LANGLEY, BC, Oct. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Global Aid Network (GAiN) Canada partners with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to provide clean, disease-free water to villagers in Benin, Africa.
GAiN's Water for Life Initiative began as a small well-drilling project in the villages of southern China and has since grown to include a variety of nations where clean water sources are few, including Benin, southern Sudan, Tanzania, Togo and Thailand. Over 550,000 lives have been literally transformed by the provision of fresh pure water.
"We can take pride in Canadian organizations that are reflecting our compassion and efforts to make the world a better place," said the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation. "GAiN is achieving concrete results that improve the lives of vulnerable people in Benin, in particular women and children."
The objective of the Benin Water Project is to help break the cycle of disease for villagers and empower them to drive the ongoing development of their communities, thereby improving quality of life for generations to come. In this three-year project, which is funded in partnership with the Government of Canada, GAiN will provide 105 rural villages with deep-capped water wells that will be managed by a borehole committee who will be trained to manage the new source of clean disease-free water. Alongside this, training will be provided in hygiene and sanitation and gender equality. Family Health Teams will also be formed to promote ongoing health training that particularly focuses on maternal and child health.
Women and children, who bear a higher burden of poverty, will benefit from having accessible safe water sources giving them more time to receive an education and participate in the development of their communities. They will also benefit from improved health and a reduced incidence of child deaths.
"Through the 550 wells we have already provided throughout Africa and Thailand, we have seen a tremendous impact in both villages and the lives of individuals. We are very excited about our partnership with CIDA and the additional 105,000 lives that will be forever transformed," shares Dennis Fierbach, Director of Water Strategies for GAiN.
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Headquartered in Langley, BC, GAiN is a worldwide humanitarian relief and development non-profit organization dedicated to demonstrating God's love, in word and deed, to hurting and needy people around the world.
Image with caption: "GAiN Canada and CIDA partner together to impact 105,000 people (CNW Group/GAiN Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121019_C8728_PHOTO_EN_19587.jpg
SOURCE: GAiN Canada
For more information & media inquiries:
Jennifer Mullan, Marketing & Communications Manager
Global Aid Network (GAiN)
[email protected]
(780) 499-9690
www.globalaid.net
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