One Well Challenge

Providing clean and safe water to a village changes so many things…

Death and disease

It is estimated that 785 million people on this planet do not have access to clean water. As a result, around every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease. This means close to 1,000 children die every day from preventable water-related diseases. (Source: UN and WHO) This is tragic! By providing deep-capped water wells, Global Aid Network (GAiN) helps bring an end to the cycle of disease and death that plagues people all their lives.

Life styles are transformed

Women and children no longer have to seek out and carry water long distances. They have better general health to lead productive lives. This frees them to engage with their families and in productive activities such as school and work.

To see transformation all areas of a villager’s life, GAiN also provides hygiene and sanitation training to aid villagers in preventing disease as well as Gender Sensitivity Training that teaches the equal value of men and women. In some villages, Family Health Training Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Training and other community development is conducted.

Living water is offered

Through GAiN’s partnership with the local indigenous church, villagers have an opportunity to hear about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ through the JESUS film and one-on-one evangelism and grow in their faith. This results in the strengthening of existing churches and new churches planted.

One Well Challenge: Consider a…

Family Well: Invite the family… mom, dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grand parents to adopt a village. Create a deep bond and family identity by working together to help others

Memorial Well: Honour the memory of a loved one by giving life to others.

My Heroes Well: Honor your personal heroes, living and dead, people that have impacted your life and made a significant contribution to who you are today.

Company Well: Improve your business and work culture by creating a team spirit around a humanitarian impact. Your charitable project creates an opportunity to communicate your heart to employees, customers and the community.

Church Well: Adopt a village. Use a well project to involve the whole church community in a very tangible project that will provide clear water and living water to a village. Think of ways to involve each segment of the congregation from kids to grandparents.

Community Well: Make a community to community commitment. Adopt a “sister” village. As a school or service organization project, a village campaign is set up to build community spirit and transform a village through the gift of clean water.

Friends Well: Be a catalyst in your circle of friends. Use your influence to give others the opportunity to do something good. Divide a well in shares and ask your friends to invest in one share of your “Friends” well. Example: 100 shares at $85 dollars each or 10 shares at $850 each.

Birthday Well: Do you have a significant birthday coming? After a certain age, they are all significant. Tell all your friends and family you would like their help to give a present rather than receiving one. Make a memorable birthday and transform a village at the same time.

Zoe’s Well: Do you know a child that may be interested in learning more about the water crisis? In this children’s book, Zoe is a young girl with a big heart and lots of compassion. When she learns that children her age in rural African villages don’t have the same access to water that she does, she devises a plan to help. Zoe recruits her family and friends to start a campaign and raises money and awareness for children in Africa to receive a water well. This story will encourage young readers with the message that they can take initiative to make a difference internationally, no matter what their age. Click here to see a copy.

Why 65 wells?

This year our goal is 65 water wells as we are all around 65 years of age and the journey across Canada will take about 65 days.

How can you help?

Give $8500 (One Well Challenge) or
Give the first $850 and find 9 people to give $850 or
Challenge 85 friends and acquaintances to give $100 each – the cost of coffee for a month, or one night out on the town or a new pair of shoes or
Give $8500 and ask 2 friends to do the same and provide 3 wells! or
Your own creative plan …

What do you get besides a tax receipt? You get the satisfaction of knowing…

around 1,000 people will receive clean water for their lifetime,
villagers will receive hygiene & sanitation training to help restore health,
children in that community will have greater potential to escape being a statistic. (The World Health Organization estimates that one child dies every 90 seconds as a result of a water related disease.)
women and children no longer carry water over great distances allowing the children to attend school and the women to develop small businesses. Economic activity and hope for the children’s future is stimulated.