Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Friday 29 March |
Good Friday
Aleteia logo
Inspiring Stories
separateurCreated with Sketch.

How a 9-year-old bought a well for an Indian village

JOSIAH SHAFFER DONATES WELL

WDAY News

Sophia Swinford - published on 02/24/18

The money wasn't intended for this, but then he changed his mind.

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

Like most 9-year-olds, Josiah Shaffer wanted an Xbox; unlike most 9-year-olds, he bought a well for a village in India instead, an unexpected act of kindness that earned him recognition from Global Citizen in 2016.

Josiah had set out to raise money to buy a Xbox by doing 25-cent chores around the house, slowly but surely approaching his $300 goal. But just as his goal was within his grasp, he changed his mind. After hearing about Water Well Ministry from a friend, he decided put the money toward a clean-water well in India. According to WDay, the well is expected to provide clean water to 3,000 people over the next 10 years.

But Josiah’s generosity ended up being rewarded, too. Another Josiah Shaffer, 35-years-old, upon hearing the story, decided to buy young Josiah the Xbox he had given up to pay for the well. “It comes full circle,” Sue Shaffer said, the junior Josiah’s mother said. “It comes back to you.”

Clean water is a high-risk issue all around the world. According to Water.org, 844 million people lack access to safe water, and approximately every 90 seconds someone dies from a water-related disease. But organizations like Water.org and Catholic Relief Services work tirelessly to utilize donations like Josiah’s to bring safe water to everyone.




Read more:
Unsuspecting kids get an eye-opening “teachable moment” in mercy

Tags:
Practicing MercySocial Media
Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.