He's a man on a mission. If Vic Hamer gets his way, no child will go without clean drinking water and the people of Kenya will have the opportunity to lead better, more productive lives and look forward to a healthy future.
With strong ties to the Yorkton and Good Spirit areas, Hamer hails from the states but spends much of his time in Kenya, a location that's grown near and dear to his heart.
In Yorkton this week raising money for his cause, Hamer gathers funds to build wells where people have to walk miles for water and struggle daily to make ends meet.
"Water is key before anything else can flourish," says Hamer who fundraises under the "Give Me Water Lord" (not for profit) foundation. "We support schools and churches, inoculate cattle, provide corn shellers, educate gardening, and help anyone in our path when on a mission."
And he builds wells. Each one is personal, with the one currently in the works being dedicated to an Ebenezer friend who recently passed away.
Travelling to Kenya for years, Hamer says he was last there in January and he is planning to make the trek again. "I got to see the last well completed in an area where the teachers and students were suffering from typhoid and now they have clean drinking water." Prior to the well people in the area drank from a lake that is surrounded by villages with no septic systems, creating heavily polluted water and causing illness.
"I'm going back this January and I'll hopefully see my next well completed... two hours south of Nairobi... it's being mostly funded by the Ebenzer Baptist Church and it's in memory of Chess Patzer who was a member of that church and a dear friend of mine..."
The people of the community where the well is to be constructed are currently walking two to five miles for water. "And where they gather the water, the cows, the zebras, the donkeys and everything else drink from the same spot... it's also heavily polluted..."
He used to collect shoes to help out with his cause, this time Hamer is selling eye catching Kenyan made jewellery. He will be in Yorkton on Friday, July 26 at Yorkton Exhibition grandstand area from about 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. A Canora sale has also been planned where people can view the pieces and make purchases to support the cause. This sale takes place at the Canora Library July 18, 19 and 20. If you can't make it to either event but would like to learn more or even make a financial donation, you can do so by contacting Hamer at: [email protected]. You can also send a cheque to the Ebenezer Church made out to the church. On the cheque he says write that it is for "Chess's well."
If you're interesting in making the trek to Kenya to volunteer, skilled people are being sought and Hamer says he can help get you set up. "Just contact me... they are always looking for nurses and doctors naturally, construction workers..."
"I really appreciate the support the people from Yorkton and surrounding areas have given this cause," he says and he hopes it will continue.
