When typhoon Haiyan devastated the Visayas islands in November 2013, water systems were torn apart both above and below ground.
Angelito Laurente, a parent, explains what a new water system means to families in his community:
“After the typhoon, I had walk two kilometers to the river to fetch water for my family for drinking, washing and bathing. It was a long walk, and I could only carry as much as I was able.
“There were times that we were unable to cook dinner because we had no water to boil, and those nights I would need to trek to the river just so my family could eat. Those were the moments when I realized how important water systems are.
But it wasn’t just the walk that made access to water so difficult. “When there was rain it was very hard because the water wasn’t clean. I worried about my four children’s health,” he says.
“When I heard that World Vision was going to donate the materials for the broken pipes, but needed volunteers to construct it, I didn’t hesitate to put my hand up. Not only did I want to help our community, but it would make my family’s life much easier.”
Angelito was one of 20 volunteers who helped dig the trench to place water pipes to restore the water system – a community do-it-yourself project that’s worth celebrating.
Photo©2015 World Vision
