Victoria Rouse on how funds raised at the Glastonbury Pilgrimage are helping poor communities in Masindi in northern Uganda

Over the past year pilgrims have generously donated £16,822 to WaterAid’s work in Uganda, far surpassing the original target of £5,000. In a country where a third of the population do not have access to clean drinking water and over half do not have somewhere safe and hygienic to go the toilet, WaterAid’s projects make a huge difference.

Access to a safe supply of water can change lives, like Sila Adeke ‘s (pictured) from Obur East village, Uganda. She says, ‘The water from the old source was too dirty! We had no option but to drink it.

Sila Adeke gathering water before…

The water contained small worms. People used to go to the toilet around here and their faeces would wash in.

‘The situation is very different because we now have safe water. The borehole is much closer to my home so I can fetch more water than before. We don’t have diarrhoea or worms any more.’ By continuing to support WaterAid, pilgrims will enable more people like Sila gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

Parishes and individuals are being encouraged to attend the Glastonbury Pilgrimage on Saturday 21 June 2008, and raise funds for WaterAid’s projects in Masindi over the coming months.

WaterAid will support your fundraising efforts with publicity, resources, ideas and advice. At the Pilgrimage you can find out how your money is helping to change lives and we will be happy to provide you with more information about our work across Africa, Asia and the Pacific region.

… and after the borehole was created

Please remember those who live without the most basic human needs this year, and thank you for giving the gift of life and hope. I look forward to seeing you at Glastonbury in June.