Community Improvement
A large part of our mission focus is on improving the lives of the people of Chevri. This includes both spiritually and physically. We desire for every project we take on to be a community project. We don’t want to be coming in trying to change things, rather to be a support and guide as the local people create change in their environment.
At the moment the village of Chevri does not have a single well, clean drinking water, a latrine, electricity, or a clinic. After the gang takeover in Mirebalias in early 2025 their population has more than doubled. Causing the situation to worsen and infection and disease to spread rampantly throughout the inhabitants.
Community improvement will be a lot of things, many ongoing projects. Espwa Demen Mission is starting with improving sanitation in the community. We are doing so by digging a well and building a public shower house on the mission’s land which is central in the community. It will be free for use of anyone living in Chevri.
Water Well
A 100 foot deep hand pump water well will be dug near the edge of mission land for the use of the community. This project is funded and the materials have been purchased but the rainy season has put the work at a stand still.
A group of men in the community are volunteering their labor to this project, as their families will benefit from the clean well water for use in cooking, washing, and bathing.
Public Shower House
The public latrine and shower house will be built near the well where well water can be carried easily and used. Currently there is no place in the community where waste is properly drained away.
A latrine will go a long way to ensuring safety and sanitation in the community. Hopefully reducing the infection rate and lessening the volume of skin rashes.
Our Future Hopes For Improvement In Chevri
Some of the bigger projects that we are dreaming up after the completion of these two are:
Build a large meeting house to be used for trainings, discipleship, Bible study, and general meetings.
Breaking into the mountainside in a few critical spots where the makeshift road runs. Leveling the path with machinery and spreading gravel to give better traction to motorcycles and trucks. This would help make the logistics of traveling in to this community easier. As well as make it possible for more commerce to get from the mountainside into the nearby towns, allowing locals to sell produce and livestock in the market.
Building both a brick bakery and a chicken hacherie. Both of these ventures would supply jobs to a few locals and bread and eggs at a low cost to the community. In the long term this would supply a nutritious meal to children who will attend Espwa Demen’s primary school.
Planting avocado, mango, and coconut trees around the mission property with harvesting free to the community.
Eventually digging a second well and building a basin for use in watering local gardens.
Guess What?!?
Community improvement projects are some of the most exciting, as a positive result can be seen right away! And there is an easy way for you to get involved.
If this is something that thrills you or you feel called to be a part of improving the Chevri community. You can give a one time gift or become a monthly supporter of this work.