WORLD Water Day takes place this week.
To mark the event, an Italian language teacher in Twyford is holding an event to raise money for a charity that supports safe water and hygiene access for rural communities in Uganda.
Cristina Liga’s Italian dining event will help to provide funds for Equal Aqua Uganda.
It will also be a chance for people to hear more about what can be done to improve lives in parts of rural Africa.
Her apericena comes from the Italian words ‘aperto’, to open (or opening drinks), and ‘cena’, dinner.
“My fundraiser is a chance for people to enjoy both of these lovely Italian things Cristina says.
“But it also combines my love of conviviality with my passion for Equal Aqua Uganda.”
Cristina is one of four members of the charity, all holding events to raise funds and awareness this week.
“It’s unthinkable that half the population in Uganda has no access to safe water,” she says.
“We recently worked in a Ugandan school that has 600 students.
“They had no access to safe water on the premises, but we were able to build a water tank there for £1,000.
“Children were walking 4km to the nearest clean water, or drinking out of puddles because they had no choice.”
Crisitina is committed to turning things around.
“I’ve invited all my students of Italian to this event, but it’s open to anyone who wants to come and join us,” she says.
“People can expect a warm welcome, some great Italian refreshment, and a chance to hear about the charity.
“I’ll be showing a film about what we have been doing in 2022.
“It will be an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, to learn, and to empathise with the lives of others.”
Equal Aqua Uganda works with communities to tackle inequalities of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
It says that Ugandan households spend on average two hours each day fetching water, with the greatest burden of this work falling on women’s and girls’ shoulders.
“Access to clean water is crucial,” says Cristina, “and sanitation and hygiene really matters.
“We can’t celebrate progress or equality, when women and girls are still collecting all the water, or when girls have to stop going to school once they start their periods.”
As well as building water tanks, training communities to make soap, providing water filters, and installing latrines, the charity also runs menstrual hygiene workshops to educate about periods.
“We run these programmes to remove the shame, and to say to these young women that it is OK to talk about periods,” she says.
Christina’s event promises great Italian food, as well as a chance to learn about Equal Aqua Uganda.
She hopes that people will be inspired by it, to volunteer and to support the charity’s work.
The event is not ticketed, and there is no entry fee, but Cristina asks that those who attend donate to the charity.
“I believe that most people are good natured,” she says.
“I’m relying on their good will.”
No alcohol will be served during the event, to avoid any concerns about drinking and driving.
And a raffle will be held during the evening, with gifts donated by Italian businesses.
The apericena takes place in Twyford, on Saturday, March 25, at 6pm.
The address can be obtained from Cristina.
She asks anyone interested in coming to the event to call her on: 07772 853527 or email her at: cristinaliga@equalaqua.org
For information about the charity, visit: www.equalaqua.org
