Orin Abrams from the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club joined us today, along with Ole Prahm from the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, and three "Lost Boys" from Sudan.
Orin presented the "Water for Sudan" project that he has been spearheading in our Rotary District. Water for Sudan is a non-profit 501c3 organization that provides clean, sustainable water to over a quarter of a million people in Southern Sudan.
He showed a video on this impoverished region, where 3 million people live on less than $1 a day, 2 million have been killed at war, and 15% of children die by the age of 6 - primarily from water-borne diseases. He introduced us to Daniel, Simon, and John who, along with 18,000 other young boys, have fled this war-torn area. While many died, these three "boys" (now men) were expatriated to the US, and now live in San Diego, have received a college education, and are providing support for the villages they left behind.
The "boys" recounted their experiences living in Sudan, including how they had lost family members and become sick themselves from the water, not realizing it was contaminated. When visiting his village in 2006, John stated that he had to drink the water as there was no alternative; in 2009 he returned to enjoy fresh water from their new well.
Thanks partly to drilling equipment provided by Ole and the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, 100 wells have been installed, with 900 more needed. Donations are are very much appreciated, and more information can be obtained at www.waterforsudan.org.
