“We are getting more energy.” – Tayla  

Tayla is 12 and dreams of becoming a doctor. In northern Zimbabwe, your support can help children like Tayla have enough food and drinking water to stay healthy, stay in school and have the chance to learn.

Drought has left communities struggling with food and water shortages. Before a solar-powered water pump came to Tayla’s school, she walked long distances to collect water from a stream. Without enough food or water, she became tired and struggled to concentrate in class. Sometimes, she missed school altogether.

With support from CAFOD’s local Caritas partners, children were given school meals to make sure they had enough food and energy to learn, while a longer-term way for the school to provide these meals was put in place.

Now, a solar-powered water pump provides safe water for drinking and handwashing. It also gives the school water to grow vegetables and raise fish, helping the school provide nutritious food for children’s meals throughout the year.

This means your support can do more than help children eat today. It can help schools build a sustainable way to provide food and clean water into the future. With enough to eat and drink, children can stay in school, concentrate in class and keep learning.

This is faith in action. But there are still children waiting for this support. At Nyamuzeya Primary School, acting headteacher Edward says that the arrival of water would be “heaven on earth”.

To support CAFOD’s Family Fast Day and join parishes around the diocese who are putting their faith into action, contact Kathryn Keenan, CAFOD representative in the diocese, for more information: kkeenan@cafod.org.uk

Donate today to help more children stay in school with the food, safe water and energy they need to learn. Give online at cafod.org.uk/envelope, scan the QR code or call 0303 303 3030 to help schools provide nutritious food for children for years to come. ‍

‍_{Photo credits: Cynthia Matonhodze}

‍

‍