Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Praia (Fides Service) - To help some of the many people in Cape Verde, the elderly, the poor, single mothers, large families living in make shift homes or caves the local community Capuchin Fathers, who first arrived here in 1947, has launched a Home for the Poor project. “So far we have met 500 requests for repair of existing homes or new brick homes, but the list is still long and most of the existing hovels have neither running water or sanitation” said a statement from the Foreign Missions Centre for Cape Verde of the Piedmont Capuchin Province to which the Capuchins in Cape Verde report.
The project aims to give a more dignified and comfortable home to people living in unhealthy huts made of tin or mud “furna”. The area has no drain system so it is necessary to install septic tanks the cost of which is variable. Only a few villages have access to a water source. Family water cisterns are very useful for storing rain water or pumped well water.
The only supply of water comes in 20 lt. cans carried on the heads of women and children for over 10 km. They often spend the night near the well waiting for their turn to draw water. People who are better off, thanks to money sent home from family members working abroad, can afford to use a donkey to carry water. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/3/2006 righe 24 parole 290)
