Students Hope to Raise $100,000 to Build Wells in Africa
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Friday, May 15, 2009
When Sobanfu Some was 3 years old, she began walking with her mother up to 20 miles a day to retrieve water from a well. Born and raised in Burkina Faso, a Western African landlocked nation with one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world, walking for water quickly became a part Some's everyday life.
In 2004, she shared her story with a group of Heritage High School students, and compelled, the young group decided to walk for water as well. Since then, the students - led by former Heritage High School student Kristen Karinshak - have organized annual spring walks to raise money for building wells in Burkina Faso. To date, the students have raised close to $200,000 and are in the process of building a 17th well. Tomorrow morning, they hope to raise another $100,000.
"One well serves a thousand people," said Leesburg resident Susan Hough, who has helped the students with the walk since 2004. "We've put in 15 wells [so far], and helped 15,000 people."
Karinshak and Hough both visited Burkina Faso in 2005 to bring over funds and meet Some's village.
"I was pretty much culture shocked the entire time I was there," said 21-year-old Karinshak.
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The villagers' daily lives, she observed, focused solely on survival. In the mornings, they fetched water from nearby wells and in the afternoons they worked in the fields to provide food for their families.
"It gets really hard knowing that a lot of people and the babies you're falling in love with are not going to be there when you go back," she said. Burkina Faso has an average life expectancy of just 52 years, due to poor water, food and health care conditions.
With the money raised Saturday, the students hope to fund an additional 10 well installations.
"I hope at least 200 [people] show up for the walk", said Hillary Unis, a Heritage High School senior, who has been raising funds for the 8 a.m. walk at Morven Park Saturday morning.
At the walk, the students are asking for donations of $10 from high school and college students, and $20 for adults. Before the walk, they plan on distributing T-shirts and flying a Walking for Water banner featuring the names of larger donors.
Donors were asked to donate $250 to have their name printed on the t-shirts, and $500 to print their name on both the t-shirts and banner.
In recent weeks Heritage students have been speaking to local groups, passing out literature and sending Facebook messages about the walk.
Their Facebook group, Walking for Water, has increased to 621 members.
"We've done a lot of Internet communicating with people to educate them about Walking for Water," said Unis. "I hope this year is unlike any other, [and] that despite the economy, people might look past and see that this is a really important cause."
Tagged: fundraiser, Heritage High School, Morven Park, students, water
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Very nice that we are doing all this, but what about the people here in our own county that still use out door plumbing, or have bad wells? Should we not take care of home first?
Just a thought!
Posted by hplaser (anonymous) on May 8, 2009 at 2:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hplaser, there are plenty of people in need both locally and far away. These youth have gone past "someone should do something" to "I will do something."
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You've recognized a need locally, so get past "someone should do something" to "I will do something." Start working to help those locals problems you mentioned.
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To the people mentioned in this article, THANK YOU! This is a great thing you're doing! Never lose the spirit of thinking of and working to help others. You're a great example for others - youth and adult - to follow.
Posted by packing (anonymous) on May 8, 2009 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If this woman lives 20 miles from the nearest well, she needs to MOVE!!
Posted by kmccorma (anonymous) on May 8, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know several families who have recently lost homes and jobs, who have kids and no place to live, who can't buy clothing, who live with friends, or ask for handouts from Interfaith Relief, family, etc. Why do so many charities think they need to send our money and help overseas when so many Americans need just as much help? Its puzzling.
Posted by GenuineRisk (anonymous) on May 8, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i think the diff- in some minds- is the opportunity that the US had vs. places like this, in Africa. there are plenty of US charities with help for people here- Reston Interfaith, Loudoun interfaith, Salvation Army, shelters, food pantries- people just have to look past their pride and go GET the help that's available. there's no support infrastructure in some other countries. they have no government to turn to, no shelters or better off neighbors and family members they can count on. bravo to these kids looking past a very entitled and pampered existence here in the US, to help others without the same opportunity and resources that WE have in America.
Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on May 8, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unbelievable! Rather than reading this incredible story for what it is. A story of need, concern, action and success, some have found a way to b*tch that they are doing it the wrong way?!? Are you kidding me?!?
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The world is a big place and we're a part of it. If you're "really" concerned then jump off this blog and go start your own worthy charity, or contribute to one you think is part of "your world".
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To sit at a keyboard and chastise a bunch of hardworking charitable caring citizens for THEIR choice of "making a difference" is a reflection of a very small perception of reality. The Grinch has a bigger heart than these myopic individuals.
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For those who agree with me open your checkbooks and contribute to this worthy cause, it is making a difference to a lot of people.
Posted by maravetz (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I think it's nice their actually doing something.
The answer for those of you who think that the US is in bad shape, why should we be helping others? Atleast the US actually has programs that help the homeless and the unemployed. The countries we're trying to help have way bigger problems than unemployement. I mean seriously their living in mud shacks while we complain even though we have nice houses with running water, heating, and a.c.
Posted by ec_band_geek (anonymous) on May 17, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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