December, 2011 Archive

2011 has been an amazing and inspiring year at WATERisLIFE – filters, hygiene clinics and wells around our world.  We must continue our work, and we need you – our generous donors – who believe in making a direct impact with your dollars to help provide clean water in 2012.  Please take a few moments and consider partnering with WATERisLIFE in 2012, as your thoughtful gift will drastically change the life of someone next year.  Your donation will go directly to provide personal water filters, teach Hygiene Clinics and  provide long term, sustainable clean water sources to those in great need.  Our work will continue in villages in Ghana, Kenya and Haiti in 2012, as well as distributing filters to countries all over the world.

Each filter donated will provide clean water for up to one year – and in addition, WATERisLIFE works to provide hygiene education and long term clean water sources to transform lives – and communities.  Please be inspired to target your end of the year giving to make a direct impact in 2012 – and provide the gift of life.

All Gifts must be postmarked or made online by Dec. 31st to ensure your gift is tax deductible this year.

WATERisLIFE is a 501(c) 3 TAX ID #26-4470550.

Donate online http://www.waterislife.com/about/donations Or mail to:

WATERisLIFE
HEADQUARTERS

P. O. Box 7481

Edmond, Oklahoma 73083-7481
.

Thank you for your support and changing lives in 2012 – your donation will truly make a difference in the lives of others.

Ken Surritte, Founder

WATERisLIFE.com

www.facebook.com/joinwaterislife

by Mark Bender

Can you even imagine spending 4, 5, or even 6 hours a day just to get a drink of water?  And knowing you may get sick from that water? I’m sure you’ve heard the story before or seen it on TV – maybe even have seen it first hand.  The fact is, the problem is real, water shortages and contamination impact people all over the world.

I consider myself lucky, not only do I have plenty of clean water, I get it whenever I need it.  I have been fortunate to participate in several trips to villages, schools and churches in Haiti, Ghana and Kenya.  I have seen the impacts of water problems and the impacts of helping them solve those problems.

Traveling to these places and working with them is my passion and calling.  I think it’s where I fit into the solution.  I thrive on the relationships, helping them develop and implementing the solution and seeing the transformation.  I am a hands on type of guy, I like drilling wells, building filtration systems, installing a piping system from a spring, you know, building stuff.  Whether its filter distribution or health, hygiene and sanitation training, or developing a long-term sustainable solution, I am making a difference.

I have helped distribute filters in communities being devastated by Cholera and dysentery in Haiti – and seen them live through the epidemic.

I have taught health and hygiene to school kids in Kenya – and see them learning and then teaching their parents.

I have drilled wells and repaired pumps in Kenya and Haiti – and witnessed the community transform.

I have made friends in many parts of the world.

These kinds of things are not for everybody, but… Where do you fit in? Give that question some thought.  It’s not always easy to answer.  The good news is there is no right or wrong answer – except to do nothing.  The 30.THiRTY project is an excellent opportunity to do something.

The WateisLife $30 in thirty days - 30. THiRTY project provides an opportunity for people like me and you, to help those far less fortunate than us.  These donations will go directly to specific villages in Haiti, Ghana and Kenya in 2012.  Where do you fit in next year?

Our gratitude to more WiL 30. THiRTY donors.  Your donation will be put into action in 2012!

Ryan Jimison, Mark Ziegentuss, Jane Delong, Michael Terry, Ken Surritte, Lynne French, Bagley Media, Adrienne Skillern, Jenny Cline, Becky White, Debra Clark, John Martin, Jennifer Johnson, Penny Tilley, Pam Ittner, Robert Poreda, Linda Freeman, Donald Wilson, Jackie VanDyke, Shelly Hornback, Kim Bellingrath, Michelle Simpkins, Adriana Sandoval, Stphanie Whitley, Jordan and Kyle Gingg, Zach Sikes, Jason Sanders, Nate Schaus, Robert Henshaw, Deb Clements, viagra Fine, Tyler Hayes, Dale Surritte, Peter Tinsley, Lisa and KC Gingg…and you?

I Would Like You to Meet Maureene.

This is Maureene Adhiambo. Maureene lives in Kidiju, Kenya – near Kisumu.  Her mother has died, and she is now living with her Aunt Gaudencia where she is helping to care for 7 children.  She has dreams of being a journalist one day.

Maureen spends a majority of her day cooking and fetching water from a bore hole.  The borehole is not sealed or covered. As she pulls the water out of the hole with her rope – I can see the muscles in her upper body tighten.  When the bore hole dries up she fetches water from a pond – which is also for the cattle that roam in and out of the body of water.

Maureen has written an oral narrative in my journal – very thoughtful, inspiring with deep meaning and song. The story is a metaphor using gardens and flowers – as it relates to the continuous spread of AIDS.

She longs to continue her education and be a television journalist.  To give Maureen the opportunity to achieve this dream – we must bring clean water to her and her village.  The water in the bore hole is contaminated and carries bacteria which can cause sickness and disease.

This young woman has strength, determination, humor, and intelligence.  She is bold in what she stands for.  We want to give her that chance to be the woman of her dreams.

With your $30. THiRTY donation – we can help bring clean water to many young people that have dreams and hopes for their future…one by one.

Please take a few minutes and donate your $30.  You can change a life next year.  Maybe it’s Maureen’s.   http://www.waterislife.com/about/donations

DECEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 30

Donate $30 in THiRTY days - December 1 thru December 30 - to raise $100,000 to bring clean drinking water to villages in desperate need.  When 3,333 people (yes, one is you) donate $30 in the next THiRTY days, we will directly make an impact, save lives and transform villages in Kenya, Ghana and Haiti in 2012.

With your end of the year donation – together we will raise $100,000 to provide clean water to villages in 2012.

100% of donations go directly to the field & provide clean water solutions.   WATERisLIFE will bring clean water to schools & villages to save and transform lives in 2012 – an investment worth making!

What a great gift you will give in THiRTY days.  Life.

DONATE TODAY   http://www.waterislife.com/about/donations

$30 in THiRTY Days.  Make your donation & watch your dollars in direct action!

Photos courtesy J.T. Elbracht Photograpy