The Freewater Commitment

From Craig and Natasha Kopas, founders:

Worldwide, more than 12 million people die each year from lack of safe drinking water, including more than 3 million who die from waterborne diseases. Within the country of Zambia, women and girls often walk an average of 5 miles to the nearest water source every day, not even sure whether the water they are getting is actually safe. But the reduction of disease spread through unsafe water has become a major focus of community groups, and doors have been opened for outside help to arrive.

In early 2008, Engedi Church of Holland, Michigan, continued their commitment to the people of Zambia by taking members of the congregation on a trip of exploration, encouragement and hope. We both went on this trip and returned home changed in a deeply profound way: we decided that we would commit our resources to helping Zambians by shifting our title researching and other businesses to the newly-created company called simply: FREEWATER.

Through Engedi Church, we have entered into a ministry partnership with World Hope International-Zambia to assist with securing funding for the drilling of new clean water wells. Water is life in Zambia, where eight months a year are completely dry. The cost of drilling each new well is about $3,500, which then provides clean drinking water to as many as 2,000 people. WHI-Z was able to impact the lives of untold thousands of Zambians in 2007 as they were able to drill more than 37 water wells, with many more completed in 2008!

While it is our hope that we can raise as much money as possible, FREEWATER has committed to giving a portion of every dollar we receive directly to the construction of these wells. It is our goal to pay for at least two new wells each year. If you would like more specific information about donating directly to this cause, please contact us at: