Cologne. In her current report for the Malteser International Lent Campaign "40 Euros for Sri Lanka", the British water engineer Suzanna Lipscombe in Sri Lanka tells us, how important it is to also involve children in educational sessions and trainings on hygiene and transmit them knowledge about clean drinking water. Children are curious, learn quickly and like to transmit what they know to others.

„Today, my colleagues Subhanie, Lalanga, Wasanthi from the Water Safety Plan team, Fer-nando and I go to Peelahena, a small community in Mulatiyana Division of Matara District. We want to give the community training on hygiene and show them how to maintain their Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Tanks...Our messages are conveyed through colourful drawings and interaction with the community", Lipscombe explains Malteser International's approach. "There is always a strong attendance level, both by the men and women and the children are also very attentive - they must like the drawings! One young girl, Maleeka, has already followed one of our training sessions and is proud to explain to the other children the advantages of the new tanks: 'The tank gets filled when it rains. We keep this lid open as the roof and gutter can contaminate the first part of the rain. When we are sure that the roof and the gutters are thoroughly washed we close this lid and allow the water to go to the tank." But she even knows more about the complex system: 'There is a basket inside the filter. That basket has pebbles and charcoal and holes to get water filtered to the tank so that we can get filtered water from the tank. The covering lid on the tank is used as an entrance for cleaning purposes and that lid must be kept sealed. Otherwise insects will enter the tank.'" the complex system: 'There is a basket inside the filter. That basket has pebbles and charcoal and holes to get water filtered to the tank so that we can get filtered water from the tank. The covering lid on the tank is used as an entrance for cleaning purposes and that lid must be kept sealed. Otherwise insects will enter the tank.'" the complex system: 'There is a basket inside the filter. That basket has pebbles and charcoal and holes to get water filtered to the tank so that we can get filtered water from the tank. The covering lid on the tank is used as an entrance for cleaning purposes and that lid must be kept sealed. Otherwise insects will enter the tank.'" the complex system: 'There is a basket inside the filter. That basket has pebbles and charcoal and holes to get water filtered to the tank so that we can get filtered water from the tank. The covering lid on the tank is used as an entrance for cleaning purposes and that lid must be kept sealed. Otherwise insects will enter the tank.'"

For a development project like this to be sustainable, Malteser International involves the com-munity - and of course also the children who can then transmit the message - in all stages of planning and implementation. The organisation also includes trainings and educational ses-sions in operation and maintenance of the new system on a regular basis. This way, the bene-ficiaries are encouraged to feel more ownership and therefore responsibility over their new tank, which will ultimately encourage its long term use and maintenance.

To support the organisation's projects for clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Sri Lanka, Malteser International calls for putting aside one Euro a day during Lent Season. The 40 Euros saved up until Easter can be transferred to the following account:

Donation Account 120 120 120 Bank für Sozialwirtschaft, Wörthstr. 15 - 17, D-50668 Köln Sort Code : 370 205 00 IBAN : DE49 3702 0500 0001 0258 01 BIC: BFSWDE33XXX Reference : "Malteser International Lent Campaign 2008"