Cologne/Sri Lanka. In her final report for the Malteser International Lent Campaign „40 Euros for Sri Lanka“, the British water engineer Suzanna Lipscombe calls for expanding the efforts for clean drinking water, functioning waste water systems and hygiene in Sri Lanka and worldwide. “The end of our Lent Campaign does not at all mean the end of our commitment for a healthy life in dignity,” Lipscombe says. “With your help, we will be able to further expand our projects and to help vulnerable groups in Sri Lanka and worldwide!”

With its Lent Campaign 2008, Malteser International is supporting 53 schools in the districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Ampara. More than 16,000 school children get access to clean water and child friendly sanitation. Furthermore, the staff carry out educational sessions on hygiene and health issues. Suzanna Lipscombe reports: “For such a project to be successful and sustainable, we involve the children in all phases of the planning and implementation, so that they can then share their knowledge with their families.”

Together with families in extremely remote rural areas, Malteser International is also building rain water harvesting tanks with filters that catch between 5,000 and 8,000 litres of drinking water. “Until now, we were able to provide such tanks for almost 2,000 families. In total, we intent to reach more than 3,500 families,” Lipscombe says.

With activities around the World Water Day on 22 March or the World Health Day on 4 April 2008, Malteser International will keep reminding how important it is to engage for clean water and hygiene worldwide.

To support the organisation’s projects for clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Sri Lanka, Malteser International calls for putting aside one Euro a day during Lent Season. The 40 Euros saved up until Easter can be transferred to the following account:

Donation Account 120 120 120
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft, Wörthstr. 15 - 17, D-50668 Köln
Sort Code : 370 205 00
IBAN : DE49 3702 0500 0001 0258 01
BIC: BFSWDE33XXX
Reference : "Malteser International Lent Campaign 2008"

Here, you can find Suzanna Lipscombe’s current report.

Pictures of Suzanna Lipscombe at work can be found here.

Here, you can find information on Malteser International’s projects for water, sanitation and hygiene in Asia.

Malteser International also produced a movie on its projects in Sri Lanka that can be ordered under info@malteser-international.org.