Small Change for Change

How much water have you had to drink today? Eight glasses like your mum always told you should? Just the mouthful after you brushed your teeth this morning? Whatever your answer, you know that you can have as much water as you like today. And tomorrow.  And probably for the rest of your life.

This isn’t the case for everyone. One in six people in our world have no access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation. Every day over a billion people are drinking dirty water from muddy pools, disease infested catchment areas, and streams polluted with animal waste. Every year, more people die from drinking dirty water than are killed through all forms of violence, including war. Even if the dirty water doesn’t kill, adults lose work and are not able to provide for their families, and children miss school and lose the opportunity to break the poverty cycle.

Last year the Uniting Church in Unley and Malvern prayed that God would “break our hearts for what break His.” He did, and so Small Change For Change began. This project uses the small change abundant in our society to dig clean water wells in Africa. A thousand of our own bottles were given out to the congregation and community, to be filled with small change and returned. One bottle full of change can provide clean water to one person for 20 years.

Over six weeks people upended their ash trays and swear jars, checked behind the couch and in handbags, and emptied out their jeans pockets to fill bottles. When all the change was counted, by the grace of God there was more than enough to build three new wells, providing clean water to 750 people.

In June this year we hosted a cocktail party to support our operating costs, enabling us to continue to use 100% of money raised through our water bottles for digging wells.

We are so fortunate in Australia to be able to change the world with our small change. 1 John 3:16 -17 says “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you?” Small Change For Change is one way of demonstrating the love of God in you.

Individuals who want to get involved can pick up a bottle from the Malvern church office during business hours Mon-Fri.  We’re looking for more churches who would like to join us by distributing and collecting bottles in their communities.  To find out more, contact Rosalie Dow at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 8271 6817.

Smallchangeforchange.org.au