The average household in Western Australia uses more than 327,000 litres of water every year (the equivalent of more than 930,000 cups of tea), yet according to the United Nations more than 600 million people across the globe do not have access to clean water, and 2.3 billion live without basic sanitation. 

With the theme of ‘hope’ for 2019, Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion is focussing on the global water crisis.  

One of the largest humanitarian campaigns in Australia, Project Compassion will be launched for Perth Catholic schools by Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Waterford on Shrove Tuesday (5 March). 

The event will begin at 9am with a Welcome to Country followed by Mass, morning tea and a social justice workshop with Caritas Indonesia program manager Yohanes Baskoro. 

Mr Baskoro will share his experience of assisting communities in Indonesian Borneo to preserve their native rainforests. 

Caritas Australia community participation leader Paul Reid said that, according to the United Nations, each year women in Africa alone spend 40 billion hours walking to collect water.  

“A lack of clean water disrupts the education of girls and robs communities of income and food,” Mr Reid said. 

Schools can fundraise for Project Compassion however they choose, or they can participate in one of three initiatives: 

Give it up for Lent – Why not give up something for Lent? Your daily coffee, chocolate or social media? Set up your own fundraising page on Caritas Australia website and ask people to sponsor. 

Caritas Ks Water Challenge – The water challenge was born from the fact that in developing countries people walk for hours to reach such basic requirements as water. Divide people into groups of four and give each group two buckets filled with 10 litres of water. Mark up your chosen distance and see which team can finish first. Raise money by setting up your own fundraising page and asking your friends and family to sponsor you. 

Fish Fridays – On Fridays throughout Lent people reflect on those who are less fortunate by eating a meal that replicates the meagre diet typical of people living in many small communities, often little more than a sliver of fish and a cupful of rice.  

Discover more fundraising ideas by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or call 1800 024 413. 

“I urge everyone to support Project Compassion, your gifts will be used to transform lives, strengthen the resilience of communities and contribute to peace and stability,” Mr Reid said. 

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