SAVING water is no trouble for Year 2 student Nishan Lister, but saving money for children in Africa is even easier.
Supported by prayers and enthusiastic classmates, the Year 2 student raised more than $850 to buy a water pump for children in Madagascar, where there is a shortage of clean water.
“I love God and God wanted me to help the children in Madagascar, especially for them to have clean water,” he said.
Nishan and a friend have been imagining a trip to Madagascar since watching the movie of the same name, and were shocked to hear how the water made children sick.
A donations appeal run by Catholic Mission at Nishan’s local Catholic parish compelled the student from Our Lady of the Rosary School, Kenmore, “to help those kids who got worms from dirty water”.
When mum Valentina Lister explained the family could not cover the entire cost for one water pump, Nishan asked his fellow students to pitch in.
He handed out 100 cups to every Year 2 student and showed dirty water from his own school bottle.
“Everyone thought that water looked disgusting and wouldn’t want to drink it on a hot day,” Nishan said.
At the end of last year, the children had raised $856.55, more than is needed to purchase a water pump in Madagascar.
“I’m so happy we can get the pump for the children in Madagascar and they can drink clean water, maybe even brush their teeth,” Nishan said.
“Now my little sister prays for ‘the children in Madagascar’ every night.”
