Photo courtesy of ASP Green Team Blog 

I'm convinced that shaping youth leaders who learn to serve, speak out and take action - motivated by compassion -  has an impact on equity around the world.  

Students from the American School of Paris Green Team are examples of youth in our Wells of Love program who are operating as compassionate, serving leaders.  These students attended the Global Issues Network conference in Luxembourg last week.   The conference is led by students for students.  In addition to listening to speakers and attending workshops on global equity and development, the ASP Green Team students presented Amman Imman at a workshop for other students.  Read their blog about the conference here.

The mission of the Global Issues Network  is well aligned with Wells of Love:

The Global Issues Network operates on the premise that empowering young people is fundamental to developing solutions to global issues.

Earlier in the month ASP student Sara Venkatraman asked us some very good questions to help the Green Team prepare for their presentation.  Here's Sara's question and our response: 

Question  The theme of the conference this year is "creating equal opportunities and worldwide equity as a common goal". In what other ways do you feel Amman Imman has a connection with global equity on a large scale?  How do you feel Amman Imman can help us pioneer the path to different aspects of equality both now and in the long run?    

Response  The situation in the Azawak is one example in the world where people have been left behind.   Helping people meet their most basic needs, starting with water in the case of the Azawak, is the first step towards equality.  Amman Imman’s approach in the Azawak is a model for the world of how to pioneer a path towards equity where it previously had no chance of thriving.   

Promoting global equity on a large scale starts with a small scale approach.   The first thing we do is listen. Successful sustainable development, that lays the foundation for equity to be attained, places the needs of the people first. We work with the people to make our boreholes “Oases of Life” from which life-enriching activities, such as economic opportunities, education, food production and environmental protection activities, are generated.   When the people are empowered, equity can flourish. 

Additionally, as Amman Imman works with young people through the Wells of Love program, we are fostering a generation of youth who care about people and are dedicated to helping those who are vulnerable gain access to what is essential for a good life.    Nurturing attitudes about equity in youth of priviledge is essential for global equity on a large scale both now and in the future.

Thank you, ASP Green Team, for your caring and your initiative!   

  

Register for the Maryland event here: 

  A Walk For Water /Lake Frank 

Start raising funds!  

Download an Event Information and Fundraising Kit here:   

Lake Frank Kit

To start your own event, please fill out our online form.  We will be in touch!

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Evergreen School in Silver Spring, Maryland to present Amman Imman to a class of 6 - 9 year old students.   I find that the energy and impact of a presentation and my ability connect with an audience is influenced by their openness.  In this case, these young students were right with me. They sat in rapt attention as I shared photos with them of children in the Azawak getting water from contaminated marshes.  Their empathy was ignited upon hearing stories of how kids a little older than themselves travel horrendous distances to reach a well when the muddy marshes dry up.  Upon hearing how they can help through our Wells of Love program, they wanted to get involved.

It is so moving for me personally to reach the caring spirits of students.  I always experience that when their hearts and minds are touched, they want to help.

I've come to the realization that service springing from a heart of compassion is the foundation of leadership.

Here's an excerpt from the March 21 edition of Evergreen's newsletter:

We visited two countries in Africa this past week: Niger and Sierra Leone.  Well, we didn’t actually go there but those countries came to us through two wonderful presentations. The first presentation was from Debra Kahn, the director of the Wells of Love program of nonprofit organization Amman Imman: Water is Life. Amman Imman has a mission to dig wells and bring water to the thirsty men, women, and children of the Azawak.  The children learned about the life and culture of the Azawak Nomads and imagined and saw what life is like without an accessible water source. The presentation was fascinating and the children were inspired to help. Amman Imman will be having their annual walk in May and we would like to participate. More information on how to participate will arrive in the next few weeks.

Schools, students and their families in the Washington DC area are invited to join Amman Imman: Water is Life for the 5th annual A Walk for Water at Lake Frank in Derwood, Maryland.  Join us when we walk 3 miles on the beautiful wooded trails around the lake in solidarity with children in the Azawak of West Africa who have to make a marathon hike for water every day just to survive.

Your voice can speak for the half million in the Azawak.  You can be a part of saving and improving lives in a place mostly abandoned by the rest of the world.   Register for the Lake Frank event here!  

Please invite your friends!

Find out more about what American Water Resources Association students at Virginia Tech are doing by visiting their blog, http://vtawra.blogspot.com/2011/03/world-water-day-food-sale-and.html

Dear Wells of Love Friends,

Watch the video, The Reception in Kijigari, on YouTube!

As World Water Day approaches on March 22, I'd like to ask you to turn your attention to the tremendous impact that our Heroes of Compassion in Wells of Love schools across the world accomplished in the Azawak of West Africa over the past year. The children in Kijigari have sang and danced in gratitude for their borehole.  We've shared our appreciation with the students, their teachers and their schools.  Now, we invite YOU to watch this video, filmed by a Nigerien TV crew, in which the government of Niger and the leaders of Kijigari congratulate students for the tremendous impact their efforts have yielded.  

In the video, the president of the Kijigari Water Management Committee, Adaman Houseinni, proclaims that the people  of Kijigari  have "a borehole that none other can equal".  He praises the Amman Imman team for saving the lives of men, women and children that were previously suffering from thirst, while at the same time protecting the trees and the environment.  The Nigerien government, represented by the prefect of the Department of Abalak, Commander Alhassan Boubakrin, says that "the little project Amman Imman, without funders other than little school children" is actually a "grand project", and that Amman Imman’s work demonstrates that "you can do great accomplishments with minimal means". Denis Gontero, Amman Imman's Niger Program Director, thanks the children who diligently dedicated their time and resources for four years to raise the funds that helped to build the borehole.  

On World Water Day, and everyday, please remember your brothers and sisters around the world who lack the most basic and essential of natural resources.  Also, please support the youth who care enough to turn their compassion into action, and who are working together to save lives and bring hope to where it is most needed.

Sincerely yours,

Debra Kahn

Associate Director, Amman Imman

Wells of Love Program Director

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