Children splash clean water at a new community water system in Saulo Village, Zambia.

Water & Health Impact

Quenching Thirst and Healing Hearts

Access to clean water and health care dramatically improves lives. It reduces illnesses, increases lifespans, and eases the burdens women and children face by collecting contaminated water from distant rivers and other sources. By addressing these health concerns, the Church also helps families experience Christ as a source of healing — opening hearts to renewed faith and hope for a brighter future.

Globally, 1.4 million deaths could be prevented every year simply by expanding access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. Cross Catholic Outreach has been working to end that suffering by helping the Church provide safe water, medicines and health care to those who need it most.

Last year, our donors responded generously to this mission of mercy, blessing 240,039 people with lifesaving water. Projects included drilling deep-water wells in Kenya, providing medical equipment and mobility aids in Honduras, and launching water projects with the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit and the Diocese of Ndola in Zambia.

Fiscal Year 2025 Category Facts

40
Projects

11
Countries

Grants Provided

240,039

PEOPLE REACHED WITH CLEAN WATER

3,926,107

BOTTLES OF MEDICINE SHIPPED

Clean Water and Christ’s Hope in Kenya

GOOD SAMARITAN WATER SANITATION SERVICES

In Chonyi Village — a remote community in Kenya’s Archdiocese of Mombasa — neighbors gathered for two important celebrations on the same day. First, 194 teens and adults received the sacrament of Confirmation, sealing them with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Next, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Misonde blessed the village’s new water system, encouraging everyone visiting the water kiosk to seek the living water of Jesus Christ.

Chonyi Village’s water system is the 47th built within the archdiocese through Cross Catholic Outreach’s partnership with Good Samaritan Water Sanitation Services. The nonprofit, operated by a priest from the Society of African Missions, drills and installs deep wells that reach clean, abundant water far below bare riverbeds and other shallow sources that rural Kenyans often rely on. Solar-powered pumps draw the water into elevated 10,000-liter tanks, which feed taps at secure and convenient water kiosks located on parish grounds. Importantly, local water committees are trained to supervise the kiosks and ensure the water systems remain safe and operable for the long term.

Over the years, Cross Catholic Outreach and Good Samaritan Water Sanitation Services have blessed nearly 1 million Kenyans with clean, safe water. For the first time in their lives, these men, women and children are experiencing the joy of readily available clean water and the love of Christ poured out in their midst.

Fast Facts

History

Since 2019, Cross Catholic Outreach has worked with Good Samaritan Water Sanitation Services to drill wells and install elephant-resistant water towers and community distribution kiosks in the dioceses of Kitui, Malindi and Machakos and the Archdiocese of Mombasa.

Results

Last year, Good Samaritan Water Sanitation Services drilled 35 new community water systems, part of Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to bring clean, safe water to 238,903 of our African brothers and sisters in Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.

Blessings Overflow

Free from the burden of searching for water, families finally have more time for important activities such as faith formation, farming and education. Many local parishes have reported significant increases in Mass attendance following the installation of community water systems.

Other Outreaches

This ministry partner also improves access to Catholic education through scholarships. Its Ngong Outreach to Vulnerable Children program provides medical care, food, clothing, scholarships and more to children with disabilities.

Donate To Make a Difference

Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.