Dear Friend of the Azawak,
On May 11, 2013, Amman Imman will host the 7th annual "A Walk for Water" at a new venue -- the Locust Grove Nature Center at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, Maryland. Students and their families, from schools across the DC area, will come together to walk 3 miles on the wooded trails, offering their support to children and families living in the Azawak of West Africa. We hope that you and your family will join us!

Discount for early registration
We'd like as many as possible to register early so that the event will be successful. Between now and World Water Day (March 22), you can register at a reduced fee ($10/adult, $5/student). Please visit the Locust Grove Information page for links to online and paper registration options, or go directly to the event registration page on FirstGiving. 

Why Walk for Water? 
By walking for water, local students have an opportunity to be leaders as they bring attention to the global issues of climate change and water scarcity. Students put their compassion into action, raising a voice for the children of the Azawak who are often tasked with walking as many as 30 miles in a day in search of water. They gain an appreciation for this most basic necessity - so easy to take for granted. They learn about philanthropy as they ask family members, neighbors and friends to sponsor their walk and donate towards a cause they care about.   

How the funds help
To date, Amman Imman has established permanent water sources in four Azawak communities, providing water for over 100,000 during the height of the dry season. Amman Imman also supports these communities with education, food, health and livelihood initiatives. The funds raised by this year's Walk for Water will go towards Amman Imman's next borehole and continuing community-based activities.

Can't attend? Other ways you can make an impact 
We hope you will join us for this adventurous and impactful event! If you can't be there, please consider sponsoring a fundraiser or making a donation.  You can also become a corporate sponsor. Visit the Locust Grove Information page to find out more about these options.  

Please help us get more students and families by joining the event on Facebook, sharing with your social networks and inviting your local school. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to volunteer to help!

Sincerely yours, 
Debbie 

This year we are highlighting The Amman-a-thon, our signature fitness fun-draising activity in which students practice their athletic skills with the intent of raising funds to support Amman Imman's projects.  Amman-a-thons have become yearly events at several schools.  We'd like to see more schools implementing this activity! To learn more visit our Amman-a-thon campaign page.  From there, you'll be able to download a step-by-step Planning Guide and Fundraising Kit. We share some stories about the Amman-a-thon here:

Several years ago some of the students in the 1st-3rd grade Peace Arbor class at the Oneness-Family School in Chevy Chase, Maryland expressed their disappointment when, due to other Saturday commitments,  they would not be able to attend the first Walk for Water at Lake Frank.  In response, the students and their teachers created an in-school event to raise funds for Amman Imman in which the whole class could participate.  Thus the Amman-a-thon was born.

Students at the Oneness-Family School doing their Amman-a-thon in 2009.  
One student spins a hula hoop while her partner counts the number of revolutions.  
Students get sponsors among family, friends and neighbors to give between 1 cent and 25 cents per spin. 
A class of 30 students can raise $3,000 - $5,000.  
Lessons like "every little bit adds up to alot" abound.

The activity was an immediate hit among these 6-9 year olds.  They were very excited to improve their physical fitness skills -  like shooting baskets, jumping rope, etc. - and collect sponsorship $ to help the Azawak at the same time.  The activity has become a yearly event.  Every spring, the students look forward to choosing the skills they want to develop, practicing, and competing with themselves on Amman-a-thon day to exceed their top score in order to raise funds.

Cartwheeling for the Azawak

The Amman-a-thon has become a yearly mainstay at several schools.  At Five Oaks Academy in South Carolina this fitness fundraising activity started in Bonnie Benthall's lower elementary classroom but now includes the entire school.   Over 100 students, up through middle school, get involved in running, jumping, cartwheeling, hula hooping, basketball dribbling, and other activities, surpassing their best in order to do their best for the children of the Azawak.  Even 2 year olds practice balancing with the help of their teacher and raise funds (with the help of their parents!).

The 6-9 year old students of Cornerspring Montessori in Belfast, Maine have been steadfast Amman Imman supporters since 2009 when 6-year-old Owen presented the project to his class.  Since then they've done several fundraisers, including an Amman-a-thon fashioned like an Olympics.   Their teacher reported that the students "learned about compassion and generosity, and taught all of us about the boundless capacity each of us has to change things". 

Running practice

+Keystone Montessori School  students did their first Amman-a-thon last year, a little differently than other schools.  Rather than choose their own individual skills to practice, the group practiced running laps all together. On Amman-a-thon Day, the class ran as many laps as they could in a given time, with their parents cheering them on.  This year, the class plans to choose a different activity that they will all work towards mastery on together.

Hula hooping

Evergreen Montessori in Silver Spring, Maryland held an Amman-a-thon last year after three elementary-aged students embraced Amman Imman's cause as their own.  Their enthusiasm spirited the rest of the class as they hopped, jumped and hula-hooped to raise funds collectively.

We invite you to give your students the opportunity to develop their fitness skills while expressing their compassion by holding an Amman-a-thon at your school.  Again, please visit this link on the Amman Imman website where you can download a Planning Guide and Fundraising Kit.  And don't hesitate to contact me (info at ammanimman) with your questions and ideas!   All together we can make difference!