World Vision annual appeal - sowing seeds of hope

Every ten seconds a child is killed by dirty water in the world's poorest countries. "It wouldn't happen in New Zealand. We wouldn't tolerate this in our own back yard," says World Vision's Executive Director Helen Green. "But over a billion people in the world are still without access to safe drinking water, and the most vulnerable are the children."

This is World Vision's message during their Annual Appeal. Mrs Green, a former nurse and health manager, says nearly 2 million children die from diarrhoea and other water-related diseases every year almost all are under five.

Mrs Green says the Annual Appeal is asking New Zealanders to sponsor a child. "It's a very powerful way to improve not only the life of that child, but the welfare of the whole community."

"When a community approaches World Vision for help, the issue of clean and accessible water is usually one of the highest priorities," says Mrs Green. "Not only does safe water immediately improve their health, but accessible water improves their diet, their crops, and saves them hours of time each day which they can then spend learning a trade or starting a small business."

In Zambia, in the Siachetema area where World Vision has established projects, water ranks as the biggest problem. Only 18 per cent of the population have access to safe water. World Vision is currently constructing 120 bore holes and four weir dams to alleviate the shortage of water.

In Chitalmari, in southern Bangladesh, World Vision and the New Zealand Government have established a water filtration project to reduce the arsenic and iron to a safe level. All over the developing world, such water projects are being funded through child sponsorship, to save lives.

"Child sponsorship is so vital for improving the lot of children in the poorest countries," says Helen Green. "It's a practical way of bringing real changes to the whole community."

To sponsor a child with World Vision, phone 0800 80 2000.