STUDENTS from Cooranbong's Avondale College don't claim to be able to walk on water but that didn't stop them risking blistered sore feet and sunburn to hike 25 kilometres to help supply it.
The students aremembers of an Avondale's COMOS student club founded by the late Charles Pointon who when he died two years ago in a road accident aged 98. was the college's oldest student. They also raised $1000 for clean water in Malawi by hiking from Swansea Beach, Lake Macquarie to Birdie Beach on the Central Coast that evening as part of a Walk 4 Water project.
The money goes towards the construction of two wells by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in the village of Suzi in Malawi.
It will be a welcome relief. The village has a population of almost 1000 people yet the sole source of water is a contaminated river more than one kilometre away.
ADRA Malawi intern Krystle Praestiin, who completed the international development studies course at Avondale this year, says the wells will not only provide water but will also reduce disease prevalence and enable many women to receive an education because they will save more than three hours a day by not having to collect water.
The project includes training for the villagers to help them maintain the wells and to teach them about hygiene and sanitation.
COSMOS has raised $5000 this year for the Malawi Well Project. "Our activities were in a holding pattern after the tragic death of Charles but this year we've continued to rebuild," says staff adviser Brad Watson.
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