Why should you Donate a Day for Africa?
Donate A Day For Africa
Demonstrate your commitment to health beyond the boundaries of your community.
Success Stories
Read about our successes at home and abroad
Here you will find success stories focused on the triumphs that African community members are experiencing with the support of fundraising programs like CPAR’s World Health Day Challenge.
You will also find success stories about some of the individuals and teams who are committed to influencing change by participating in the World Health Day Challenge.
Together we are changing lives in rural Africa.
Karatu, Tanzania
Girls at Laja and Khusumay Primary Schools in Karatu, Tanzania used to walk 3 to 5 km to fetch water from unsafe open shallow wells. Strangers would harass them. The relationship between teachers, kids and parents was strained due to pressure on children to bring scarce water supplies from home. Students weren’t welcome at school if they didn’t bring water, but parents couldn’t allow their children to take their precious water supplies from home.
Attendance at the schools was down and many children would leave school in the afternoon when their thirst became unbearable. Although the government allocated teachers to the schools, teachers were not motivated to come to work or stay because of the lack of clean drinking water. Teachers living at the school were forced to buy water out of their meager salaries.
Now the schools have access to safe and clean water. Attendance has increased – from 50% to 95% at Khusumay. Teachers report that they are more relaxed in the classroom because they no longer have to send students out of class to search for clean water. They also feel better prepared to help students with their studies.
The number of teachers employed at Laja primary school has doubled from four to eight, and the number of Khusumay primary school teachers have increased from nine to 14.
Now, the relationship between teachers, parents and children has greatly improved. Students feel more settled and content with water at the school. Their health has greatly improved and they are no longer plagued with waterborne diseases and stomach problems. Typhoid and amoebas were a big problem at Khusumay primary school, but recent stool testing has shown a 95% improvement. As a result, the local health centre has recommended that the children stick with drinking rainwater.
Student academic performance has also improved. Before the rainwater harvesting project, Laja had only one primary school graduate go on to secondary school. Now, with a renewed focus on students’ studies, Laja has been able to send eight out of 38 students (21%) to secondary school this year. This is an important development considering that on average only about 7% of primary school graduates in Tanzania go on to secondary school.
Access to water has also sparked the children’s desire to improve the school environment. With CPAR’s support, Khusumay children have started a fruit orchard at the school, and have planted 20 papaya trees in the school yard. Together, CPAR staff and Laja children have planted 150 fruit trees and shade trees and trees for soil conservation. Now the children want to plant fruit trees at home to improve their own household nutrition.
Students celebrate access to clean and safe water
Donate a Day and you will make a real difference in the lives of many.
St. Albert Physicians Team Up to Make a Difference
In St. Albert, Alberta, Canadian physicians are committed to change in rural Africa – for the third year in a row they will be teaming up in support of CPAR’s World Health Day Challenge.
In 2007 and again in 2008, several St. Albert physicians collaborated and formed the St. Albert is #1 for Docs team and raised thousands of dollars to help build healthy communities in Africa. In 2008, the team raised almost $6000 and in 2007 the team raised almost $12,000.
Energetic, team captain, Dr. Marlene Lidkea believes that Canadian physicians should support primary health care on a global scale.
“We’re trying to contribute to something good in the world regarding primary health care in the purest sense, meaning sustainable food sources and clean water,” says Dr. Lidkea. Teams are a great way to use your collective efforts to support CPAR’s World Health Day Challenge.
