Appeal For Humanitarian Projects In Nigeria

Introduction

My name is Pastor Darlington Osondu, the pastor in charge of Osondu Foundation situated at Plot 137 Babs Animashaun road, off Bode Thomas street, Surulere Lagos Nigeria. I grew up in a rural community in Ibeme, Ugiri, Isiala Mbano LGA Imo state Nigeria. I am 55 years old. In this particular community called Ibeme, while we were growing up, there was no electricity or pipe borne water as this was applicable to all the communities in Ugiri constituency. We used to trek to and fro for approximately 30KM (Thirty kilometers) from my kindred to the only stream that serves the whole of Ugiri constituency till date

As I write the gullies that surround the stream are more than three storey building each. The road is slippery and almost impassable, full of wild animals and reptiles. Many times there were efforts made by different governments both military and civilian regimes to provide pipe born water to this constituency to no avail. As a matter of fact it has always been a perennial campaign promise since 1999 when democracy was reintroduced in Nigeria.Yet all these communities are yet to see any dividend of democracy in this direction.

This stream popularly called Mbaa river continues to be the only source of water for drinking and washing to the entire constituency till date. Though some individual efforts have been made to drill boreholes but the cost of maintenance has been a huge challenge. Though the constituency is said to be electrified but it is on record that they have guaranteed power supply less than one hour, two or three times a year. Those who have boreholes now resort to selling the water for about 20 Naira per keg which is a huge amount to the rural dwellers to afford on daily basis.

I have always had the desire to solve this problem for this constituency but paucity of funds has been the bane. However in the year 2013 Osondu Foundation decided to start a pilot project of pipe borne water provision in Ibeme. We opened a borehole that has been providing FREE drinkable water for at least 5 neighboring kindreds 24 hours daily. For the past 6 years we have made sure (at a great cost though) that there is constant water supply for these nearby kindreds which are, Umuezeala Oka, Umuwuoha Oka, Amaorji and Ituohia kindreds all in Imo state Nigeria. Because of the overwhelming testimonies that keep flowing from these kindreds, we have had the increased desire to extend this gesture to many other kindreds in Ugiri constituency but it has not been possible due to paucity of funds. In 2016 I was moved to tears when one of the kindreds assembled both men and women to pay me a "thank you" visit. They brought heads of plantain, palm oil etc just to mention but a few.

Cost implications per kindred for the 50 kindreds

1) Cost of drilling the borehole per kindred ---------------------- $7,500
2) Water storage ( reservoir) including steel stands and eight 1000 liter containers per kindred ----------------- $6000
3) Electricity ( Solar energy preferable) per village-------$75,000
4) Staff emolument per kindred average of five workers at $200 (Two hundred) per month for 1 calendar year ---------- $12,000
5) Emoluments for supervisory staff of minimum 10 workers at $300(three hundred) per month for a year --------------- $36,000

In case it will be possible to provide water for the 50 kindreds, the following must be put in place
6) Cost of a plot of land for office space ------------------ $20,000
7) cost of building a supervisory office space ------------ $100,000
8) Office furniture and maintenance ------------------------ $20,000
9) supervisory vehicles 2 Hilux trucks 4x4 (2.8 diesel 6 SP Man) -------- $116,880
10) Incidentals --------------------- $15,000

The above stated proposal is what it takes to give pipe borne water to a kindred. The supervisory expenses are what will be needed to coordinate the entire 50 kindreds in Ugiri constituency. The above given information is verifiable. If this proposal is kindly considered I will make available Osondu Foundation domiciliary account for remittances as decided by the sponsors.

You may choose to take care of one or more of the lists above in order to enable us help this poor women and children.

NB: We are ready to forward a complete feasibility study on your request.

Thanks,
Pastor Darlington Osondu
For and on behalf of Osondu Foundation