St Gall’s and St John’s walk for water
Parishioners from two more parishes in the diocese have lent their energies to Christian Aid’s campaign for climate justice.
In May, Claire and Neil Farmer from St Gall’s, Carnalea, completed a sponsored walking challenge equal to the length of Ireland. They walked a combined total of 302 miles during the month, totting up their daily steps using an activity tracker.
While the St Gall’s parishioners chose a distance challenge, the parishioners of St John’s Orangefield in east Belfast opted to carry buckets of water instead. The rector, Revd Ross Wilson and his wife Sonia were among those who carried buckets of water around Orangefield Park on the afternoon of 12 June, raising more than £2,000 for the work of Christian Aid Ireland.
Rose
Claire and Neil’s walk was inspired by Rose Jonathan (68), a widowed grandmother from Kenya where severe drought and a changing climate mean that she must spend up to seven hours a day walking to fetch water for her family and livestock.
Rose has been the sole carer for her six grandchildren since her husband died and her daughters moved to the city for work. Climate change has brought erratic weather, drought, crop failure and loss of livestock to the Kitui region, driving many people into poverty, hunger and homelessness. The absence of a water supply also means that Rose and her grandchildren cannot wash their hands at home to protect against coronavirus.
Claire said:
“Neil and I love walking in the beautiful Northern Ireland countryside but it’s different for Rose. It’s hard to imagine the worry she must feel, seeing her crops fail and her water supply run low. Our walk is for women like her.”
Speaking after their water carrying challenge, Revd Wilson said:
“The sponsored water carrying challenge has left our arms tired and maybe a couple of inches longer! We now have a better understanding of the lives of the many people around the world who have to carry more, for longer, every day, just to have water for life’s daily needs. And we are grateful for the wonderful blessing of running water from our taps whenever we need it.”
Christian Aid responds
In the rural areas of many African countries, it falls to women and girls to collect water for their families and farm animals, and in drought–affected regions this can involve long and often dangerous journeys on foot. In Kenya, Christian Aid is responding to the crisis by funding the building of earth dams (low–tech community ponds) which capture and store water when the rains do come. The charity is also installing taps to improve access to water and building blocks to improve hygiene and reduce illness.
Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett thanked the parishioners of St Gall’s and St John’s for taking on a walking challenge. She said:
“In a year when our fundraising has been impacted by the pandemic, we’re delighted that our supporters are finding new and imaginative ways to make up for the lost income. Our supporters at St Gall’s and St John’s always give generously to support our work and their kindness is already reaching countries such as Kenya, bringing hope to people living in poverty – people like Rose.”
You can still donate online at www.caweek.ie/carnaleawalk