Global Partners: Running Waters began with the dream of clean water.
For 12 years, Sister Jan Gregorcich, SSND, lived and worked in Guatemala and Honduras. She often spoke about her experiences at local Latin American gatherings. Here, Sister Jan met Dianne Henke,* a SSND Associate and beekeeper. One time, Dianne approached Sister Jan with a question. What would she do in Guatemala if gifted some of Dianne’s father-in-law’s inheritance?
Sister Jan knew Dianne needed to see for herself how to best use her gift, so she invited her to visit Guatemala. As the two traveled through rural Guatemala, they saw the scarcity of water in indigenous communities. And they both knew that clean water would completely change those communities.
After the trip, Dianne chose to use her gift to provide clean water for the village of Xeabaj II. This changed the lives of 108 families.
Her act of generosity inspired others to experience the reality of clean water in Guatemala and share their gifts too. In 2003, she and Sister Jan founded Global Partners: Running Waters as a way to continue this important work.
*Dianne passed away on April 2, 2021 after a battle with ALS. You can read a beautiful tribute of her life here.