5-year-old friends walk 10 miles during Ramadan to raise money towards water filtration system

5-year-old Jana Chowdhury and Imaan Hawa Asif are fundraising for solar water filtration systems in Gaza

Two friends from Rochdale, Jana Chowdhury and Imaan Hawa Asif, both 5, have put their best foot forward to fundraise for solar water filtration systems in Gaza during Ramadan this year.

During the month of Ramadan, which ran from 12 April to 12 May, fasting Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours. Many Muslims also choose to pay their Zakat during the month of Ramadan, providing money to help the poor and needy.

Jana, one of the 5-year-old girls keen to help by walking 10 miles in a fundraising challenge, explained: "We're so blessed that we can get clean water by just turning on the tap. When my mum told me about the children in Gaza and how hard it is for them to find clean drinking water, I wanted to help them."

The population of Gaza relies on a single coastal aquifer as their primary water source, but 97% of the water produced is contaminated by sea water, sewage, and chemicals. Without clean drinking water, people are deprived of a basic necessity to survive, as well as falling extremely ill due to conditions such as kidney stones and renal disease.

Solar water filtration systems help provide clean drinking water to many families. Being solar powered also means it is not affected by the intermittent power supply the city has due to the blockade.

Jana said: “My original fundraising target was £30. I asked my family and friends to sponsor me and before I knew it, I had raised nearly £500! I asked my mum to raise my target to £1,000 and we even went past that!

“Now I want to reach £2,000 and I hope you can all help me to do that.”

Jana and Imaan are hoping to gain the support of the local community in raising funds for Human Aid UK, an international humanitarian charity which strives to alleviate the suffering of the oppressed.

You can support their fundraiser on the link below:

• https://givebrite.com/walkforwater/jana-4182