Julien's Journal March 2016 (Volume 41, Number 3) | Page 27

women doing the same chore have time for small income-producing projects. Community cohesiveness develops as people work together to build and maintain wells.” At the local level, every sister can become involved in some way, whether she tells a story, prays, gives a presentation, or sends information. It creates a ripple effect that transcends borders to provide a chance at a better life. “It has been transformational for the congregation, and I think our project is successful because everyone can be involved in the way they wish,” Sister Kathy said. Nancy Knipper, who works for the City of Dubuque testing the safety of drinking water, was invited to be a member of the SWP Committee in 2010. She was excited about this invitation and continues to have a passion for this project as it evolves and progresses. “Every time a well is finished in Tanzania, we receive pictures of the villagers enjoying their clean water. Their faces easily express joy and gratitude they have for the clean water. It’s the people in those pictures… their expressions of joy… and knowing we can help bring clean water… that is rewarding,” said Nancy. After being involved with the project, Nancy thinks daily about how fortunate we are to have accessible clean water. “I am grateful for the gift of water, because I cannot imagine my life without clean water,” she said. “I try to do what I can to help those who are in need and I am grateful that I have the opportunity to serve on the SWP Committee to support the project in any way I can.” One of the unique things about the SWP is that donors can easily see exactly where their money was put to use. Each project has the name of the village, the number of people served, and a GPS location that can be used to see the exact place the project took place on Google Earth. As each project progresses, the group receives photos to clearly see our donations at work. This closes the loop in a way many charitable organizations are unable to do. Moving forward, the goal is to keep identifying where people don’t have water and to continue educating and helping villages sustain their own wells. “At home, our focus is to continue to raise funds for the SWP,” said Sister Kathy, “create awareness, and provide education on water issues through faith-sharing groups, families, parish, and school Lenten projects, presentations, and speaking engagements.” Even at the rate water projecta are moving now, they will still not meet the demand in the next 50 years of people requiring clean water in their communities. The unfortunate reality is that many more villages in Tanzania are still in need of clean water. “My hope is that we continue to provide access to clean water for people in need, and that the project continues to be funded through donations and sources of revenue, so people in need can have a need met.” Anyone wishing to contribute to the Sister Water Project can do so by sending taxdeductible contributions to: Sisters of St. Francis – Water Project, 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA. 52001. ❖ For more information about the Sister Water Project, please visit www.osfdbq.org or contact Sr. Kathy Knipper, OSF, Sister Water Coordinator at [email protected]. Mfumbu: A young woman in Mfumbu, Tanzania smiles as she carries water from a newly installed Sister Water Project well in October 2015 Contributed by the Safe Water for Life and Dignity Sisters of St. Francis’ Common Venture Program Seeks Volunteers The Franciscan Common Venture program, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Dubuque, is seeking volunteers for its summer service sites in Dubuque and around the United States beginning in May. Volunteer opportunities range from tutoring children to hand harvesting corn on an Indian reservation. The 2016 Common Venture sites include Dubuque; Ames, IA; Minneapolis; Milwaukee; Winnebago, NE; South Bend, IN; Busby, MT; San Antonio; and Morton, OK, and Calhoun City, MS. Franciscan Common Venture is a volunteer program that provides the opportunity for men and women 20 years and older to contribute their time, talents, and commitment in service among people who are poor. Volunteers are asked to contribute a stipend to help cover food and housing costs and are also responsible for their own costs traveling to and from the volunteer sites. For more information about the service opportunities and sites and also how to apply, visit www.osfdbq.org/commonventure. Contact Co [[ۈ