Clean Water in South Sudan
LifeSeasons and GEMS Development Foundation
LifeSeasons, inner-eco, and Health Concerns share a combined goal to help people live life to its fullest. We value life and it’s our desire to protect it, sustain it, and see life flourish... And clean water is a critical ingredient for life! For that reason, we are joining GEMS and Larry Chatterley in raising funds for clean water in the remote village of Majok Goi in South Sudan, the newest country in the world. Together, we have visited South Sudan dozens of times and donated thousands of volunteer hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to spread awareness and fund these life changing projects.
“On my first visit to South Sudan, I remarked, “Many of the mothers in the Northern Bahr El Ghazal region are faced with decisions none of us would ever even consider. Without the basic necessities of food, water, and medical assistance, a mother will have to decide: ‘which child do I choose to live?’
Take a moment to imagine this.
I shared this with my wife over Skype, who just delivered our 10th child six weeks earlier. At that moment, we sat in silence and cried. At times, it is overwhelming, and you can easily slip into a feeling of hopelessness; but when you consider the ‘one’, you are again filled with the passion that a young, developing country needs. With one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, this country seeks help and the ability to live once again a life of passion”
#VillageWellRide
Larry Chatterley is a cyclist and philanthropist from Denver, Colorado. This summer he is biking over 2,500 miles along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) to raise money and awareness for clean water in South Sudan. His friend Mary Majok, lost her son in South Sudan to malaria he contracted while gathering water. Larry hopes to raise enough money to install 12 wells in Majok Goi, South Sudan so that people like Mary and her son have access to clean and safe water. Larry is donating his time and resources to this endeavor, so all the proceeds will be used to bring water to the people of South Sudan.
Larry is starting his bike ride on July 1st and the fundraiser will last about 6 weeks.
Mary Majok and Larry Chatterley
South Sudan - A Nation Without Clean Water
Did you know that 59% of South Sudan’s population doesn’t have access to clean water? In villages like Majok Goi, parents send their children to walk over 3 hours to the Pongo River, avoiding alligators, snakes, and hippos, just to collect water for their families. Not only is the trek dangerous, but this prevents them from going to school and gaining an education. In addition, the water from the Pongo River is often contaminated, leading to giardia, amoebas, and parasites. Together we can empower the children in Majok Goi with the opportunity to spend their days gaining the education they need as they prepare to shape their nation's future. Each well will cost $7,500 to build and serve 500 individuals ($15 per person).
“More people die each year from dirty water than from violence. 5,000 children die each day from disease stemming from contaminated water.”
Why Build 12 Wells?
In 2018, our team decided to center our efforts on one single village instead of diluting our impact across the entire country. Having visited much of the country we ultimately chose Majok Goi based on the recommendation from a previous governor of Aweil. The village is lead by a “Paramount Chief” named Garang Deng Ruay from the Paliec tribe. Chief Ruay oversees 12 other executive chiefs who each oversee their own tribe. The area under the Paramount Chief’s rule encompasses 250 square miles and has a population of roughly 25,000 people.
One of the reasons that Majok Goi was so appealing to us is it is both remote and accessible. Being remote means that there is little influence/corruption from the government. It is accessible by an old highway that connects South Sudan and Sudan, which is used to transport goods back and forth from the two countries. Our goal is to provide 12 wells, one well for each executive chief, which would be enough water for over 6,000 people.
Help Us Fundraise
Join the companies, families, and individuals that are raising money and awareness for clean water in South Sudan from July 1st through August 30th of 2021. Each fundraiser that raises over $7,500 will have a well named after them in Majok Goi!
Reach out to fundraising@gemsdevelopment.org to set up your fundraiser page today!
Donation Options
Don’t have time to fundraise? That’s okay. By donating even $15 today you can supply life-changing, clean water for one person in South Sudan!
Checks: Please make checks payable to GEMS Development Foundation and send to 205 Yoakum Parkway #411, Alexandria, VA, 22304. We would also appreciate your email information to keep you posted on the progress of the project. Your email information will never be shared or sold to a third party.
Donation Breakdown
$15 = Clean water for One Person for a Lifetime (<$0.01 per mile)
$75 = Clean Water For One Family for a Lifetime ($0.03 per mile)
$375 = Clean Water For 5 Families For a LifeTime ($0.15 per mile)
$7500 = One well and Clean water for 500 people for a lifetime ($3.00 per mile)
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