New Well Relieves Child's Burden, (India)

Seeking a better life for their children, twenty-one families in the Chenchu Tribe left the deep woods of their forefathers. They called the new hamlet they established at the foot of a hill, Sudiaakula Padu (dry leaf twister). Years passed and the old ways still ruled their lives. Far away from the busy civilized and polluted world, it is a place where safe drinking water is nonexistent. They don't know what basic medical care and electricity are. Illiteracy, child marriages, idol worship, sacrifices and a high infant mortality rate is commonplace. Starvation, malaria, animal bites, and waterborne diseases plague the tribe. These family's lives would not get any better without outside help.

Pothuraju, 13, married Nagamma, 10, six months ago. Children to most of us, this couple works hard to run their household. Instead of going to school, Pothuraju collects gum & fire wood from the woods and sells in a nearby town. Paid only pennies a day, there's not even enough for one nutritious meal every day. Instead of helping her mother with the chores, ten-year-old Nagamma must manage her own house and cook the meals, when there's food to eat. She walks the rugged road up to twelve times every day, drawing water from a filthy open well. The child wife suffers from headaches and back pain while Pothuraju has stomach pain and weak eyesight. What will happen to them?

After finding out about Sudiaakula Padu, Operation Blessing's Living Waters team visited and planned to drill a well. However, there was no road for the heavy drilling machine to get through. The Chenchu Tribe was determined to get the well dug. With the heavy equipment behind them, the people filled in ditches and cut down trees. After eight hours of grueling work, the rig reached the hamlet! As young as Nagamma is, she knew how this would change the way her tribe lived. She desperately watched and waited for the drilling to start. A few hours passed and then clean and clear water gushed out! Nagamma jumped up and went running to find her husband. There was great joy among the entire tribe.

In addition to their new well, the people were treated to a one-week medical camp. Pothuraju received glasses and was treated for his stomach pain. The tribe was also educated on health, hygiene, the disadvantages of child marriages, early pregnancy and family planning.

There are so many more children like Pothuraju and Nagamma living in desperate situations around the world. They can not live a healthy, educated and fruitful life without your help. Please give them a chance to succeed.

Help us break the cycle of suffering today!