Tabata-Bima, Tanzania – Reported by Coleman Bentley for Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
Residents of Tabata-Bima, Tanzania, a rural town set in the heart of Africa, finally have access to what so many of us have taken for granted for so long: Fresh drinking water. Sponsored by Corinthia Hotels, international water aid charity Just a Drop, with the help of St. Mary’s Foundation, recently set to work drilling boreholes throughout the Tabata community, providing two schools and over 30,000 residents with a truly lifesaving gift.
To celebrate this culture-altering breakthrough a celebration was held on July 6, 2012. Attended by Tony Potter, a member of the board of Corinthia Hotels, as well as Rev. Gertrude Rwakatare, MP, founder of St. Mary’s Foundation and Nicola Swann and Christopher Mahoney, Just a Drop representatives from London, Tabata-Bima residents celebrated the quenching of thirst while Tabata Junior School students recited poetry expressing their gratitude to all contributing parties.
“Most Tabata households have no access to a water supply. This forces them to buy water from neighbours or water vendors – which they can rarely afford. Otherwise, the heavy burden falls on women and children to walk long distances to fetch water for their daily needs.” said Dr. Rwakatare, highlighting Tabat-Bima’s cause for celebration. But as Founder and Chairman of Corinthia Hotels Alfred Pisani points out, the coronation needn’t end there. “The project in Tabata-Bima will provide long term sustainable benefits to the community” he said, “and directly help to give children the gift of life and good health.” Certainly a worthwhile endeavour for both philanthropy-minded Corinthia Hotels and the grateful people of Tabata-Bima, who vow to maintain their new-found life-source for years to come.
www.justadrop.org
www.corinthia.com