When Oneness-Family School student Alex Fisher learned about the global food crisis in the news, he said, "A Walk For Water is a great way to help the people in the Azawak, but what about people who don't have food right here in our own town?"

Alex and his dad Brian came up with an idea:
Organize a canned food drive at A Walk For Water, and then distribute the collected cans to local area shelters and food banks.
That way, all the students and families who are helping the people of the Azawak get water, at the same time can help people locally who don't have enough food.


Alex and his dad made a plan, contacting a local food bank that would accept the canned goods. Then, all the families coming to A Walk For Water in Maryland were invited to bring their canned food goods to the Walk. When it was over, Alex and his dad brought the items to where people need it most.

Thank you, Alex and Brian, for coming up with this great way to connect global and local issues!
You are making a tangible difference
in people's lives in your own community
and around the world!

This article appears in the Spring, 2008 edition of Yale Medicine magazine. Author John Curtis writes about Amman Imman's first success in the Azawak, following up with Ariane Kirtley's cover story "Water is Life", published in the magazine, Winter 2007 .

Public health alumna’s water project reaches its first milestone in Niger

- by John Curtis

Just over a year ago Ariane Kirtley, M.P.H. ’04, described in words and photographs her work in the Azawak, a remote region in the western African country of Niger [See “Water is Life,” Winter 2007]. Prolonged drought, she found, was threatening the existence of the region’s inhabitants, many of whom are nomadic pastoralists. “These people are literally dying of thirst because they do not have access to water,” Kirtley said. “This is one of the poorest regions in one of the poorest countries in the world. There are no roads, few schools, little health care and almost no humanitarian assistance.”

In this remote area of 80,000 square miles, where it can take two days on the back of a donkey to reach a clinic or school, reliable sources of potable water are essential to survival, Kirtley said. During a visit to New Haven in October, she reported the first success of the organization she founded, Amman Imman,....... Read the rest of the article at this link!

A Walk For Water,
a walk for children by children
May 17, 2008

Lake Frank in Derwood, Maryland provided a wonderful natural setting for A Walk for Water.

Volunteers arrived early in the morning to set up the Check-In and Refreshment tables.

Children who arrived early enjoyed the challenge of climbing up the steep hillside...

....or hanging out with friends.

Each registrant received a beautiful button, a bottle of cold Honest Tea, and a fruit from My Organic Market.

By 10:00 am, 200 people gathered for the Rally.

"What we are doing here together today
will make a difference in the lives of people
who have no water."

Michael Kirtley thanked the teachers, students and parents
from Aidan Montessori, Barrie School, Boyd School,
Henson Valley Montessori and Oneness-Family School
for joining with Amman Imman to help the people of the Azawak.

Michael introduced Attaher Mohamed,
a young man born in the Azawak, who attends college in Pennsylvania.
Attaher thanked everyone
for participating in A Walk For Water.


"I do not know how to express my joy
to tell you how much I appreciate
what you are doing for the people of Azawak."

"You are saving lives."

The students got ready to begin walking with the banner....

....taking turns to hold it.

By walking together with students from several schools,
their voices were louder than if they'd walked by themselves.

Just the action of walking expressed,
"I can do something. I can make something happen."

Amman Imman: Water is Life is saving and improving lives
by bringing water to those who have none; so are these children.

The Walk took everyone along a beautiful forest path....

....where nature traded secrets....

...and revealed surprises.

As each person came off the trail,

They expressed jubilance...

...and joy!

Their walk through the woods on this beautiful May day
was more than a walk in the park.
It more than symbolized the marathon walk
that the children in the Azawak have to take everyday to find water.
It made a statement about
what we can do when we come together.


It felt good.

At the check out table, each registrant received a certificate.

You are a Hero of Compassion,

and a Global Change-Maker.

With each step, you helped bring
the children and families of the Azawak of West Africa
closer to their dream of having water.

We thank our bus drivers...

who shuttled people to and from their cars,

our team of volunteers who came early to set up,

and our trail "sweepers" who stayed to clean up.

We appreciate everyone who helped make A Walk For Water a day to remember.
Thank you to the parents who supported the teachers,
the teachers who supported the children,
and the children who gave their time and attention to the people of the Azawak.

We learn through your giving hearts.

...we are still in the process of totaling the funds for A Walk For Water. So far it looks like over $12K has been raised.
Dear Montessori Friends and Friends of the Azawak,

Read all the latest posts on the blog at http://montessori-amman-imman-project.blogspot.com/ by scrolling down or go to these specific entries:

As the school year winds down, I want to thank all the students, schools and individuals who have contributed toward improving the lives of the people of the Azawak of West Africa through the Amman Imman project. Since the completion of the Tangarwashane borehole last summer, we've heard from schools in Hawaii, California, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Washington State, Canada, New Zealand, and other places who have provided this opportunity for their students to work together to make a concrete difference. Currently we have 53 schools on board, with even more planning to engage in the project in the new school year. Stay tuned to the blog as schools send in their stories over the summer!

Here is a summary of the posts on the blog since my last update:

1. Ariane Kirtley and I recently edited over 15 hours of raw footage from the Azawak, and put together a 7.5 minute movie depicting the endless time and energy both children and adults put into finding water -- often mud -- to use for their survival and the survival of their animals. It also shows the direct impact that global climate change is having on these people's lives, as their rainy season is diminishing from year to year, hence significantly reducing their access to water. You can view these compelling images by clicking on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcMq7YuOOhc. Please use the movie to present the project to your community! Read the post and download the movie through the blog here: "Amman Imman: Water is Life" Movie

2. Amman Imman: Water is Life continues to grow as an organization while monitoring its first borehole in the Azawak that is supplying thousands of people with easily accessible clean water. Read Ariane's most recent update that reports on the activities of Amman Imman over the last several months: Program Update from Ariane Kirtley: First Borehole, New Video and Heroes of Compassion

3. On May 15, bloggers around the world conspired to bring attention to human rights issues. While there are grand scale human rights catastrophes revealed by large humanitarian organizations, there is a human rights issue in the Azawak where people are not getting their basic needs met. This is a crisis that needs to be addressed Read the post: We Can't Wait: Bloggers Unite For Human Rights

4. "A Walk For Water" in Maryland brought together five schools and raised over $11K. Children and families walked together on a wonderful nature trail in solidarity and compassion for the children and families in the Azawak: Choosing Action: A Walk For Water Yields Big Payoffs. We partnered with local businesses who became our Sponsors for A Walk For Water in Maryland. Read the press release send to local media outlets: Press Release: Local Montessori Students "Walk For Water"

Several other communities held "A Walk For Water" this year. Read about how Hershey Montessori School plans A Walk For Water. Their event took place on May 28. We look forward to getting all the details in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned to the blog for the story and the photos!

5. I also want to tell you about a wonderful idea for young students (ages 6-9) to use their athletic skills to raise funds while bringing attention to the water crisis in the Azawak. Read a teacher's report on preparations for Amman-athon Day, May 14, 2008 and then a report on the actual event by middle school student Louise Eriksson: Student Report on the Amman-athon. This one event has raised over $2,300 by one classroom of students.

6. An idea for fundraising: a seller on Ebay is donating 5% of his profits to Amman Imman: Fair Trade for Amman Imman

And finally, for those friends who live in the New England region, particularly near Brattleboro, Vermont, please stop by the Hooker Dunham Gallery on Main Street to see the "Face of the Azawak" exhibit, a display of Ariane Kirtley's photographs. If you are in town on June 6, you are invited to the exhibit's opening which is part of Brattleboro's monthly Gallery Walk. The photos will be on display in the Gallery through June 30.

I look forward to staying connected over the summer months as we develop new avenues for participation and ideas for curriculum integration for the Amman Imman project. We will continue to work together to provide these foundational experiences for our children and build a Well of Love in the Azawak that will save and improve the lives of thousands of children and their families.

In grateful appreciation,
Debbie


**************
Debra Kahn
Associate Director, Oneness-Family School
6701 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
www.onenessfamilyschool.org

Program Amman Imman websites:
www.waterishope.org
montessori-amman-imman-project.blogspot.com

Oneness-Family School graduating 8th grader Louise Eriksson has written a blog about her experiences as an OFS middle school student. Louise has been an active participant in the Amman Imman project, presenting Amman Imman to students at other schools and raising funds, for almost two years. Recently, Louise became a field reporter at the school's Amman-athon and wrote about it in her blog. We have her report here:

Amman-athon, by Louise Eriksson

On May 13th the Peace Arbor class, grades 1st through 3rd, at the Oneness Family School held an event to contribute to the Amman Imman project. This event was called the Amman-athon. They went out onto a field and did several different activities. They shot basketball hoops, dribbled basketballs, jumped rope, hula-hooped, hopped on one foot, and run around a field. The students would get sponsored for each activity they did. Ben, a third grader in the Peace Arbor, told me that for every basket made they would get twenty-five cents, for every minute running they would get ten cents, and for every hop, jump, dribble, etc. they would get five cents.

Debbie Kahn, Oneness-Family School Associate Director, says that this event uses their skills for a better purpose. All of the money they collect goes to people of the Azawak. They are not competing against each other, but are transcending themselves to help others. Eliza, a Peace Arbor student, dribbled 270 times and was sponsored by her Neighbor, Grandmother, and Aunt. The highest scores were made in hula-hooping. A girl named Lily hula-hooped 680 times. If she had one sponsor she would have made $170! Just imagine what the entire class would make if you added it all up!

Read what Peace Arbor teacher Madhavi Ray wrote about the Amman-athon on the Montessori Amman Imman blog at this link: http://montessori-amman-imman-project.blogspot.com/2008/05/amman-athon-day.html
Thank you, Louise, for all that you are doing to make a difference in the lives of the people of the Azawak! Read about all of Louise's student adventures and contributions on her blog.

By the way, preliminary totals suggest that the 6-9 year olds have raised over $2,500 in the Amman-athon!


On a beautiful Saturday in May, students from schools in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area came together to lend their support to the people of the Azawak by participating in A Walk For Water. After a week of drenching rains, the sky radiated clear blue and the sun shined brightly. Students and their families had the opportunity to be with each other outdoors in nature, and at the same time collaborate for a greater purpose. The rally before the walk brought everyone together to celebrate their own potential as global citizens, who, in coming together for a cause, contribute toward making the world a better place.

Andrew Kutt, Executive Director of the Oneness-Family School, emcee'd the Rally. “It’s a big statement for children to put aside their video and sport games, teachers to give up their free time, and parents to delay their errands to come here on a Saturday. That says something.”

It says that we can choose to make something happen. What a powerful message for children! A kernel of experience, that when sprouted, will bear the fruits of action and difference, and a message that with effort, hard work and persistence, change can manifest.

Nineteen months ago when Ariane Kirtley brought the Amman Imman project to the Oneness-Family School, a seed borne of determination and passion was planted. Tended by the compassion of children and nurtured by the hard work of teachers, a tree began to grow. A Walk For Water, through which children lend their energy to walk and raise funds, has helped spread these seeds. This collaborative event, now in its second year, has harvested a small forest of schools. *

Whereas last year 120 people gathered on the field and walked around Lake Frank, this year over 200 people, including students and their parents, from five different schools, put aside their Saturday activities to come together for the people of the Azawak. Through the efforts of the students and adults who registered and those who asked their friends and family to sponsor the walk by making a donation, over $11,000 has been raised, one of the largest single donations to date for Amman Imman’s project.

The message this sends to students will take them far beyond the trails around Lake Frank, far beyond their days as elementary school children, and into their potential as people who, by nature of their action, can choose to do something that can change the world.

We extend a great big THANK YOU to everyone who donated, sponsored, walked, chaperoned, volunteered at the walk, helped before the walk, provided support and inspiration. A special thank you to the coordinators in each of the schools: in addition to Oneness-Famly School, Sara Grossman from the Barrie School, Suzanne Stork from Aidan Montessori School, Rodney Berthold from the Boyd School and Nicole Hambleton from Henson Valley Montessori School. A Walk For Water could not have taken place without months of planning and effort from these individuals.

A special appreciation goes out to Sara Grossman for hours of trail walking in preparation for the walk.


The event went without a hitch; to accomplish something like that with so many people helping and participating requires teamwork and collaboration. A warm appreciation goes out to the Amman Imman volunteer team of Peter Novick and Catherine Wagner for preparing the accounting spreadsheet and check-in sheets, Catherine Wagner, Teresa Weathington, Kristine Odina and Nicole Hambleton for running the check-in and refreshment table, Cori Lathan for transporting the supplies, Michael Kirtley and Andrew Kutt for speaking at the rally, Brian Fisher for making amazing signs and driving the shuttle bus along with Zephyr Cottrell, Peter Megginson for managing the banner, Kathy Minardi and Cathy Carpenter for handing out certificates as all the walkers completed the trail, and Mary Pat Evans for working with Sara G. and Peter M. to "sweep" the trail after the last people completed the route. A special thank you to Attaher Mohamed, an international student in Harrisburg, PA who was born in the Azawak, for representing his people.
* In addition to Maryland, schools in New Jersey, Washington State, Ohio; and across the globe in New Zealand have held A Walk For Water. Read about A Walk For Water around the world in these posts.
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