Lent Appeal: Jars of Change
Get involved
Across the world, extreme weather makes accessing clean water even more difficult for the poorest people. Rain is becoming more unpredictable. Intense droughts are drying up wells and springs. Floods are polluting water sources with salt and faeces.
In Bangladesh, where nearly 5 million people don't have clean water, those who are least able to protect themselves must watch as their crops fail, and their families get sick as water-related diseases break out. They face yet more uncertainty.
This Lent your group can bring the gift of clean water – and with it improved health and livelihoods – so that communities are better able to face the obstacles that come their way.
WaterAid/Abir Abdullah
Mouri lives in coastal Bangladesh, and her community used to bustle with activity. There was clean water to drink, and crops grew well. But when Cyclone Aila tore through the country and flooded whole communities in 2009, it stole Mouri’s old life.
WaterAid/Abir Abdullah
Now Mouri and her family have no choice but to collect water from a muddy pond, which makes them sick when they drink it. Her whole family is caught in a never-ending cycle of stomach problems and taking expensive medicine.
WaterAid/DRIK/Habibul Haque
Julia lives in the same region as Mouri, and also relies on a pond for her water. But when she pours a glass to drink it’s clean - thanks to a special filter that makes the water safe to drink. Instead of scooping water directly from the pond, Julia pumps it through the filter.
WaterAid/DRIK/Habibul Haque
Now Julia, her family, and her whole community have clean water whenever they need it. They are happy and healthy. And most importantly, the water system is designed to last for generations, and built to cope with whatever our changing climate brings.
How it works
Ask your congregation to give something up for Lent, collect the money they save in their Jar of Change, and donate it to WaterAid. You can use our all-age talk to inspire your group, or our Sunday School activities for the younger members of the congregation.
Think of something you use or buy often – it can be really small – and then collect the money you save by giving it up. A cup of coffee or a chocolate bar a day quickly adds up, and will help someone like Mouri get clean water.
Or start a new habit that helps the environment and contribute to your jar each time you succeed. Start using reusable bags, cycling or walking instead of driving, eating seasonal fruit and vegetables, using reusable water bottles, or avoiding all single-use plastic.
Let your group know where to send in donations. You can also collect donations online by setting up a JustGiving page and sharing the link with members of your group.
Pay in your fundraising
The easiest way to get your fundraising money to us is by setting up a JustGiving page. You can also pay it in using our online form, or send by post with a pay-in form.