Clean Water U in Ghana Bears Fruit
In 2017, Living Waters for the World (LWW) hosted the first international Clean Water U (CWU) instructor training program in Ghana. Today, the fruits of that investment spring forth. Just ask the students and teachers at the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind who now have clean water to drink.
Students and teachers from the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind pose with a banner celebrating the installation of their LWW water purification system.
The origin of this partnership came about during that 2017 CWU training session. After completing their training, Ghanaian hosts took the visiting CWU instructors to see the local sights. As LWW In-Country Coordinator Charles Korantang waited for the group to finish a tour of Elmina Castle, he happened to encounter a representative of the Cape Coast School. Then and there, they hatched the idea for a future water partnership. Last month, their idea for a water purification system to serve the students and teachers at the school became reality. Led by Rev. Daniel Kofi Asante, Director of Development and Social Services for the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the partners installed the first LWW water purification system at a government school with no affiliation with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
Students color diagrams of the four essential uses of clean water.
Michael Asiamah, In-Country Technician for Ghana reflected on the installation and the unique way the teachers communicated with the operators and students. He said, “You won't believe how they are able to use sign language to do all the installation teaching.” Watch the video to see for yourself how the teachers communicated what they had learned about the water system, important uses for the water, and proper hand-washing techniques.
Idlewild Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tenn., a long-time partner of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, played a supporting role in this partnership. Steve Valentine, Member of Idlewild and Moderator of LWW’s Ghana network said, “We never imagined that LWW-Idlewild would be part of an installation and training communicated via sign language. I hope this example expands everyone’s thoughts about what, where, and how LWW can go in this world offering treated water and relationships.” Empowering communities and local leaders to meet the needs of the people they serve is central to LWW’s model. In Ghana, each new installation testifies to how God has shaped and molded the ministry to meet the changing needs and aspirations of God’s people around the world.
