CMDI's Stuart Smith has been working with a group at Holy Spirit Parish, Uniontown, Ohio and the Youngstown Diocese (Roman Catholic), who have been led to assist financially with improvement of water supplies in the Diocese of Moshi (Roman Catholic), in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. He visited two locations in August 2008, assessed the situation, and located and obtained quotes from a qualified well contractor in the region for two projects.

One well cleaning project at Uchira (east of Moshi) was successfully completed in early 2009. This well is now back in service supplying water to several hundred primary school children, a dispensary-clinic, parish, convent, and as a supplementary supply for the village, which is majority-Muslim. Work was completed under budget.

A new well has also been successfully constructed at St James Seminary, a secondary school northeast of Moshi.

Funds are being raised for a third project site selected by the Diocese of Moshi bishop. The Youngstown Diocese has formally adopted the mission of the Holy Spirit Parish water committee as part of a larger effort in partnership with the Diocese of Moshi. The water committee will continue its planning and advisory role, but have more access to diocese parishes for fundraising. Stuart will continue as technical advisor.

We consider this project to be a model of what CMDI can do. We are not locked in by church politics, and we can help in whatever capacity we can. We prefer to work ecumenically with partners such as the Youngstown and Moshi dioceses who see their mission as helping all the people (as Christ did) regardless of religion.