Help Bring Clean Water to Congo

People in Congo's displacement camps need CLEAN WATER, and we're going to help them get it by raising funds for community water filtration stations!!

I'm Alyssa Cole, a romance and thriller writer, fundraising on behalf of Focus Congo, an amazing organization that is on the ground Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, trying their best to aid the hundreds of thousands of refugees there.

Like many of you, I've been looking for ways to help the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who in addition to experiencing unimaginable violence at the hands of the M23 rebel militia forces are also dealing with displacement from their homes. They're living in refugee camps, and suffering from the many health issues and safety crises that arise under these crowded and unsafe conditions.

One of the main issues in the camps is the lack of clean water, which is needed for every aspect of life--drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning wounds while providing medical care...

On top of the indignity of being forced from their homes, the people have been forced to drink whatever water they ca find, like lake water, rain water, or swamp water. None of this is safe to drink, but they have no other choice. They're getting sick and dying from water-borne illnesses and parasites. Men, women, and children alike are suffering, though the young and the elderly are particularly at risk.

We may not be able to stop the ongoing genocide, we can all help make sure the people trying to survive it have at least one basic need met. The initial* goal of this fund raiser is to purchase 500 (FIVE HUNDRED!!) Sawyer Bucket filter systems--not enough, but an amount that will help Focus Congo's team construct clean water stations and start fighting back against the illnesses ravaging the camp. Each filter is rated to filter 100,00 gallons and can last up to 10 years.

Every cent of your donation will go towards filters (+shipping costs to Goma, DRC). Additional funds raised will go towards more filters. Please share widely!