Purchasing a t-shirt
Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers!
On May 11, 2013, over 200 people - students and families, teachers, individuals - from over 30 schools and community groups, walked the trails at the Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Park.  They came together in spirit and unity for the people of the Azawak of West Africa.  

Over $7,000 was raised to help Amman Imman build permanent water sources and support food, economic, women's empowerment, health and sanitation projects.   





Kamel Zennia and Hadesh Walet Mahmoud
In the 7 years that Amman Imman has sponsored A Walk for Water, this is the first year of a new tradition: a festival  before the opening ceremony and the 3 mile walk.  Kamel Zennia and Hadesh Walet Mahmoud brought us the music of the desert.  Andrew Kutt played his song, "May the Water Flow (for the Azawak)".  Indigenous crafts and jewelry from our Nigerien borehole villages were for sale.  Activities to educate children and adults about water scarcity and Amman Imman's work were ongoing. A live social networking event, #pledgeforwater, happened on the spot.   


People of all ages
But what was most inspiring were the people.  On a bleak cloudy rainy day, people streamed into the Locust Grove fire pit area to take a stand for the people of the Azawak.   





They came for different reasons. Families who enjoy hiking  came out. Students who needed service learning credit attended, and brought their siblings and parents. Their teachers came as well. Volunteers who help every year at A Walk for Water returned again. Both public and private school families showed up.


But each person who came onto the field that day had something in common: a commitment to social action. Whether or not they purchased a t-shirt or actively took the pledge, their participation declared:  I believe water is a human right. 



They walked through the mud and in the rain because they cared enough to take a stand for all the people of the world, and to help the people of the Azawak gain the opportunity of this most essential need.


What is it like to carry your water?
Activities and Booths
Pledge for Water #pledgeforwater
"A Walk with Water" - Participants pulled a "jerry can" filled with water out of a "well", and carried it a certain distance to experience what it might feel like to have to carry water everyday.


Pledge for Water - People snapped their photo with a sign that said "I believe every person deserves clean drinking water".  Then, they sealed their pledge for water by uploading the photo to Instagram with the tag #pledgeforwater. Take the pledge yourself!

Friendship Exchange - Children from the villages of Kijigari and Couloubade shared their lives through drawings of animals, people and how they get their water. Some drawings showed life in their village now that they have a borehole.


The Friendship Exchange -
drawings from children in Kijigari and Couloubade
A Gift from the Azawak - Everyone who raised $100 or more received a special gift, a handmade craft from an artisan in Kijigari village.

T-shirts and Merchandise - Tuareg jewelry and crafts, a new t-shirt, and Amman Imman merchandise were for sale.



Global Water Discovery Expedition -  Students were given a
Global Water Discovery Expedition
booklet with questions about water scarcity in the Azawak, the global water crisis and Amman Imman's projects.  As they walked the trail they discovered the answer on posters along the trail. Go on the adventure yourself! 



A Hero of Compassion
Hero of Compassion certificate - Upon completion of the Walk, students received a certificate recognizing their effort and their compassion.



Home made lemonade, and Tuareg crafts and jewelry
Refreshments - My Organic Market, Starbucks and Ize's Deli and Bagelry gave us great refreshments.  But the best came from Ethan Waxman who brought home-baked goods and fresh squeezed lemonade. The proceeds, benefiting Amman Imman, came to $68! 

Our partners
Reel Water Film Festival - On June 15 at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club, the Reel Water Film Festival will highlight films about water.  Our short film, "Thank you, Merci, Tanimert" will be featured.





Oneness-Family School - OFS is dedicated to peace and to the personal growth of each individual.  After Ariane's visit to OFS in 2006, the Wells of Love program was born, inspiring a social action movement in support of the Azawak among Montessori schools worldwide.


Thank you to all the volunteers, teachers, 
parents, students and sponspors who made 
A Walk for Water an amazing event!

Photo credits: Sarah and Samantha



On May 11, over 200 individuals from across the DC metro area - students, parents, teachers, volunteers - came together for A Walk for Water at the Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to benefit nonprofit Amman Imman: Water is Life's development projects in the Azawak region of Niger, West Africa. The participants enjoyed a beautiful setting of lush woods and a flowing creek while learning about the Azawak, a region that suffers from water scarcity for over 9 months every year.

Finding out about water scarcity and the Azawak on
the Global Water Discovery Expedition
Under the coordination of Jessica Wyatt, the Montgomery College/MCPS Collaborative Coordinator, students in ESOL service learning clubs from Blair, Kennedy and Northwood High Schools in Montgomery County enriched the event with a question/answer activity called the Global Water Discovery Expedition.

Doing research on the internet, the high school students came up with 14 questions about the global water crisis, water scarcity conditions in the Azawak and Amman Imman's work in the region.  The students designed colorful signs containing the answers.  As younger students arrived, they received a booklet with the questions.  As they walked along the trail, pen in hand, the students discovered the answers on signs posted along the route.

Thank you to the ESOL/SSL club advisors - Julie Desai at Kennedy HS, Katie Lazo at Blair High School and Veena Seshadri at Northwood HS -  for supporting the ESOL/SSL club students in making the signs!  

And a big shout-out to Jessica Wyatt - Thank you, Jessica, for organizing this activity!  

Try out the Global Water Discovery Expedition for yourself!


Here are the questions:

  • Where is the Azawak valley?
  • How many people live in the Azawak valley?
  • Traditionally, how do people in the Azawak live?
  • Why don't people in the Azawak have enough water?
  • What kinds of problems are created when people can't easily get water?
  • How does Amman Imman solve the water problem in the Azawak?
  • What is the most common phrase you will hear in the Azawak valley?
  • What other benefits do people gain by having access to water?
  • How many people in the world die daily from drinking dirty water?
  • How many people in the world lack access to clean water?
  • What water-borne disease kills 6000 children daily all over the world?
  • How much does it cost to make a well for people to get clean water?
  • How long can a borehole well in the Azawak region last?
  • What can YOU do to conserve water?

Match the answers:
















The young students at Montessori of Maryknoll in Glen Ellyn, Illinois continue to partner with Amman Imman. They learn about people who lack water, the most basic of necessities.  Through an annual bake and plant sale, these young heroes of compassion experience taking action and making a difference:







Dear Amman Imman,

Our Enrichment students are studying their last continent for this year, Africa, and wanted to help this most worthy cause.  We baked at school and at home for a bake sale.  We took plant cuttings in last fall and grew some annuals that we were able to sell.  

We raised $350!


If you put this money with other schools' fundraising money, you can work on another well.  We are happy to help you and send our best wishes to you and the people of Africa.


Until next year,
Maggie, Brielle, Claire, Evan, Andrew, Jacob, Jaden and Liam


Montessori of Maryknoll




Event Day Information for “A Walk For Water”
Saturday, May 11, 2013
9 am - 1 pm
Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD

Thank you for your participation in “A Walk For Water.” Our collaborative walk will raise awareness for the plight of children and families who live in the Azawak region of West Africa.  For them, finding water is a daily struggle. The funds we raise will support the work of Amman Imman: Water is Life a nonprofit organization that has been building permanent and sustainable water sources in the Azawak since 2006. You can find out more at www.ammanimman.org.

1.     Schedule
Please arrive at 9 am!  We have an expo planned between 9 am and 10 am that you won’t want to miss!  The activities include a Friendship Exchange display, a Global Water Discovery Expedition, Pledge for Water and  “A Walk With Water”.  We’ll also have live music and an indigenous craft and jewelry sale during that hour. Our partners, the Reel Water Film Festival and the Oneness-Family School, will be on hand as well.

The opening ceremony will begin at 10 am, and the walk will commence by 10:30 am.  Following completion of the 3 mile walk, you will return to the expo.  Students will receive a certificate of completion, and you can continue to browse our partner tables; the jewelry, crafts, and other merchandise; and engage in the activities until 1 pm.

2.     Location and Parking
The expo, opening ceremony, and starting point for the walk will be at the fire ring area around the giant sycamore tree at the Locust Grove Nature Center at 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD. Parking will be available in the upper parking lot of the Indoor Tennis court facility which is adjacent to the nature center.  Signs in the parking lot will guide you to the event area.  For directions please refer to this google map.

3. Check-in and On-site Registration, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Everyone must check-in when they arrive.  If you haven’t registered in advance, we will ask you to fill out a registration form.  Checks, cash and credit card will be accepted for the fee: $15/adult, $10/student. Children under 6 years old will be admitted free.  If you ordered a t-shirt before April 29, you can pick it up.  Additional shirts will be on sale for $12. Checks should be made payable to: “Amman Imman”.

Online registration will remain open until 12 noon on May 10 via our FirstGiving page, http://www.firstgiving.com/ammanimman/a-walk-for-water-2013-locust-grove.

If you’ve collected sponsorship monies, please bring them to the Check-in/Registration table.  If you want to continue raising funds after the event, please do! 

4.  Supervision, Health and Safety
A parent or supervising adult is responsible for the supervision and safety of their group along the trail.  We aim for the walk to be fun and engaging.  However, please note that you walk at your own risk.

To promote health, safety and enjoyment, please remember to bring a water bottle, a hat, sunscreen, sun glasses, a small backpack to carry snacks, and allergy medicine if you need it. Cover your body appropriately for protection from ticks and mosquitos.  Sturdy shoes and an extra pair of socks will keep your feet happy and your walk fun. A rain jacket might be needed in the event of wet weather.

Two portable toilets are available for your convenience. One will be in the expo area, and one will be along the route.

5.  The Path
The trail is unpaved and wooded. It is not appropriate for strollers. Slow walkers may need two hours or more to hike.  The designated trail route will be marked with “A Walk For Water” signs. A route map will be available at the Check-In Table.   

On the trail, students will embark on a “Global Water Discovery Expedition”. When they arrive at the event, they will be given a questionnaire about the global water crisis and water scarcity in the Azawak region. As they walk along the trail, they will find the answers on information signs posted along the route.

6.  What to leave at home
Please leave your roller blades and bicycles at home. If you bring your pet, please keep him/her on a leash.

7.  Snacks, water and food
Walking on a warm day and a long distance requires adequate water and food.  Please bring enough water and snacks to keep you and your family energized and hydrated. We will have some donated snacks and water from Mom’s, Ize’s bagels and Starbucks, but we can’t guarantee that there will be enough for everyone. You are welcome to stay after the walk and have a picnic in the park with your family.

8.  Litter and recycling
We want to keep the fire-ring area and park trails clean and natural. Please take out what you bring in and contain your personal belongings. We ask that you plan to recycle your own bottles and cans.  Let’s keep this event as green as possible!

9.  Rain or Shine
This event will take place, rain or shine.

When you are finished collecting your donations, please send them to: 
Amman Imman: Water is Life
7036 Strathmore Street, #111
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(240) 418-1143
May 11, 9 am - 1 pm
Locust Grove Nature Center
Bethesda, MD

Dear Friend, 
A Walk for Water at Locust Grove is just over a week away! It will be a festive event with educational, relevant and fun activities for all ages.

The pre-Walk expo will begin at 9 am while we gather in the meadow around the giant sycamore tree for check-in and onsite registration. African musicians will enchant us with live music. Indigenous crafts, made by artisans from Amman Imman's borehole villages, will be on display and for sale.  Our A Walk for Water partners will be represented so that you can learn about their important work. Participants will be able to Pledge for Water and take part in a real-time online campaign. Students will have the opportunity to draw water from a "well" and experience carrying a water-filled container, as a child in the Azawak must do every day for as many as 30 miles. 

At 10 am a short rally will remind us why we are walking together and then the 3-mile walk will begin. On the trail, students will embark on a Global Water Discovery Expedition. They will be given a questionnaire about the global water crisis and water scarcity in the Azawak region. As they walk along the trail, they will find the answers on information signs posted along the route.  

Upon returning to the meadow, the festivities will continue until 1 pm with refreshments provided by our generous A Walk for Water sponsors for all to enjoy. 

Come be a part of A Walk for Water. If you haven't already, we encourage you to register in advance, either by using a paper form, or online at FirstGiving.com. Event Information, flyers and fundraising tools can be found on the Locust Grove Information page.  If you can’t be there, you can still be a part of the virtual “Walk for Water” by making a fundraising page or collecting donations using sponsorship form MCPS students can earn SSL hours for participting in the event.  

We thank you for your support in raising funds, sharing the messages of the water crisis affecting the people of the Azawak and believing that every person deserves clean drinking water.  To acknowledge your help, every person who raises $100 or more will receive a special gift of appreciation from the artisans in our borehole villages in the Azawak.  

Because of the generosity of people like you, Amman Imman recently completed construction of a 5th borehole in the Azawak. Activities that have been implemented in our borehole communities since gaining access to water include food and gardening programs, support for schools, health initiatives, an artisan cooperative and a community store. Together we are continuing to bring life-saving aid, starting with water, to children and families who desperately need it.

We hope you, your family and friends can join us for this adventurous and impactful morning in the woods of the Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, Bethesda on May 11th!

Sincerely yours,
Debra Kahn 
Associate Director, Amman Imman
Wells of Love program director

Thank you to our partners
for their generous support:
    



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