Living Water

First Annual BH2O+ Clean Water Awareness Event Draws 950+ Students Nationwide; Nuru International and Living Water International to Drill Four Deep Water Wells in Kenyan Schools

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – More than 950 students at 11 college and university campuses joined forces the week of April 20 to raise awareness of the need for clean drinking water in Africa. With the generous support of Dry Tears, Living Water International, Radiata Investments and The Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation, they raised nearly $37,000, which will enable Nuru International, in partnership with Living Water International, to drill four deep water wells at schools in the Kuria district of Kenya.

The students were part of a nationwide effort called BH2O+, or “Be Hope to Her”, sponsored by Nuru International, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public benefit charity committed to pioneering holistic, sustainable solutions to end extreme poverty in partnership with the poor. BH2O+ events featured a rally designed to educate students and community members about the plight of women in Africa created by the lack of accessible clean drinking water. The focal point of each event was a solidarity walk in which hundreds of collegiate women carried buckets of water on their heads through their campuses to a designated water source, in demonstration of the grueling daily task required by girls and women throughout Africa.

Colleges and universities that hosted BH2O+ events include: Ball State, Boston College, Colorado Christian University, Gonzaga University, Marshall University, Stanford University, Virginia Tech, University of Iowa, Wake Forest, West Virginia University and Wingate University. Photo and video highlights from the events are available at bhope2her.org; additional information is available from each campus.

“These college students are bringing hope, opportunity and lasting change to the women of the developing world, by educating and inspiring their fellow students here at home,” said Jake Harriman, CEO of Nuru International. “In addition to providing clean drinking water for the community, these new wells will allow local girls and women to focus on education, personal development and business opportunities.”

Living Water International to Drill Four Deep Water Wells at Kuria Schools

Through student participation, generous grants and donations, BH2O+ raised enough money to drill four deep water wells in the Kuria district of Kenya. Living Water International, an organization working to end the global water crisis, will drill the wells at Taragwiti, Sirori Simba, Gukipimo, and Nyametaburo primary schools. The goals of the drilling project include:

• increasing the level of access to sustainable, safe water among poor and vulnerable populations
• decreasing the prevalence of water-related diseases
• promoting integrated water (resources) management at the local level, with a focus on maintaining the quantity and quality of drinking water
• promoting basic sanitation on a community level
• providing comprehensive training to help ensure safe use of the wells and proper hygiene practices

“Access to clean water is a necessary part of any sustainable development project, and it plays a significant role in education,” said Stan Patyrak, senior director of development at Living Water International. “By partnering with Nuru International to drill new wells in Kuria schools, we’re increasing community access to clean water and enabling girls to attend school rather than spend their days gathering water from distant sources.”

The consumption of contaminated water is responsible for approximately 80% of all diseases and more than a third of all deaths in developing countries. Access to clean water, as well as education about water sanitation, is critical to reducing illness in communities worldwide. In Africa, girls and women spend an average of three hours per day collecting water from distant sources. They must then spend additional time filtering and disinfecting that water so that it is safe to drink.

Long walks to distant water sources take precious time from activities such as school or work, and they can prove a source of danger or physical stress: the average African woman carries 44 pounds of water on her head. Accessible wells with clean drinking water will not only improve health in these African communities; they will also give back needed time to each girl and woman, allowing them opportunity for education, development, business and family activities. More information on the importance of clean water and sanitation is available here.

Based on the Kiswahili word meaning “light”, Nuru International is a new humanitarian organization at the crossroads of innovation and extreme poverty. Its goal of ending extreme poverty relies on the courage and action of people worldwide to get involved.  More information on Nuru International is available at nuruinternational.org.