Feed The Children Given the Ability to Drill Water Wells in Africa
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
By: Feed The Children

St. Louis-based Shoeman Water Projects rig donation is providing clean water in the Horn of Africa

Feed The Children (FTC) and Shoeman Water Projects (SWP), a non-profit that helps communities in Kenya, Haiti and other countries by providing drinking water.  The project is funded with used shoes!  And now The Shoeman announces a new partnership.  On December 21, 2012, a drilling rig was donated to Feed The Children. The rig is projected to drill about 50 wells per year in the Horn of Africa.  A well will provide drinking water to about 2,000 people.

How will this rig affect the community?  Clean water allows people to live longer because waterborne diseases like malaria, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery and diarrhea are reduced.  Water becomes available for livestock and irrigation.  Children, instead of walking for water all day, go to school.  The woman of the household now provides clean food, works the garden and sells vegetables to the community.

"In addition to food, water is an essential resource for people suffering from famine, war, poverty and natural disasters.  This incredibly generous donation of a rig to drill water wells from Shoeman Water Projects further allows us to live our mission of providing hope and resources for those without life’s essentials,” said Kevin Hagan, Feed The Children President and CEO.  “We look forward to a continued partnership with ‘The Shoeman’ to bring the life-saving gift of water to those who hunger and thirst.”

Drinking water is denied to 780 million people annually.  Water.org reports that African people represent 343 million of those people.water.org.  UNICEF estimates that in Africa, around 40 billion work hours are lost every year.  It is common for people to walk long distances to retrieve filthy, dirty water.

“We are so pleased to partner with Feed the Children.  They hold the same goals as Shoeman Water Projects, which is the commitment to provide relief to the hungry and thirsty.  “When a community has a clean water well people are healthier, productive,  able to support themselves with gardens, sell excess to the city and have water for their animals.  Clean water changes the entire economy says George “The Shoeman” Hutchings, who has seen the positive impact first hand.

Shoeman Water Projects have collected over 3 million shoes, keeping them out of landfills.  Provided affordable footwear for people in South America and shipped 4 water-drilling rigs to Kenya. This equates about 250 wells serving more than 200,000 people. Where it is impossible to drill, The Shoeman also uses water purification systems in areas where surface water is polluted.  The system can clean 10,000 gallons per day. These systems are used in over 75 countries.

Hand pump repair tools are in use.  The Shoeman trains people to repair pumps creating a micro-business.  It is estimated that Kenya has over 1 million broken hand pumps. These pumps serve medical clinics, schools and villages.

To learn more about Shoeman Water Projects and how shoes create life visit  www.shoemanwater.org. 

About Shoeman Water Projects
One pair of donated shoes serves two! One pair of shoes provides affordable shoes and clean, fresh water. Shoeman Water Projects is a project of Eagle Wings Ministries, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, working to alleviate as much human suffering as possible. Shoeman Water Projects picks up donated used and new shoes from businesses, churches, schools, special events and shoe drives. Once collected, the Shoeman exports the shoes to street vendors in South America, Haiti, Kenya and other places where people need affordable shoes. Shoe resale builds the local developing economy with retail businesses and affordable shoes.  The money the Shoeman receives from exporting the shoes is used to purchase well drilling rigs, water purification systems, and other supplies to bring clean, fresh water to those who thirst.  Additionally, groups and organizations planning mission trips have the opportunity to purchase a water purification system and receive training on water purification, health and hygiene that they can pass along to the people they serve.  For more information, visit www.shoemanwater.org.