El Senegal is not unlike many rural villages in the arid regions of Guatemala. Most of the 350 people who live in this small community must walk long distances daily to collect water from the river, which dries up periodically from the severe droughts that have plagued the region for the past few years. When they are able to find water, the villagers here must deal with yet another obstacle: waterborne illnesses that steal health, school and work days, and even life itself from children and adults alike.

Carlos, a 50-year-old resident of El Senegal, spends several hours a day hauling water for his family. His journey to the river is a task that has grown into a more and more difficult burden to shoulder with every passing year. Purchasing clean water isn’t an option for Carlos, who cannot begin to afford the cost of such a luxury and has never experienced the ease of turning a tap in his own home.

In a very different world some 2,000 miles away, a small-business owner Jo Ellen Perkins begins a journey of her own: to provide clean water for a struggling village in need.

The first step, according to Jo Ellen, was just being available. She didn’t know it at the time, but this was the beginning of a path that would eventually lead her to impact Carlos’ community in a way she never expected.

By hosting creative fundraisers in her community and partnering with many clients and friends, Jo Ellen was able to raise the funds to provide a clean-water well for the village of El Senegal. When asked if her position as a business owner played a part in her success, Jo Ellen’s response was this:

This summer, Jo Ellen was able to travel to El Senegal with causelife to dedicate her water project in the community.

Carlos and his family now have access to water that is clean, safe, and nearby, totally revolutionizing their daily way of life. No more long trips to a contaminated river, no more preventable sickness, no more uncertainty. They thank God for bringing Jo Ellen to their community and for giving them a gift that will be sustainable for years to come.

We’re overjoyed to have people like Jo Ellen as a part of the causelife movement. Anyone who begins by just being available can make a true and lasting difference in the lives of others. We hope that her story encourages you to take hold of whatever platform you have to impact the world.

And thank you for all you’re doing to bring clean water to places like El Senegal and to people such as Carlos and his community.

We believe that people matter . . . and that water changes everything.