WaterAfrica

W4W5 Reflections | Bill Savage & Fred Mazumba

2012-05-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon after Walk4Water5 Bill Savage, WaterAfrica President & Founder, and Fred Mazumba, World Vision Zambia ADP Manager, sat down to discuss a variety of WASH-related topics.

But what did Fred think of W4W5? We invite you to listen in......

We are just beginning to unpack the remarkable stories embedded in Walk4Water5. We hope you'll continue to check this blog. If you'd like to receive the blog posts by email you can enter your email address in the box at the top right of the page.*

There is still time to make a donation to help us meet our Walk4Water5 fundraising goal of $50,000 - providing WASH for 1,000 Zambians. You can Donate Here.

*Note: this is different than the box immediately above that, which is a subscription to WaterAfrica's electronic email newsletter. We send enews periodically throughout the year to keep you informed of major events and opportunities. The blog post subscription will deliver blog posts to your email box on the days we post. Both subscriptions are easy to unsubscribe from AND we only use your email address for the purposes you choose.

Walk4Water5: LOHS Ceramics Class

2012-04-27T18:15:00.001-07:00

Last year Lake Oswego High School student Field Hubbell organized an effort in her Ceramics class to get her fellow artists to create and donate water pitchers to sell at Walk4Water4. As a senior this year, Field repeated the effort. With the support of LOHS ceramics instructor, Steve Schiefelbein, Field and her peers are bringing 24 pitchers to sell tomorrow morning at Walk4Water5. 100% of the purchase price will be given to ZWASH.

Not only is this a remarkable gift from these high school artists, but it was also an educational experience. Mr. Schiefelbein showed the WaterAfrica educational video to several of his classes. Nearly 130 students learned about Zambia and the need for access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

We are humbled by the gift these students offer as they share their artistic talents. Please take time to see their pitchers, and be sure to thank them!

**Don't forget! Mother's Day is May 13! Come prepared to take home a beautiful gift AND change lives in Zambia. Claire Murray and Bob & Sheri Kilpatrick will also have items for purchase. 100% of your purchase price with any of these vendors will be given to World Vision's ZWASH projects. (Credit Cards will be accepted)

We look forward to seeing you Saturday morning!

W4W5 Sponsor: Dr. Michelle Vessely

2012-04-27T11:22:00.001-07:00

Because of the generous support of our Walk4Water Sponsors, 100% of Walk4Water5 proceeds are given to World Vision's Water, Sanitation & Hygiene projects in Zambia (ZWASH).

We've asked several of our sponsors Why they choose to sponsor Walk4Water5 and we've previously featured Dr. Quenton Gebeau and Mr. Ward Hubbell.

Another W4W5 Sponsor, Dr. Michelle Vessely just returned from Zambia this week. Her surgical team was in Lusaka performing cleft lip and palate surgeries at a CURE hospital, which is specifically focused on poor children with deformities and disabilities. You can read more about her work here.

Dr. Vessely on Surgical Mission

When we asked Dr. Vessely why she supports Walk4Water5 she said:

I support the walk because I've seen firsthand the devastation that dirty water wreaks on people. Disease, death, lack of schooling for the girls. While in Zambia I passed people on the road carrying water in large bottles and jugs - the lack of access to clean water is real. I'm so impressed with the immense good that WaterAfrica does by providing access to clean water, thus allowing for sanitation, education, and healthy babies and children.

Many of our Walk4Water5 Sponsors will join us to Walk tomorrow. Please thank them - we couldn't Walk4Water without them.

W4W5 | Why We Walk | Beth Olen

2012-04-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

We're running a series of blog posts highlighting WaterAfrica friends and the reasons they participate in our annual Walk4Water.

WaterAfrica Secretary and Walk4Water Co-Chair Beth Olen wrote this in a letter to the editor for the Lake Oswego Review:

Beth Olen & Bwalya Melu at Walk4Water4

The media asks us every year why we think there is such a strong response by the people in this community to the Walk4Water. This Saturday, April 28th will be our 5th annual Walk at Foothills Park and each year the event grows in participation and in funds raised. My answer is that we have a need to be disturbed. We have a need to be made aware. In the book Run with the Horses by Eugene Peterson, he said "the larger the world we live in, the larger our lives develop in response."

Please join the families with young children, the college students who give us their time and talent, the local student athletes and leaders, the adults who want to know more about life outside the cul-de-sac, the Mayor, and our corporate sponsors as we discover what it's like to walk for a mile carrying a heavy bucket of water - dirty water - for our family's daily use.

Come and meet our special guest, Fred Mazumba from World vision Zambia. Ask him what's possible in a rural village with gained access to clean water and improved sanitation.

When I travel to Zambia this July, I'll share the story of how you came, and how you cared, with the World Vision staff and the people of Hamaundu. And we'll celebrate that all of our lives grew larger in the process.

Thank you for your faithful support. Come and Walk4Water with us.

Why do You walk? We'd love to hear your stories. Please share them in the comments or email jsearls@waterafrica.org if you'd be willing to have us feature your story in future posts.

W4W5 | Why We Walk | Sheri & Bob Kilpatrick

2012-04-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

We're running a series of blog posts highlighting WaterAfrica friends and the reasons they participate in our annual Walk4Water.

If you've been to WaterAfrica events you may have looked at or even purchased beautiful cards made by Sheri & Bob Kilpatrick. This is their story:

I (Sheri) first traveled to Zambia in 2004. Being a nurse I was keenly interested in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and yearned for these people to be free of the pain, loss of family and stigma. Finally understanding how HIV is transmitted in this region sort of turns on a light bulb making the whole picture of this tragedy come into clear focus. I visited the Mother Theresa hospice and saw the faces - the haunting eyes and the skin barely covering bones on men and women perhaps just hours from death. Within a short distance were other families waiting to bring their loved ones to refill those beds. Two rooms over were the babies and children. It was heart wrenching. These are faces I can't forget.

In 2008 Bob and I both returned. No longer were the hospice beds full of people near death, instead the people were in the solarium waiting to sing songs for us. The children sang and brought us flowers. This is what the anti-retroviral vaccines accomplished in 4 short years. I was ecstatic. But...I know how many dear ones still fear the next blood test and families are not yet whole.

A significant component to improving health is fresh clean water. Our family decided that funding a well was something tangible we could do to help stop some of the "hurting". For us this was a step in faith, hoping clean water would not only be a small demonstration of our love for these people now, but would also be sustainable for years to come.

On the 2008 visit Bob walked with the women to dip their water from dirty mud holes. "Are you going to boil it," he asked? No. They didn't have the time nor the energy. Yet on the same trip we also saw new boreholes and we knew that many people were now able to draw clean water for their better overall health. While there we were able to see the drilling of "our well" hit water. That was a thrill that we'll never forget.

We sell cards because the photos we took represent real people. Many are just faces. Beautiful faces. These are the people on the bags and cards. They won't ever let us forget them. Most are happy despite their situation. Some pictures are of the villagers walking with buckets, some are of boreholes, and our favorite are the children pumping fresh water from their own wells. We can envision villagers splashing in clean fresh water from "our" well and pray that soon this will be representative of the daily life in all villages.

Some photos are from our safari visit. These represent what many people think of when they think of Africa. They remind us of the beauty of nature and that there are still places where these animals roam free. Add those to the "people" of Africa and it gives us a more complete picture of the whole of this country. Simply, these photos won't ever let us forget the people of Zambia and we want to share our experience. Perhaps some may be inspired to visit there, some nudged to donate, or some to just ask questions. We love to tell the story!

****Bob and Sheri will be at Walk4Water5 with cards and bags for sale. 100% of your purchase price is given to World Vision's Water, Sanitation & Hygiene projects in Zambia (ZWASH).

Why do You walk? We'd love to hear your stories. Please share them in the comments or email jsearls@waterafrica.org if you'd be willing to have us feature your story in future posts.

Walk4Water5: Our Kids are Involved

2012-04-24T19:28:00.001-07:00

WaterAfrica's annual Walk4Water relies on the remarkable support of our local communities. For the second year in a row, administration and staff at Lake Oswego Junior High included WaterAfrica in their Community Service Day events.

Last Friday, longtime Walk4Water supporter & LOJ secretary, Lisa Oliva facilitated a water bottle/garbage can project with students that was both educational and useful - please WATCH for their product at Walk4Water5!

We look forward to having LOJ students and others others from various schools and grade levels walk with us Saturday!

Please thank and encourage these youth in their Walk4Water involvement. They are on their way to becoming global, caring citizens and leaders. We are grateful for the time and energy they invest in our efforts to End the Long Walk.

Walk4Water: Looking Back

2012-04-21T15:37:00.001-07:00

Over on WaterAfrica's Facebook page we've had fun looking back at Walk4Water pictures.

Now here's a look back at our video reports....

We don't have a video from Walk4Water1, but the Walk raised $6,000 and had 150 participants. You can see pictures on facebook.

Walk4Water2 raised $12,000 with 200 participants.
Here is the video report:

Walk4Water3 raised $24,000 with 400 participants:

Walk4Water4 raised $40,000 with 400 participants:

Our Walk4Water5 goal is $50,000!
Help us achieve this ambitions goal! You can:

Register to join us next Saturday, April 28

Donate - 100% of your registration and donations are given to World Vision's Water, Sanitation & Hygiene programs in Zambia (ZWASH).

Thank you for your help. It's life-changing.

W4W5 | Why We Walk | Claire Murray

2012-04-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

We're running a series of blog posts highlighting WaterAfrica friends and the reasons they participate in our annual Walk4Water.

If you've been to recent WaterAfrica events you may have looked at or even purchased beautiful goods made by Claire Murray. This is her story:

I first learned of WaterAfrica's work at a Lake Grove Presbyterian Church mission fair. I was thunderstruck by the great need contrasted with the simple amount of $35 to provide one person with a lifetime supply of clean water. I retired in 2005 from a counseling practice and I knew that when the family need for my time diminished I wanted to find meaningful volunteer work. Providing clean water to transform the quality of life for a village, especially for the women and girls, seemed so worthy.

Claire (left) + friends selling merchandise at W4W4

I invited Bill and Diane to speak in our home to a small group of our friends. At that time I asked if they would ever consider selling things I make with all proceeds benefiting WaterAfrica. I was nervous about proposing this, thinking it wasn't something they would want to do, but in fact they took the question to the board where the idea was well received.

From that moment I have had great, great joy in making all sorts of things to sell at various events. So many others have been supportive - donating fabric, encouraging me, and buying my wares! I am so grateful for my husband Steve's unwavering support for my work on this project.

As I work on each item I feel the presence of the women and girls across all those miles, and think of how far they must be walking that day while I'm making something I hope will lift their burden. One of my favorite hymns speaks of holy hands and in some small way I feel God's spirit moving my hands, and what a blessing that is.

****Claire will be at Walk4Water5 with many new items for sale. 100% of your purchase price is given to World Vision's Water, Sanitation & Hygiene projects in Zambia (ZWASH).

$50 provides clean Water + Sanitation & Hygiene for one person for the rest of his or her life.

Why do You walk? We'd love to hear your stories. Please share them in the comments or email jsearls@waterafrica.org if you'd be willing to let us feature your story in future posts.

W4W5 | Why We Walk | Kevin Cummings

2012-04-19T22:48:00.006-07:00

We're running a series of blog posts highlighting WaterAfrica friends and the reasons why they participate in our annual Walk4Water.

WaterAfrica Treasurer Kevin Cummings shared his story in a letter to the editor for the Lake Oswego Review:

I am participating in WaterAfrica’s fifth annual Walk4Water event on April 28th because I have seen firsthand what a difference clean water and proper sanitation can make in the lives of people living in Zambia.

Kevin Cummings, Zambia 2007

In 2007 I travelled to Zambia and what I saw alarmed me. In many of the villages I visited, clean water was not available and there were no latrines. Women and children walked great distances several times a day to polluted water sources in order to gather their family’s supply of water. In one village I found women collecting water from a creek downstream from where people were bathing and tending their pigs. In another village children led me to their water source, a hand dug shallow well. As a young boy scampered down into the well he began filling his bucket with dark brown water that made my stomach turn. The water these villagers have to drink is not safe. In Zambia, one in nine children will not live to the age of five and polluted drinking water along with insufficient sanitation is the primary cause.

Other villages I visited had clean-water boreholes and latrines. The difference these measures make is remarkable. By providing safe drinking water and proper sanitation, child mortality is cut in half, girls have time to attend school, and mothers can nurture their families and tend kitchen gardens.

WaterAfrica is working hard to provide safe drinking water and proper sanitation in rural Zambia. Walk4Water is our primary fund-raiser for the year and I hope you will join us at Foothills Park in Lake Oswego on Saturday, April 28th, at 8:30 a.m.

Why do You walk? We'd love to hear your stories. Please share them in the comments or email jsearls@waterafrica.org if you'd be willing to let us feature your story in future posts.

Walk4Water5: Our Teens Take the Lead!

2012-04-19T08:25:00.002-07:00

We are grateful for the wonderful Walk4Water support we have in Lake Oswego and surrounding communities. This morning the Lake Oswego Review published an excellent story by Cliff Newell about Walk4Water5 and the extensive, varied youth involvement you can expect to find on April 28.

Have you Registered yet??

You can read about the "New generation of water scoopers" and more....here: Teens to Power Walk4Water5 on April 28.

This is the video our youth leaders are showing in their communities this week:

Follow the lead of our teens! Invite your friends. We look forward to seeing you April 28!

W4W5 | Why We Walk | Linda Favero

2012-04-18T22:52:00.004-07:00

We're running a series of blog posts highlighting WaterAfrica friends and the reasons why they participate in our annual Walk4Water.

Today's story links to an article by Matt Cooper in the mid-April issue of Inside Oregon, an internal publication for University of Oregon faculty, staff and graduate teaching fellows.

Walk4Water Co-Chair Linda Favero is featured:

In rural Zambia, women and children walk six to eight hours every day for a bucket of water.

The water, which comes from a mud hole, is typically the color of tea with milk. There is the constant concern that cows and other animals will drink from it and leave it contaminated with dung. Dehydration from diarrhea is a fatal threat to the children.

When Linda Favero saw the situation firsthand for the first time in 2008, the bells went off.

"It was one of those moments where I thought, 'this is it,'" Favero said, "It was bringing all the pieces I cared about into one thing."

You can read more of Linda's story here: Inside Oregon

Why Do You Walk? We'd love to hear your stories. Please share them in the comments or email jsearls@waterafrica.org if you'd be willing to let us feature your story in future posts.

Walk4Water5 | Why We Walk | Bill Savage

2012-04-17T18:45:00.003-07:00

We'll be running a short series of blog posts over the next 10 days, highlighting personal stories telling why we Walk4Water. WaterAfrica founder and President Bill Savage shared his story in a recent letter to the editor for the Lake Oswego Review:

My wife and I are walking because of Kyra.

Kyra, our first grandchild, died just before she was born. I can’t describe the grief we felt…or the much deeper grief Kyra’s mother and father felt.

Her death and the grief it sparked motivated us to do all we can to keep other parents from feeling that grief and to enable other children to grow and flourish.

We focused on an area where there is a lot of childhood mortality and a lot of grief—rural Zambia. We found that providing safe water and sanitation cut childhood mortality in half. As a result, half as many parents grieve; twice as many children grow and flourish.

This picture inspires us on our “Kyra mission,” to help keep the baby alive and keep the mother from grieving.

We’re walking because of Kyra.

Why Do You Walk? We'd love to hear your stories. Please share them in the comments or email jsearls@waterafrica.org.

W4W5 Family Sponsorship = Life-Giving WASH for a Family

2012-04-11T22:18:00.008-07:00

Clement and Macleaner live far from any main roads on a mountainside in rural Zambia. In 2010, our WaterAfrica travel team visited World Vision's Luumbo Area Development Project (ADP) where we met Clement and Macleaner.

World Vision began development work in this region in 1998. In 2009 they installed a project designed by their ZWASH team (Zambia Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) to capture water flowing from a natural hillside spring. Community members dug and laid pipes and were trained in maintenance of the system, which includes storage tanks and water treatment. At the time of our visit this project piped water to 53 households.

We visited with Clement and Macleaner while standing in their 120 ft square garden filled with cabbage, tomatoes and a variety of other vegetables. A drip irrigation system watered their carefully tended crops.

Clement told us about the difference having access to water has made in their lives. He and Macleaner have four children and he said that the biggest impact of the water is that his children will not starve. Without water they had no way to care for a garden, but now they are able to feed their own children. Villagers from surrounding communities now come to their village to buy food. This income allows Clement and Macleaner to buy clothes for their children and he said they can also afford important medical supplies.

Our 2010 interview with Clement and Macleaner is featured at the beginning of this video.

As a Walk4Water5 Family Sponsor you provide WASH for a family like theirs!
$250 provides a sustainable WASH package--Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for a Zambian family of five for the rest of their lives! Just as Clement and Macleaner attest to the life-giving change WASH has brought to their lives, others will tell the the story because You Give.
To find out more, visit our Walk4Water5 Sponsor Page or Click the Family Sponsorship option when you Register.

Lake Oswego City Council Proclaims WaterAfrica Day: April 28, 2012

2012-04-05T21:08:00.006-07:00

WaterAfrica appreciates the City of Lake Oswego's Walk4Water support through the years.

Last Tuesday night, Walk4Water co-chair, Linda Favero spoke to the Lake Oswego City Council on behalf of WaterAfrica. She outlined the purpose and life-changing impact of Walk4Water5 and shared this video with the Council:

Mayor Jack Hoffman then issued a statement proclaiming April 28, 2012 to be WaterAfrica Day in Lake Oswego. You can read the text of his proclamation here.

Why We Walk4Water +Sanitation & Hygiene

2012-04-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

World Vision prepared this 4 minute report for WaterAfrica. See the difference your gift makes:

Baths & Laundry: WASH Changes Lives

2012-04-01T23:39:00.045-07:00

(blog post submitted by Jennifer Searls)
It was a wet spring break here in the Willamette Valley and I have two boys, 10 & 6, who spent some of their vacation time developing their skills as mud-engineers. These projects always remind me how much I appreciate my washing machine and the clean water flowing from our tub faucet.

As I watched the rain fill our backyard puddles last week, I found myself thinking about the mothers I met when I traveled to Zambia with WaterAfrica in 2010. Our Spring Break puddles are a delightful environment for mud-play. Their puddles are their drinking water.

Spring break is over and we return to school routines at our house this week. As a mother in this elementary school stage of life, I am particularly drawn to this story WaterAfrica recently received from World Vision Zambia:

Evelyn Hamphande is 11 years old and lives with her mother, father and six brothers and sisters in Susumambo village located in Hamaaundu ADP.

Evelyn loves going to school and enjoys Math and English. She plans to be a nurse when she grows up because she wants to help people that are sick and in need of care in her village.

Evelyn’s school is close to her home and she quickly takes a bath before getting ready for school.

“Life was not always this easy, because the stream closest to our house was quite far and dangerous for kids like me to draw water from.”

The water point she describes is a rugged 10 foot-wide hole in the ground, 19 feet deep!!

Evelyn’s mother Enia picks up the story, “It was risky to draw water from that hole because apart from the water being dirty and contaminated, there was also a danger of falling into the hole so I was afraid to send the children to draw water and would do it myself, but would end up very tired at the end of the day.”

The good news is that World Vision drilled a well in their community last November. See this story.

Enia continues, “Since then, life has really improved. My children and I are clean, and I’m able to do the laundry more frequently because all I need to do is draw water, wash the clothes, rinse them and then hang them out to dry in the sun. It is equally easy for me to carry out other activities like wash the dishes, and we also have a garden which we water when it’s not raining.”

Her husband Benny chips in: “We are so grateful to World Vision for making life easier for us. We no longer fall sick from taking bad water. I know that my children are now more encouraged to go to school and I look forward to them completing their education and getting good jobs one day.”

Good WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Changes Lives
Evelyn can take a simple bath now without danger. She has time to go to school and think about her future. Her mom can do laundry and take care of their home. Their family grows a garden. Their lives are filled with new possibilities and hope.

Please help WaterAfrica continue to bring good WASH to others like Enia, Benny & their children.

You can:

Donate Now
Register Now for Walk4Water5 | April 28

WaterAfrica gives 100% of your donation to World Vision's WASH projects in Zambia (ZWASH).

Diane Savage speaks at World Vision WASH Chapel

2012-03-22T10:00:00.004-07:00

Yesterday morning the chapel service at World Vision headquarters in Federal Way featured WaterAfrica's very own Diane Savage!

The first part of the service honored Donald Hubbs, the former President of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. In the late 1980s, Mr. Hubbs and the Hilton Foundation formed a partnership with World Vision to bring clean water to the country of Ghana in unprecedented scale. That partnership has grown and now extends further into West Africa.

With the strong financial backing of the Hilton Foundation, World Vision's WASH model developed through these years and is now the basis of World Vision's For Every Child Campaign.

Since 1986, World Vision has brought clean water to 11 million people.
For Every Child WASH Campaign intends to increase that number to 16 million by 2016.
Since 1986, access to clean water has saved 907,000 lives.
For Every Child WASH Campaign intends to increase that number to 1.25 million by 2016.

Mr. Hubbs addressed the World Vision staff in attendance yesterday by saying that when the Hilton Foundation initially began this partnership they believed that providing access to clean water was simply about providing expertise and resources to drill a bunch of holes, create platforms, and attach hand pumps. What they quickly realized was that the real transformation and hard work occurred AFTER the wells were installed. He praised World Vision for developing a holistic, sustainable WASH model that includes village input, committees, training, and a plan for sustainability.

Diane Savage, co-founder of WaterAfrica, then spoke to the chapel audience. She told about three women she's met in Zambia and how access to clean, potable water has changed their lives in specific, personal ways. Diane used the concept of transforming dead water to living water in order to illustrate how these women's lives have been transformed. Her stories were a beautiful illustration of how a large technical program can bring very powerful, intimate change to a specific woman and her family.

This story is repeated all across Africa every day and WaterAfrica is proud to support this work.

World Water Day 2012

2012-03-22T08:31:00.006-07:00

Today is World Water Day--Water & Food Security is the United Nations theme this year.

As part of our mission to raise awareness and funds for the water needs in Africa, WaterAfrica teams travel to southern Zambia with World Vision to observe first-hand the impressive methods they use to bring sustainable Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) solutions to rural Zambians. Team members report on life-changing results from the impact that clean, accessible water has on food security.

A compelling reason to engage with WaterAfrica is the personal nature of our organization. We work together to create opportunities for involvement, helping donors and volunteers connect with the results of their gifts.

We invite you to take a few moments to watch this water-themed slideshow of images captured by WaterAfrica travel teams. This is the WaterAfrica story and we are grateful for your part.

What can you do on World Water Day?

Register for Walk4Water5: April 28, 2012 | Lake Oswego, OR
Donate Now
Sign up for our Mailing List

WaterAfrica gives 100% of your donation to World Vision's Water, Sanitation & Hygiene projects in Zambia (ZWASH). Your gift changes lives.

Walk4Water5 Press Release

2012-03-20T22:02:00.003-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Linda Favero | Walk4Water5 | Co-Chair
503.888.2635 | linda.favero@gmail.com
www.waterafrica.org

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

JOIN WALK4WATER5 ON SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012 | 9am ( 8:30 registration)
Foothills Park | 199 Foothills Drive | Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Lake Oswego, Oregon, March 20, 2012 - The 5th Annual Walk for Water will be held Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 9am (8:30am registration) in Lake Oswego, Oregon. This stroller-friendly 1-mile walk simulates the long journey that many residents of Zambia, Africa face every day just to retrieve water. The walk is designed to raise awareness and generate funds for clean water, sanitation and hygiene in Zambia (World Vision's ZWASH). It is WaterAfrica's (a Lake Oswego nonprofit that supports World Vision) signature event.

Registration fees are $35/adult, $10/child or student and $70/family. $35 provides clean water for a Zambian's lifetime. Walk4Water5 t-shirts will be available for $10 each in adult and youth sizes on the day of the walk. Through the generous support of corporate sponsors and in-kind donors, 100% of registration fees and 5-shirt and merchandise sales will directly benefit the people of Zambia. Registration and payment are available online at www.waterafrica.org. Participants are encouraged to gather pledges.

New Family Sponsorship opportunity - $250 (includes family registration, t-shirts, website recognition).

The event features African drumming, music by Lewis & Clark Marimba Ensemble, water education exhibits, refreshments and merchandise for sale including ceramics created by Lake Oswego High School students. Speaking at the Walk, leaders from World Vision US and World Vision Zambia will be on hand to provide information and give first-hand accounts on the water conditions in Zambia.

In addition to Lake Oswego public schools, Riverdale and Westside Christian schools are also participating by volunteering and walking.

For a third year in a row, the City of Lake Oswego and Mayor Jack Hoffman will proclaim April 28, 2012 WaterAfrica Day. Last year 400 individuals participated and raised $40,000 providing a lifetime of clean water, sanitation and hygiene for 800 Zambian villagers. Each year we have exceeded the success of the past year and our goal is to raise $50,000 with approximately the same number of participants this year.

We will walk rain or shine. Bring your own bucket and help us End the Long Walk.

- End -

***Download a PDF of this press release on our Resource Page.

International Women's Day: Celebration and Response

2012-03-08T14:25:00.007-08:00

Today is International Women's Day. The United Nations theme this year: Empower Rural Women - End Hunger and Poverty.

Obviously this resonates with WaterAfrica's mission and work. Today we celebrate the many women and girls we have met in rural Zambian villages. Their hopes and dreams get filtered through the realities of living without sanitation and hygiene resources and lacking accessible, safe water.

Music-Spirit of Africa:Insingizi "Mama"

Their stories inspire us to stay diligent and focused in our efforts to bring life-changing resources to their communities, thus giving their hopes and dreams opportunities to thrive.

As you reflect on International Women's Day and consider ways you might respond, we invite you to:

Register for Walk4Water5
Give a life-changing financial gift

WaterAfrica gives 100% of your money to World Vision's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects in Zambia (ZWASH). Your gift saves lives. Your gift empowers women. Thank you!

Putting the S-H in WASH

2012-03-01T19:01:00.011-08:00

WaterAfrica's work to bring Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) resources to villagers in Africa is inspired by images of happy children drinking clean fresh water from pumps. We like to see the pictures of drill rigs at work in the field.

We know this means women and girls will not have to use their time walking to unsafe water sources. We know it opens up economic opportunities for the community. We know it prevents deadly and debilitating sickness. We know it improves the likelihood that girls will have time to pursue education.

One of the reasons WaterAfrica chose World Vision for our partner in the field is because of their comprehensive response to the needs. Providing water alone does not achieve the results listed above. Sanitation & Hygiene resources and training are also necessary.

Two years ago a WaterAfrica team visited Hamaundu ADP (a World Vision "Area Development Program") in southern Zambia. We visited Jembo High School.

World Vision Zambia recently sent us a report about the Sanitation & Hygiene training happening at Jembo High School. Here is an excerpt from that report:

The ZWASH program emphasizes not only clean water for communities, but also high standards of hygiene and sanitation in these communities to ensure that people, especially children are not in danger of falling ill because of poor hygiene. Hamaundu ADP did just this at one of the high schools where students took part in cleaning the school's restroom areas.

An important aim of this task was the expectation that the students would be able to take back home what they learned at school and adopt this as part of their daily hygiene practice. Jembo High School was one of these schools chosen for this important lesson. The school has a population of 495 students, of which 225 are boys and 270 are girls.

The school has 16 pit latrines, and the World Vision staff felt it was important to teach the important lessons that clean toilets are necessary for the student's good health. Teachers and community workers, called hygiene promoters, participated in cleaning the toilets with the message that thereafter, the students would take ownership of looking after the facilities.

Petros Chizyuka, a hygiene promoter said, "Personal hygiene can help reduce incidents of disease such as diarrhea which is a common occurrence around here." He also expressed his appreciation, "We thank World Vision for this initiative which can help save lives. We know that these students will become ambassadors of good standards of hygiene in their villages, because they have participated in cleaning the toilets here at the school, and so they will want to take this message to their home."

Grade nine student Marks Mudenda had this to say: "What I have learned from this is that hygiene is part of our everyday life and we have to start practicing from school. I am so grateful for the people who came here to help us understand that for us to be healthy and strong, we need to have clean surroundings. I will tell my mother about all that I have been taught.

WaterAfrica hasn't used pictures of toilets and hand washing solutions on our donor thank you cards. But perhaps we should. WASH means Sanitation and Hygiene too.

Good WASH changes lives.

Walk4Water5: Save The Date | April 28, 2012

2012-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

W4W5 Sponsor: Hubbell Communications

2012-02-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

We recently asked some of our Walk4Water Sponsors to tell us why they chose to support the Walk. Ward Hubbell, President of Hubbell Communications, said:

Ward Hubbell, President, Hubbell Communications

Hubbell Communications, supports Walk for Water for both personal and professional reasons. Personally, I am very moved by the plight of the people over in Africa and I have been supporting this cause for a long time. Water is such a fundamental element of life but something we in the United States take for granted in our daily lives.

Professionally, I believe companies should have a social conscience and care about the state of the world. Everyone needs to have a connection to meaningful causes, and our company is proud to support Walk for Water. Hubbell Communication works with water issues, for example with clients in the Klamath Basin, green construction and sustainability. Hubbell Communications' involvement in water issues and concern for natural resources makes Walk for Water an important and relevant cause to our company.

If you would like to be Walk4Water Corporate Sponsor or Family Sponsor, you can find more information on our W4W5 Sponsor Page.

Walk4Water5 Sponsor: Dr. Quenton Gebeau

2012-02-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

We recently asked some of our Walk4Water Sponsors to tell us why they chose to support the Walk. Dr. Quenton Gebeau said:

Dr. Gebeau in Fiji

The Water Africa program has been wonderful for me because it allows me to help less fortunate individuals across the globe. Clean water is something that everyone should have access to and it is easy to forget what a blessing it actually is.

It was very hard for me to hear that in many parts of Africa thousands of people are walking up to 5 miles, three times a day to get their water. Often, the water is contaminated with harmful parasites and disease. This program literally heals entire communities and villages. It brings life to them. By providing fresh water wells to these wonderful people, disease and death rates are lowered significantly. Instead of having to spend valuable time traveling to retrieve water, villagers can now be more productive in other areas of their lives such as school, crafts and agriculture.

Knowing that my contributions are directly helping so many others in such a profound and long lasting way is truly priceless. This is a program that I plan on always being a part of and I am thankful that it found me.

If you would like to be Walk4Water Corporate Sponsor or Family Sponsor, you can find more information on our W4W5 Sponsor Page.

Raising Awareness, Raising Funds, TRANSFORMING LIVES!!!

2012-02-04T12:42:00.002-08:00

Kevin Cummings, WaterAfrica Treasurer, presents WaterAfrica's $40,000 gift to

LuAnn Yocky, Senior Director National Leadership Council, World Vision

Last fall WaterAfrica initiated a fundraising campaign fueled by $15,000 of matching funds offered by several generous donors. We are delighted to report that we exceeded our fundraising goals! In January WaterAfrica presented $40,000 to World Vision for ZWASH projects.

Thank you for your help!

If you would like to make a life-changing donation, please see our Giving Options.