Dedicated Donors: Brigitta and Her Family Have Changed Lives Since 2014!

We have a special relationship with our donors. Working together to solve the water crisis helps you learn a lot about someone: hobbies, interests, and passion projects, especially. As they learn about our work and how they can help move it forward, so too do we learn about them. It’s a mutual give-and-take that often spans years, with questions asked and lessons learned on both sides.

One donor, in particular, has stuck with us for going on ten years now, which is truly something special.

Brigitta Canfield and the whole (adorable) Canfield family have been supporters of The Water Project since 2014, helping to implement projects in schools and communities within Kenya and Sierra Leone. We are so excited to share Brigitta’s story with you.

The Water Project (TWP): What led you to The Water Project?

Brigitta (B): I began researching organizations involved with building water wells back in 2014! I viewed many other sites/organizational platforms, and I loved the transparency of The Water Project. It was great to see exact numbers of how much each project costs, and where your money actually goes! I loved (and still do) the way that they document the projects. The videos make you feel like you’re right there!

TWP: I heard you became inspired to help solve the water crisis after a trip to South Africa. Can you share a little about that experience and how it inspired your giving?

B: Yes! I did a study abroad program where I traveled around the world, and one of our stops was South Africa. Desmond Tutu was one of our educators during our learning experience, and he taught us about the downfall of apartheid and many of the issues people face growing up in Africa. While I was there, I was able to get out and visit a township. It was the first time that I personally saw how much clean water can make an impact in a community. People were living so close together and in such deep poverty. The images of life in the townships have always stuck with me!

TWP: I also learned that the hygiene and sanitation training we do alongside each project is important to you. What makes you passionate about health education?

B: Yes! I have a Masters Degree in Public Health. Since I learned so much about the spread of disease and how preventable some diseases are by just washing your hands, I think the hygiene and sanitation training is of utmost importance for these communities! And, once they get access to clean water, this training is such a logical and important next step! I am continually reminding my own children how important handwashing is to prevent them from getting sick.

TWP: How does your family participate in donating? Do you share the reports and videos with your kids?

B: We LOVE to share the photos and videos with our children! We almost always have photos placed strategically around our home (inside closets, on the refrigerator, bathroom mirrors…) to remind us to GIVE and that people all around the world need our help! As Christ followers, we believe giving is one of the greatest ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The children love watching the reports, especially the videos. It’s great for them to see how they can make a difference with any amount of money that they have. The photos of the children are especially meaningful to them!

TWP: Are there any particular stories/quotes/videos you’ve received from The Water Project that you particularly remember?

B: This most recent video from the project we funded was so meaningful to us because we did the project in honor of my brother-in-law’s wedding! They are a very mission-minded couple, and we thought this would be a blessing to both them and the community the new water access point will serve! My children especially enjoyed watching the recipients of the new clean water access point dance around on the video!

TWP: What would you say to someone else considering a donation to The Water Project?

B: If anyone is considering a gift to The Water Project, I would say to absolutely go for it! Since we have started giving to The Water Project, we have seen our lives blessed abundantly. We believe our Lord and Savior loves a giving heart, and that He loves a cheerful giver. Knowing that we can make an impact across the globe is so meaningful. Thank you so much for all of the work you do to create access to clean water on the other side of the globe!

To learn how you can make an impact across the globe just like Brigitta and her family, start a fundraiser, pick a community to sponsor, or give us a call at 1-800-460-8974 or (+1) 603-369-3858! All donations, no matter their size, help to solve the water crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.

As we said at the beginning of this post, we love hearing our donors’ stories – about what brought them to us, and what keeps them coming back. If you’ve got a story to share with us, we would love to hear it! Learning about each other deepens our relationships as well as our commitment to our shared cause: getting clean water to the people who need it most. After all, our organization wouldn’t exist without the dedicated donors we love!