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Discussion about entry: Bringing water to African schools
This is discussion about Bringing water to African schools.
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Dear Brittany:
I write to you from Mexico. I was truly moved by both your insight and entrepreneurial approach to solve a problem that has far-reaching consequences. But more importantly, via incorporating students with a solution that lies within their reach you are giving youngsters an invaluable education: we can be a part of the solution. The power to change the world lies within us indeed.
Who can I contact to discuss expanding your Initiative in Mexico (as your collecting agents in my College)?
Constanza Gomez-Mont
"Financing for Sustainable Development"
PROJECT URL: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/9337
Thank you for your comment! Visit our website at www.aspringofhope.org and click "Get Involved" and use the email address there to contact us.
Hi, Brittany,
I don't know how old you are but I wanted to give you a heads up about the 2008 $2M HASTAC/MacArthur Digital Media and Learning Competition. We have introduced an award this year that target applicants aged 18-25. We want to young innovators get their ideas out of the "garage "and implemented! I'm not sure if you were envisioning a digital media component to your project, but in case you were, I wanted to make sure to get you the rfp!
The theme for this year's competition is participatory learning, which we broadly define as using new digital media for sharing ideas or planning, designing, implementing, or just discussing ideas and goals together.
Check out the details at http://www.dmlcompetition.net.
If you have any questions, you can contact me at mandy.dailey@duke.edu.
I've posted the full rfp below, please forward it out to your contact networks and anyone else you think would be interested!
Best,
Mandy
--PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY--
DIGITAL MEDIA AND LEARNING COMPETITION 2008
$2 Million Competition
Focus: Participatory Learning
Participatory learning is defined broadly: using new digital media for sharing ideas or
planning, designing, implementing, or just discussing ideas and goals together.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2008
Full information at: http://www.dmlcompetition.net
The second HASTAC/MacArthur Digital Media and Learning Competition is now open!
Awards will be made in two categories:
Innovation in Participatory Learning Awards support large-scale digital learning projects
$30,000-$250,000
This year we are piloting international eligibility for our Innovation Award and will be accepting submissions from primary applicants in Canada, People's Republic of China, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands,Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States; collaborators can befrom anywhere in the world.
……
Young Innovator Awards are targeted at 18-25 year olds
$5,000-$30,000
(You can find out about last year’s winners at http://hub.dmlcompetition.net/)
Full information at: http://www.dmlcompetition.net
Hi Brittany,
Your idea is really great and it sounds like you are doing amazing work! I recommend you fill out the last few fields that are still blank. It would make your application much stronger.
Also, check out genv.net. You could qualify for a Youth Venture grant!
Best,
Romina Laouri
Ashoka's Youth Venture
Hi Brittany,
It sounds as if you are doing a great job!
We have a few questions for you:
1. What are your selection criteria for the targeting schools since there are many schools in need.
2. Do you work with local compagnies in the building of the wells? If yes, do you face difficulties in the collaboration with them due to cultural differences?
3. I can imagine that bringing water to a school can have many benefits for the children (you are speaking about drinking water, improvement in hygiene, etc.). Do you focus on only a few of these benefits in your evaluation and how do you measure such broad constructs?
Hope you find the time to answer these questions!
Otherwise, keep up your good work!
Pierre and Steffi
Currently, we have a working team of our own in South Africa, so we are restricted to the vicinity in which they live and work. However, we will be expanding in time. Every school that is brought to our attention or we find in that area are added to the list of potentially receiving a well. We cannot drill in areas where there is little to no promise of finding water as it becomes incredibly costly drilling successively in arid areas. So schools with the greatest possibility of finding water will be drilled at first. However, when we acquire our own drill, we may drill where ever we please with out the consequence of paying each time we drill. We do work with local companies and the only difficulty we have is receiving quick responses and service, yet, this has much to do with being in an isolated area. Most important is bringing clean drinking water to the schools. Moreover, we have found that by bringing water to schools not only increases sanitation, but allows for self-sustainability of the school. Water allows the school to grow gardens which provide food for the children and the surplus food is sold so the school can acquire any supplies it needs.
Hi Brittany,
Congratulations on your good work. I encourage you to check out our Global Water Challenge competitiont hat we hosted earlier this year. We had 265 entries from 54 countries! Here is the link: http://changemakers.net/node/1828/. In addition to Life Water International, you can use this competition to learn more about the water and sanitation issue and also to find other potential partners!
Good luck!
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemaker
Dear Dana,
Thank you. I have checked out the Global Water Challenge and read about many of the wonderful organizations doing great things to change the world water crisis.
Will they be doing the competition next year?
Regards,
Brittany
Hi Brittany,
Have you thought at all about how to deal with pump maintenance. I think it will be pretty essential to the sustainability of your work. Also, it might be beneficial to add a basic health education curriculum to complement and strengthen your impact.
Good luck!
Romina Laouri
Ashoka's Youth Venture
Hi Romina,
Actually, we have a team in South Africa that works directly for A Spring of Hope. They oversee all construction of new wells and maintenance. We did recently have an issue with electricity going to one of our pumps, which was quickly fixed.
If you have any ideas on how to reach students in the US about our mission, I would appreciate any suggestions you or members of your staff may have. Thank you.
PS We are starting well #4 this month.
Thank you!
Brittany