INTERNATIONAL PROJECT PROPOSAL PROJECT 1484 Clean Water for Poor Rural Communities Rincon Grande and Las Cañitas, Dominican Republic Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward. Matthew 10:42
We are a Catholic ministry that serves the poorest of the poor internationally by channeling aid through dioceses, parishes and Catholic missionaries, cost-effectively helping the poor break the cycle of poverty while advancing Catholic evangelization. Rather than create new institutions to distribute aid, we support existing ministries and churches already serving the poor. In addition to being the most cost-effective way of helping the poor, empowering these ministries allows us to support the Church s spiritual mission and its important position of leadership in poor communities. We consider every gift we receive as a precious resource from God. We direct every donation to its intended project, provide honest and accurate reports to our donors, and keep overhead costs to an industry low. We handle funds with utmost integrity and hold our ministry partners in the field to the same high standards by asking them to document costs and the impact of their outreach. We invite you to join with us as we seek to transform the lives of the poor materially and spiritually ways that please the Father and glorify him in Heaven and on earth.
Description This project will deliver clean, safe water to 336 people in two remote mountain villages. Purpose Improving the health of 80 poor families who often become sick from drinking water that carries parasites. Enabling villagers to adequately feed their families by providing water to irrigate crops and nourish animals. Our Partner FUNDASEP was created by the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana to bring human dignity to destitute villages. Location Rincon Grande and Las Cañitas, isolated villages in the mountains of the Dominican Republic that are reached only by a rugged dirt road on mule or donkey. Cost Clean Water for Poor Rural Communities Project 1484 Project Synopsis With their water jugs, two village boys begin a long and slow journey to the creek on a donkey. $49,500 to build a water system that would bring water from the creek, purify it, and distribute it to spigots outside local homes, schools and chapels. Highlights Women and children walk two kilometers several times a day across dirt paths to a parasite-infested creek to gather water. The fortunate families own a donkey to ease the burden. Diseases from waterborne parasites are rampant in the communities, especially among children. The local Catholic diocese is responding to this need with plans for a water system. Villagers provide volunteer labor, while professionals are hired to plan and design the system. Families pledge a monetary contribution for maintenance. Your financial gift is desperately needed to cover the final cost of the construction materials needed to bring the joy of clear, refreshing water to God s suffering people. For I was hungry and you gave me food... thirsty and you gave me... drink... a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35 1
Clean Water for Poor Rural Communities Project 1484 The Need Without water at home, a mother travels to the creek with her young son. Suffering people The people of Rincon Grande and Las Cañitas are in dire need and face these hardships: Steep hillsides are beautiful but prevent access to other regions and make farming difficult. The land is dry, but during the rainy season they manage to grow peanuts and pumpkins. Villagers raise sheep and goats but have barely enough income and food to survive. Most homes have dirt floors, and walls are patched together with discarded tin and wood planks. There is no health clinic to treat the villagers who become sick. Patria Hernandez Aquino, 59, must walk two kilometers every day up steep hills and through a forest to reach the creek that supplies her water, and her worn feet ache badly from hauling the heavy jugs home. Unfortunately, this hardship is not even Patria s greatest risk. When she reaches the tiny shack where she lives, an even greater danger awaits. To survive, she must drink and bathe in the parasitefilled water she has brought home. Human and animal waste from upstream contaminates the creek, but she and other villagers have no choice but to use the water because no alternative exists. As a tragic result, these destitute people suffer with stomach ailments, skin conditions and serious illnesses some of which are deadly. The people of Rincon Grande and Las Cañitas are used to a life of hardships they are subsistence farmers who grow barely enough to survive but their water problem transcends the impact of normal poverty. It has become a matter of life or death. Still, Patria is joyful because she believes in prayer and now sees the loving hand of God acting through FUNDASEP and American Catholics like you. Most exciting of all, she has learned there is a plan to build a water system for her village. For her, the planned water spigot outside her home would be an incredible blessing. She would no longer have to walk to the creek every day, and she would have enough water to make her own home garden an important supplement to her diet. The thought of eating and selling fresh vegetables from a new garden brings a broad smile to her face. I have faith that with the support of God first and then Cross Catholic, we will be able to make this project a reality, Patria said. Please join your fellow Catholics of the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in bringing relief to Patria and other villagers. Together, we can be the hands of Jesus and bring his love to a hurting people. 2
Clean Water for Poor Rural Communities Project 1484 Deacon Juan Domingo of FUNDASEP explains to villagers how they can participate in building the water system. Ministry Description Domitilia Aquino Rosario has a vision of the future that brings a wellspring of joy to her heart. In it, she sees clean water flowing into her village something she never dared to imagine. We could have our own gardens and resell our crops so we don t have to go buy from the market, Domitilia said. She believes this would be a wonderful blessing, especially for the elderly people in her area. Excitement is building all through the town, and expectant villagers are already making financial contributions to the project and forming work brigades. They feel empowered by FUNDASEP, which was created 25 years ago by the Catholic Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana to offer rural villages a hand up rather than a handout. FUNDASEP is preparing, too, training villagers to dig long trenches down the mountainside and to lay pipe. The organization has designed a system that will bring water to a large holding tank where it will be chlorinated so it is safe to drink. Secondary distribution lines will bring water to spigots in front of village homes. Local Catholics are supporting the outreach and design work of FUNDASEP, and the villagers will maintain the system. But it cannot be built without money for construction materials. It cannot proceed without your help. I want to thank God for bringing Cross Catholic to my community and will continue to pray that he opens more doors so Cross can find funding to support it, Domitilia said. Is the Lord moving you to be the answer to bless Domitilia and her fellow villagers? Your kind gift will enable FUNDASEP to complete this project, bringing life-saving water and God s abundant mercy to a people thirsty in body and spirit. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. Psalm 107:5-6 3
Clean Water for Poor Rural Communities Project 1484 Bishop José Grullon Estrella speaks with village children about their lack of water. Help Now! Please join Bishop José Grullon Estrella in spreading his urgent message God loves everyone, especially the poorest of the poor. In a recent visit to the destitute villages of the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana, Bishop Estrella assured his suffering people that they were not forgotten by God. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, local Catholics are coming to their aid with a new water system. With water for irrigation and animals, men of the village will stay home to farm. Women and young girls will tend to other needs instead of trekking to the creek. Crops and animals will be nourished, allowing the village to flourish. Children will learn and play, not ravished by illness. One obstacle remains these poor villages cannot afford costly construction materials. FUNDASEP and Bishop Estrella are counting on American Catholics like you to overcome this obstacle. By stepping forward with generous support, you join fellow Catholics in the Dominican Republic to become the body of Christ, helping people in need. Together, we will show that God does indeed hear the cries of his people! This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. Psalm 34:6 Our Promise to You! Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred during the current calendar year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry. 4 2700 N. Military Trail Suite 240 PO Box 273908 Boca Raton, Florida 33427-3908 800-914-2420 www.crosscatholic.org Copyright Cross Catholic Outreach. Cost-effectively written, designed and printed in-house. [ds1702]