FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Event Date: August 8. 2007
Time: TBD
Location: A newly installed pump at a school near Madikwe game reserve in South Africa (a little less than 2 hours from Johannesburg)--details forthcoming
Contact: Anne Ginther, President of RandomKid 214-383-4743 office / 612-210-9952 cell
SCHOOL CHILDREN UNITE TO BRING WATER TO AFRICA
Funds Raised by Selling Kid-Designed Product
July 26, 2007, Dallas, TX--Having learned about the world’s water crisis, carrying a toll of 25,000 deaths daily from water-related illnesses, school children from Connecticut, California and Iowa decided to put their education into action. The schools have been selling private labeled bottled water, that the students developed, to raise funds together to purchase technologies that bring safe water to water-stressed areas of the world.
On August 8th, 2007, Marble Hall, a South African community, will celebrate their newly installed pump, bringing clean water to approximately 2,500 people. United by a nonprofit that helps kids to help others called RandomKid (www.randomkid.org), the school children raised the $14,000 required, with funding for a second pump in progress.
RandomKid President Anne Ginther will be joined by Connecticut teacher, Kate Grabowski, at the opening of the new pump in Marble Hall. "This is such a life changing experience for children and their teachers," said Ginther. "Many schools may not have the resources to independently fund technologies to bring clean, safe water to parts of the world that need it; but when they join together, they can make a direct and significant impact that will alter the lives of thousands in their global community."
The students began their project by learning about the scope of the world’s water crisis, and researching pumping technologies; where help is needed, what kind of help is needed, and the associated costs. These students were inspired by “PlayPumps International”, a South African nonprofit that donates a piece of play ground equipment that doubles as a water pumping device, providing water through the energy produced by children at play. RandomKid helped the schools to set up a bottled water venture, guiding them through the development of brand names, strategic marketing plans, and kid-designed labels. Students from California named their water, “Water for Life”, and the students from Iowa named their water, “Aquashare”. One Connecticut school invited teachers to subscribe to a "water delivery" service, receiving a fresh bottle on their desk each morning.
“I am always drawn to projects that allow school children to put their education into action”, said Iowa teacher Jody Konrad. “Through this project, the boys and girls have utilized their academic skills in an activity that will satisfy more than just thirst.”
The children will be surprised to learn on the first day of school that they've already met their funding goal, and that a PlayPump system has been installed. Each school that participated in the funding of this system will provide a bottle of water to each student, and an announcement will be read that shares the news. From Connecticut, to Iowa, to California, the message will be the same, “Because of you, 2500 people now have access to a safe water supply.”
Said Grabowski, “My ultimate goal as their teacher was to demonstrate the idea that all of us have the power to be significant, and that ultimately, we all have the responsibility to use any gifts or talents we have to leave the world a better place than we found it to be when we arrived in it.”
The “Water Project” will not end with the installation of this first pump . New schools will join this group in the fall to continue to work to ease thirst around the earth. These children hope to see their project spread to even more schools across the U.S., opening the “floodgates” of hope for some of the estimated 1 billion people around the world do not have access to clean, safe water.
For more information, or to join us in this project, please go to www.randomKid.org/water.asp.
About RandomKid
RandomKid is a 501C3 nonprofit that helps kids to help others. Founded by 12 year-old Talia Leman in 2005 after uniting kids across the USA to report over 10 million for hurricane Katrina/Rita relief, Randomkid now works to educate, mobilize and empower youth to meaningfully impact a broad spectrum of local, national and global needs. RandomKid funds water projects in Africa, Asia, Central & South America using a variety of appropriate and sustainable pumping technologies.
About PlayPumps International
PlayPumps International is a nonprofit organization that enables individuals, governments, foundations, and companies to donate PlayPump™ water systems to rural African communities and schools. Donors to PlayPumps International help improve the lives of children and their families by providing easy access to clean drinking water, enhancing public health, and offering play equipment to millions across Africa.
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