Essential for Life
“At this moment in
history, the availability
of water for life is
threatened, even though
our Creator God has
provided enough for all
if we knew how to share
it well. Affirming our
choices, in solidarity
with those of many
others, will determine
the outcome of this
moment.”
Excerpt from the Corporate Stance
on Water, Sisters of Charity -Halifax
Dear Friends,
Water is an essential element of all life on Earth. Yet easy
access to water has become such a problem globally that the
United Nations is discussing it in the context of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
The global issues of water access and proper hygiene are
complex. We, the Sisters of Charity, have made this issue
one of our areas of focus, and continue to work with local
partners in Peru and the Dominican Republic to bring water
and sanitation access to those who need it. And we’re asking
once again for your help in this endeavour.
Please take a few moments to read about some of the projects
we’re involved in, and consider making a donation. The
money many of us pay for coffee in a month could mean a
healthier life for a whole family in one of these communities.
Blessings,
Sister Donna Geernaert
Congregational Leader
Sister Marie Sorenson
Director of Advancement
 Dominican
Domini
To date, the Sisters of Charity – Halifax have donated well over $500,000 to Though much has been done…
water projects in Peru and the Dominican Republic. These projects have helped

bring safe drinking water and sanitation systems to many families in need.
An essential element of these
projects is education on sanitation
and hygiene, as well as the creation
of a local Water Committee to
oversee the long-term maintenance
of the water and sanitation systems.
This Committee always includes
women, as they are the main
collectors of water and play a key
role in a family’s sanitation practices.
(Left): Children of Nuevo Reque thanking our
Republic
Your generous response to our
previous water appeal helped us
raise over $27,000. This money
went directly to a water project in
La Guama, Dominican Republic.
We’re pleased to report that the
La Guama potable water system
is near completion, and soon
more than 20 families will have
access to clean drinking water. To
ensure the project’s future success,
(Left): Sister Catherine McGowan
an initial 300 pesos was collected
from each family, which will be
Founded by Sister Catherine McGowan, Sister of Charity – Halifax,
deposited into a village fund to in 1979, the Elizabeth Seton Centre provides services for children

Peru
Congregation for helping to provide clean water.
sustain the system into the and their families, including pre-school and daycare programs, as
future. The families also helped well as nutrition, medical and dental care. Managed and staffed
by volunteering to lay the pipes by local residents, the Centre is located in La Saona, one of the
most impoverished barrios (neighbourhoods) in Bani, Dominican
connecting the water source to

Peru
Republic.
the storage tank, and then from
the tank to their houses. While the Centre has historically used a well nearby, access has
become more difficult over the years. A new well is needed on the
grounds of the Centre to ensure the health and well being of the 140
Just outside of Chiclayo, Peru, is a community known children currently enrolled. This new well will provide a permanent
as Nuevo Reque. Due to a lack of affordable housing in source of clean water to be used in nutrition recovery, cooking,
the city, many young workers have been forced to set up bathing the children, washing their clothing, watering the garden, and
homes outside of the city boundaries, on whatever free running the dental clinic, pharmacy and medical clinic.
land they can find. Nuevo Reque is a proud and struggling
community whose homes are built out of simple materials This well project involves drilling the well itself, equipping it with
that provide a basic shelter. There are no services – no a pump, and laying the pipes to bring the water to the Centre. The
running water, no sewage system – but for these workers, it project is a collaboration between several organizations, including the
is their only home. And its population is growing, as more Sisters of Charity – Halifax.
and more workers are without housing.
La Guama is very remote. Many
Although this sounds like a very grim story, our
of the project materials needed to
Congregation, along with residents from Nuevo Reque, is
bringing water to this community. The Congregation be transported by mule, so – like
has already donated $115,000 to this project, but much many rural projects – it has been
more will be needed to provide clean drinking water to challenging and expensive.
these young families. The entire project will cost almost
$380,000 to complete. …many still need our help.
Please help us bring
water to many more
families by making
a donation.
To give you an idea of how far
your dollar will go, here are
sample costs from actual water
projects:

Drilling each 5’ of a new well: $32

In La Saona, Dominican Republic

Connecting a family home with

clean running water: $75
In Ilo, Peru

Health and Sanitation Education

Sessions for 25 families: $106
In Nuevo Reque, Peru

Creating a drinkable water network
and connecting each household:
$330 for one family
In Nuevo Reque, Peru
(L-R) Sisters Marie Sorenson and Mary Beth Moore visited Peru
recently and saw the need for these water projects first hand.
For more information please contact:
Sister Marie Sorenson, SC Carrie Flemming
Director of Advancement Advancement Associate
Sisters of Charity-Halifax Sisters of Charity-Halifax
85-10 61st Road 215 Seton Road
Rego Park NY 11374 Halifax NS B3M 0C9
Tel: 718-424-1813 Tel: 902-406-8114
Fax: 718-651-5645 Fax: 902-457-3506
msorenson@schalifax.ca cflemming@schalifax.ca

Lauren Manning Rosemary Previte

Advancement Associate
Sisters of Charity-Halifax
85-10 61st Road
Rego Park NY 11374
Tel: 718-424-1813
Fax: 718-651-5645
lmanning@schalifax.ca
Advancement Associate
Sisters of Charity-Halifax
125 Oakland Street
Wellesley Hills MA 02481
Tel: 781-997-1210
Fax: 781-416-0939
rprevite@schalifax.org