Compassion International

Splashing and babbling are the soothing sounds made by the Chira River, which runs alongside the town of Tamarindo in Peru. But the river’s soothing sounds mask a sobering truth: Its water is extremely contaminated, dangerous for human consumption. When the local church in Tamarindo partnered with Compassion to launch a child development center, 270 local children in need were registered. But as the program got underway, pastor Vicente Sernaqué noticed something wrong. "The children were weak, thin, didn't eat and were lethargic," he says.