As a church, we cannot do everything, but we can do something. We are committing to
a partnership with Compassion International with a threefold emphasis:
- Adopting a student in the Leadership Development Program
- Tackling a clean water project in Rwanda
- Making available to you children from this community in Rwanda that are in need of sponsors
We are adopting a student in the Leadership Development Program. This student is pursuing a
higher education degree, and for $300 per month out of our church budget in 2010, we are going
to be assisting this student in pursing his or her education in Rwanda, raising up a new Christian
leader in that culture so that the culture can be changed.
We are tackling a clean water project in Rwanda. 30 churches who host Compassion Child Development
Centers need clean water – this will supply 8000 children and 120 adults with clean water every
day. Each of these church water projects will cost about $4,400, and this year we’re taking up
an offering at our Christmas Eve service of which 100% will go to this clean water project. By
assisting this community in Rwanda, we will be enabling these kids to hear the gospel shared with
them in these places. Through this partnership with Compassion and the local churches in Rwanda,
we will be taking steps to get clean water to these children and families that are in desperate need of it.
Clean drinking water is essential to good health. Unfortunately, only about half of the population
in Africa has access to clean water. Specifically, more than 70 percent of rural households in
Rwanda—where the majority of Compassion’s child development centers are located—lack access to clean
and safe drinking water. More often than not, even where clean water is available, unsanitary storage
conditions contaminate it.
In 2008 Rwanda health reports found 4,011 cases of intestinal worms among Compassion assisted children,
accounting for nearly 23 percent of all diseases affecting children during that year. Providing clean
water to drink and wash with will improve the health of registered children by 60 percent in the first year.
Although health is critical, it is just one aspect of Compassion’s holistic child development model. In
addition to improved health resulting from clean water, this activity benefits the children in other
ways. For example, the Gahanga Child Development Center reports that 30 percent of the children arrive
late for activities because they must carry water for their families—sometimes over long distances and
under hazardous conditions. Access to clean water at the church will ease this burden for the children
and allow them to receive the full benefits of Compassion’s programs.
Compassion Rwanda is combating this threat to improved health by enabling 30 church partners to install
10,000 liter water tanks. These tanks will allow the child development centers to safely store purified
water and encourage collection of rain water. Each church partner will train three representatives in
the maintenance of their water system, the detection and prevention of waterborne and communicable diseases,
and proper hygiene techniques. From these 30 tanks, 8,000 children and 120 adults will benefit from using
clean water.
Southview will be taking up a special offering during December and at our Christmas Eve service: 100% of
this offering will go toward the Rwanda clean water project. It will cost approximately $4,400 for each
of these water tanks, the necessary plumbing, and the training for maintenance and usage.
We are making available to you children from this community in Rwanda that are in need of sponsors. For
$38 per month, you can help a child to have education, health care, and the opportunity to know Jesus
Christ. These children will be provided a Bible by Compassion and these local churches, and they will
teach them from God’s Word about His love for them. You can be a part of showing that love in a very
real and tangible way.