Over the years, we have built up an impressive list of organisations who submit projects to us which require funding so that we can decide how best to spend the money raised. Some of these organisations focus purely on water or sanitation whilst others have a more specific objective such as developing a new school and ask if we can provide the water component. They are often UK based, regularly visiting their projects in Africa, although the number coming from various African countries is growing. What they all have in common is a wonderfully positive attitude and an absolute determination to improve the dreadful situation which limits so many people in rural Africa. For the WWfA Trustees, it is uplifting to witness the work these people do and humbling to receive the gratitude which invariably flows back from those people we have been able to help.
We like to add a few new organisations to our list and last year, one such was the Helen Margaret Owen Foundation who spoke at the AGM. Helen was so moved by the plight of refugee children she came across during a visit to Kampala in 2013 that she decided she simply had to do something to help them. Using her own money, she bought a piece of land there on which she subsequently established the Kirinya Children’s Centre which includes schools and residential accommodation. We have been pleased to fund a borehole which became necessary when the Centre’s water supply was cut off. The money for this came from a single WWfA donor who wished to remain anonymous.