There is a proverb often attributed to Africa that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
But what if that child does not have access to clean water?
This year one of the themes of Vacation Bible School is “Pouring out God’s Love” and this year’s VBS program will illustrate the theme by helping to provide funds to a community in Rwanda (with the same population of Mapleton Township) to provide children with clean drinking water and a chance to have a better life and better health.
“Can you imagine having to draw water from dangerous crocodile infested swamps, rivers and lakes that are also full of harmful bacteria?” VBS organizers ask.
Over 54 per cent of the population – mostly children – suffer from water-borne diseases which can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, recurring diarrhea and being unable to go to school. For infants and young children, chronic diarrhea can be fatal. This is a chief factor that for children under five years of age, mortality rate of 300 probable child deaths for every 1,000 children.
Ron Weber of Community Mennonite Fellowship of Drayton works with World Vision to help support Canadian churches as they seek to serve the poor and those unjustly treated around the world by providing resources and raising awareness of the needs around the world. He is helping at Vacation Bible School as it partners to raise funds to help people in Gashora and Rugarama in Rwanda.
World Vision is installing a water system that will provide a reliable year-round supply of clean and safe water, installing water purification until the piping system is complete and some educational training. This is a $30,000 project spanning two years and for every $2.75 raised, it is estimated, will provide clean drinking water for a child for a year.
Organizers will be encouraging children, parents and grandparents and community at large to help support the endeavour and to help teach the children about the importance of helping others around the world. Weber will be on hand to talk to the children about the project and to receive the offering. Tax receipts will be issued for amounts over $15.
Each year an important part of Vacation Bible School is the mission project and whether it be collecting art supplies, teddy bears and collecting money for clean water, “God’s love is poured out through the children and the community of volunteers that attend,” officials state.
In addition to helping raise funds for the people of Rwanda people that have been to Rwanda will talk to the students about the country, have hands-on demonstrations and ways to help out other communities and learn ways we ourselves can use our own water more wisely and be good stewards of our precious water here. There will also be a special session focusing on water for four of the five days the school runs.
Vacation Bible School runs from July 7 to 11 at the Drayton Reform Church and is open to all children in the community, from those who have completed junior kindergarten to those who have completed Grade 5.
To register or volunteer go to www.groupvbscom/vbs/draytonvbs. For further information email or call Tracy at kabbespatch@hotmail.com or call 519-638-3349.
submitted by Liz Samis, VBS committee member
