In September 2005 Islamic Relief (IR) began the Dongfeng Village Rainwater Harvesting Cistern Project in partnership with a local organisation.

Two sets of water cisterns were built in the courtyards of 340 households in Dongfeng village. This will provide villagers with a safe, reliable water source.

Dongfeng is a village in Chenjing Township in the north-western Yongjing County. Like most areas of Gansu Province, Chenjing Township is a dry region that suffers from periodic droughts. Water shortages have halted agricultural, social and economic development in the area.

Villagers in Dongfeng have poor access to safe, drinking water and many spend a lot of time fetching water from the surrounding areas for their families, livestock and crops.

Project Objectives

The aim of the project is to provide villagers in Dongfeng with a safe, reliable source of water, so that they do not have to spend a lot of time and energy collecting water.

The long-term goal of the project is to improve the health and living conditions of the villagers through the provision of clean drinking water.

Project Activities

IRW completed the Dongfeng Village Rainwater Harvesting Cistern Project in November 2005.

• A total of 680 water cisterns have been built in Dongfeng village. Each cistern can hold up to 15 cubic meters of water;
• Training has been given on water hygiene and proper use of the cisterns;
• Villagers took an active role in the project and many were involved in the construction of the cisterns.

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/