Water Blogged

The atmosphere in the Jackson Middle School lobby was electric, but instead of the usual pre-bell chaos, there was a sense of shared purpose. For the past few weeks, the “Penny War” challenge had transformed the Minnesota school into a hub of collective giving, all aimed at a single goal: funding a new well in South Sudan. The fundraiser relied on a simple, engaging system to encourage participation: – Collection Jars: Each classroom had a designated station to pool their donations. – Positive Points: Every penny and dollar bill added directly to a class’s contribution total. – Friendly Hurdles: Silver […]

It started with a simple, jarring realization in the classroom at Lydia Middleton Elementary School: water isn’t a given for everyone. After reading A Long Walk to Water, the reality of the global water crisis shifted from a distant statistic to a personal mission for a dedicated group of students. Driven by a sense of justice, the students didn’t just want to talk about the problem—they wanted to solve it. Their motivation was captured in their own words: – “It is not fair for some people because you need to have water!” – “Water is a necessity, and we can help […]

Our implementing partner, Drink Local Drink Tap (DLDT), recently constructed two bathing buildings at Ttama Primary School in Uganda. This project was implemented to ensure safe hygiene practices for boarders (students living at the school) and girls during the day who need private washing facilities. Without these facilities, children were not safe. Before constructing these bathing buildings, they had to bathe in open areas at night, which posed many safety risks. A new, safe girls’ toilet block with handwashing facilities was built to support 471 girls at Ttama Primary School. The safely managed ‘ventilated improved pit latrines – VIP latrines’ […]

The Lamin Oyo Community School used to rely on a seasonal waterhole as its only water source. This waterhole fills during and shortly after the rainy season, but it quickly dries up afterward. Moreover, the water from this source is contaminated, leading to numerous health issues within the community. When the dry season reached its peak, the community faced a significant water crisis, forcing residents to travel long distances in search of clean water. This situation severely impacted over 200 children in the area, as they would often spend hours each day fetching water, which hindered their ability to attend […]

Akanyo- Ocipi, located in the Lakang sub-county of Amuru district in Uganda, has a total enrollment of 460 students. The people of Akanyo-Ocipi urgently needed clean water access, as their only source was an unsafe waterhole shared with livestock. Our implementing partner, Drop in the Bucket, recently drilled a new borehole well providing safe water on the school grounds. The students and the surrounding community will benefit from this well for years to come! Thanks to St. Joseph Catholic School in Arlington, TX, for supporting this project!