“We all know water is life. But clean water is health.” – Thomas Awaipo, CRS Ghana

During the spring of 2011, communities in Northern Ghana will for the first time have access to clean, fresh water – all because of you. Children will be able to go to school, where they will also get their only meal of the day. Health centers, especially for women’s and maternity care, will be built and staffed by nurses and doctors. Girls, who often are out walking miles in search of water, will now be able to go to school. These are just a few of the impacts a water well can have a remote, poor village in Ghana.

Over the last month, we have joyously read hundreds of emails from parishes as they have sent us their stories, photos and Thirst for Change donation totals.

As of October 21, 2010, we are proud to announce the following:

• Amount Raised so far: $150,779.67
• Number of Parishes: 164
• Average donation per parish: $919.39
• Average cost per well: $10,000 – $12,500
• Number of Wells: 12-15

November 2: Our last group of photos!

October 19: The Life Teen and Edge family has raised over $140,000 for clean water in Africa!

October 18: You’ve worked together to build 9 wells! We’re up to $114,959.90!

October 12: You’ve worked together to raise over $93,000 for the thirsty. Wahoo!

October 11: You’ve worked together to raise $86,253.59 for the thirsty. Great job!

October 8: New parish photos!

October 6: Teens from 59 parishes have raised $62,940.77. We’ve exceed our $50,000 goal! Praise God!!

October 5: 46 parishes have already raised $44,278.79. We’re getting close to our $50,000 goal!

September 29: 23 parishes have already raised $25,197.91 which is halfway to our $50,000 goal!

More Information about our partner W.A.T.E.R.

Water In Africa Through Everyday Responsiveness (W.A.T.E.R.) is an NGO which began in 2005 for the purpose of providing water and sanitation to the most rural of African villages. It originated to provide water to Guinea Worm endemic villages in West Africa. Guinea Worm is a water borne disease, which has been targeted for eradication by The Carter Center, The World Health Organization and governments throughout the world. It is likely to be the second disease ever eradicated in the history of mankind. The first was smallpox.

W.A.T.E.R. has provided hand dug wells, drilled boreholes, mechanized boreholes and built rain catchment systems in guinea worm endemic and other villages. In Ghana, much of the work is done through Catholic Relief Services (CRS), who organizes the drilling, works with the communities, etc. Other partners have included UNICEF and World Vision. The partner can vary depending on the location of the problem and what the correct water solution is for that village.

The funds collected on Life Teen’s Give It Away Now: Thirst for Change Night are expected to fund drilled boreholes with CRS. It costs about $12,000 to drill a borehole, install casing, do a water quality test, build a concrete pad, fit it with a handpump and train the community. In the Northern part of Ghana, water is at a premium. According to Community Water and Sanitation in Ghana, 42% of the people in the area W.A.T.E.R. and CRS have worked together do not have access to clean water. One borehole and a handpump provide water for 300 people.