hearing these from him brought the facts painfully to life. It left me with two possibilities: either to express polite sympathy before deleting him from my friendship list, or to help him raise money for a clean drinking water project that will make life very much easier and safer in his home-town.

I promised to try and help him, so that is why I am writing this appeal.

My first step was to edit and translate information about the town and its specific problems into English. Then I sent an application for funds to Danida and rang various charities. After a few days I got a sympathetic but negative mail from Danida and none of the charities were able to help. Etienne and his friends have sent applications to various organizations, but most of them have been turned down. In no way am I reproaching these organizations; they have their own projects and nobody can save the entire world.

Etienne is an agronomist. During his student days, he and some of his fellow students founded the association Peasant Solidarity whose aim was, is and will be to promote socio-economic and agricultural development in Kalima and the surrounding area. In spite of their very limited funds, they have promoted fish-farming, animal husbandry and courses on improved agricultural techniques. In 2013 a grant of 380 euros from Association of Green Esperantists enabled them to improve some of their fish-ponds, which have provided protein-rich food for local residents as well as a small profit that has helped cover other expenditure.

Peasant Solidarity's first priority for 2014 is to provide safe drinking water for the 136,000 residents of Kalima; at present only 2,6% have access to clean water and infant mortality due to waterborne diseases is about 35%. In most countries a governmental agency would take responsibility for this. REGIDESO has a monopoly for providing drinking water in DR Congo, but unfortunately it does not operate in Kalima or in Maniema Province.

So if Peasant Solidarity cannot solve the problem, in all probability nobody will.

Etienne has drawn up two plans with an estimated cost between 247,047 and 861,906 euros. The first plan would provide safe drinking water for part of the town and the second one would solve the problem for everybody.

In 2013 a German firm, Wasserkraft Volk AG gave Peasant Solidarity 3000 euros, which they spent on drinking water installations for Kalima General Hospital and the surrounding area. It was the first step towards completing their ambitious but absolutely essential project.

Now I am asking you to help them take the second step. It would be a dream come true, if this appeal went viral and 861,906 euros poured in, for their most ambitious plan. However I am a realist – an optimistic realist.

My primary, cautiously optimistic goal is to raise 4000 euros by 1st September 2014. Unrealistic? Well, this could be achieved, by for example, 400 donations of 10 euros. Just under three donations a day for the next 139 days would do it.

Perhaps you are a warm-hearted person who would love to help, but cannot afford to or you already contribute generously to other good causes. If so, please consider helping the campaign by forwarding this to your friends, Facebook, G+, Twitter etc.

All kinds of amazing things go viral online, why not this?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I intend to keep you updated by writing more blog posts about this. ''

Dirty water is death, but clean Water is Life.