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Louise Morrissey In Youghal Fundraiser For Ecuador Charity
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By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)
Fr. John Keane with his friends from Equador: Marcia Rojas, Maria Renee de Sanzetenca, Dorian Sanzeenea, Fritzy Sambrana and Karla Rojas
Tickets are now on sale -and selling fast- for a fundraising dance featuring legendary Irish country star Louise Morrissey at the Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal. The concert, on Friday November 7th hopes to raise money towards the missionary work Fr. John Keane, a Youghal priest working amongst the extreme poor people in Ecuador.
Fr. Keane arrived in Ecuador in 2006 and works with the St. James the Apostle Society in the largely urban setting of the Good Shepherd Parish, La Libertad. “It’s a vast area, where thousand of people live side by side in cane shacks,” he explains. “There is no work, no money, health facilities and worse of all, nowhere to grow crops for self-sufficiency ”
Against this grinding poverty, the priest has organized several relief programs. A fortnightly ration distribution scheme attempts to feed 2,000 people for two weeks at a cost of €2,000. He also runs medicine purchasing program for malnourished babies and small children, a daily breakfast program for children who arrive hungry at school, clothing supplies and assist with cane house construction.
“Every cent raised goes direct to people in dire poverty. There are no administration costs,” he assures.
Doors open at 8.30. Concert will be preceded by a music from top Cork guitarist/singer Peter Lee until 10 pm. Tickets €15 in Youghal from Walter Raleigh Hotel and Cree’s Card Shop and also at Rigney’s Garage, Dungourney. Inquiries: Anne Murray on 087-2807618.
1 comment |
Dear Fr. Keane,
My husband and I, from Michigan, were certified by CAWST (The Center of Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology in Calgary Canada) as trainers of BioSand filtration technology, which has not yet been introduced to Ecuador. There are over 200,000 units now in use world wide and BioSand is recommended by the World Health Organization and others to provide low cost clean drinking water in third world countries especially for the poor, who cannot afford the more expensive alternative methods. Recent research by
an impressive quarter of a million dollar study by Dr. Mark Sobsey, University of North Carolina, shows BioSand filters are very effective in producing clean drinking water from disease contaminated sources, such as found all over Ecuador.
We are arriving in Santo Domingo de los Colorados (east of Quitto about three hours) and on March 24, we will be presenting a demonstration of BioSand filters and explain how they work. We are Rotarians partnering with the local Caritas and the local Rotary organization fore funding and support. We are working also with three parish priests.
BioSand filters are able to remove 100% of all parasites and helminths (worms) , 96-99% of bacteria, 85% of viruses and what was muddy water comes out crystal clear. With a few drops of chlorine, 100% is achieved. Cases of diarrhea are significantly reduced with BioSand (up to 35-55% reduction in cases) and better percentages are possible with convincing the people to practice hygiene (we will attempt this) because diarrhea is not only caused by unclean water but by other sources of contamination. We are especially trying to reduce child mortality, I’m sure you know 10 million children five and under die every year from eater related diseases.
We will use two steel molds we had made prior to our trip to produce two filters a day and establish a micro business among the poor families who will continue to produce the filters when we leave with follow-up guidance from Rotary and Caritas representatives who are parners in our project. These filters can provide 17-20 gallons of clean water per day. We will be initiating a program for which we are finalizing a $25,000.00 grant with Rotary International to provide 250 filters for 250 poor families in three parishes and another 70 for 70 rural schools (with 4,000 students). It will cost $5,000.00 to pay for a Spanish speaking trainer from CAWST, who will teach the same information and perhaps be going to Ecuador and 6 to 8 months. However, we are going there at our own expense and willing to open our class in Spanish with Spanish translators to some major charities, such as yourselves, who are already doing so much good in Ecuador and train a representatives to make filters, if they desire.
Here are two videos that show a BioSand filter performing. I thought you would like to see what we’re going to be building and how it works. Click on the links.
Also, here is a video that shows dirty water going in and resulting clean water coming out: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=tv4NDTVQe9w
Another BioSand demo in English:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppN3UJt8xGY&feature=related
Here is a very brief animated description of how it works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaOOmaGzx0g&feature=related
Please let me know if we can be of service to your representatives, partners or contacts in Ecuador.
Sincerely,
Mrs Carol Cousineau