There are places in this world where joy shows up in the simplest things—like a cup of clean water handed to a child on a hot school day. In Natitingou, a city in northern Benin, that simple joy was once out of reach for the children at the Saint Antoine de Padoue and Les Brillants primary schools. 

A Daily Struggle for a Basic Necessity 

These schools, run by the Franciscan Fraternity of Notre Dame des Anges with help from the Secular Franciscan Order, welcome orphans and children from extremely poor families. But there was one significant challenge: the lack of clean drinking water. 

In a region where access to water is limited and diseases spread easily through contaminated sources, children were left to drink from open wells or nearby streams.  

Water That Brings More than Relief 

The friars saw what was needed: clean water, close by, always available. So they requested assistance. And thanks to generous donors, two solar-powered wells have now been installed—one at each school.   

Now, hundreds of children have access to safe water throughout the school day. They can drink when they’re thirsty, wash their hands, and even learn basic hygiene practices that will serve them for life. These wells have done more than quench thirst—they’ve brought dignity, health, and a new rhythm to the school day.

The impact ripples beyond the school walls. Local families come to fill their containers and carry clean water home.  

Even better, the children are being trained to care for the wells, learning to maintain the pumps, conserve water, and why hygiene matters. What was once a dire need has now become a source of empowerment. 

This is the kind of work your support makes possible.