Global Water Discovery Expedition

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!  

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?

Try out the Global Water Discovery Expedition for yourself!

Montessori of Maryknoll: We're Glad to Help!

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 May 11, "A Walk for Water"

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

info@ammanimman.org

www.ammanimman.org

(240) 418-1143

Fun and Discovery at A Walk for Water

May 11, 9 am - 1 pm

Locust Grove Nature Center

Bethesda, MD

click here for online registration

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 5^th 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:

    

A Tradition of Giving

Students at Palm Harbor Montessori Academy in Florida have established a yearly tradition that expresses their commitment to nurturing global citizenship and compassionate philanthropy among their students. Throughout the school year, they express their dedication to Amman Imman and their friendship towards the people of the Azawak through small activities that make a big difference. Last year, Nicole Nasser, lead teacher in the Junior Elementary, emailed:

Students add their coins to the Well of Love

The children bring their donations throughout the year to my classroom to put in the big well. They deposit money they raise on their own and from their piggy banks. We have a special clap for the children that bring in money. The children Trick-or-Treat for Amman Imman and we will do it again this year. We also have a stand for Amman Imman during our school events such as International Picnic Day that takes place at the end of October, Earth Day and Book Fair so parents can contribute as well. 

In fall 2012, we received $1,000 collected by Palm Harbor students during the 2011-2012 school year! 

Our school and our students strongly believe in Amman Imman and want to support it in any way we can and as long as we can. The funds that were mailed to you by our Head of School Christine Varkas were combined efforts of all the students at school.

Congratulations to Palm Harbor Montessori Academy students, teachers and parents for establishing a culture of giving that aligns with your values and improves the lives across the world.

For the children and families in the Azawak of West Africa, our Amman Imman team thanks everyone at Palm Harbor Montessori Academy!

Palm Harbor students demonstrate their commitment by having a table for Amman Imman at yearly events

Repairing the World

A 6th grader named Ethan sent me an email in which he asked an inspiring question:

from AjDele Photography

Hi, I'm a sixth grader in the Bethesda, MD area and I'm doing a project on social justice. I was wondering how you saw yourself as "repairing the world"- making it a better place. Please respond ASAP.  

Hi, Ethan,

 My name is Debbie and I also live in Bethesda, Maryland. I'm so glad you've asked me that question because it's close to my heart. Since 2006 I've been working with Amman Imman: Water is Life, a nonprofit organization that helps some of the most vulnerable populations in the world meet their most essential needs, starting with water in the Azawak of West Africa. The Azawak is one of the only places in the world where people still die simply because they cannot access water.  

I heard about Amman Imman from its founder, Ariane Kirtley. At the time, I was working as an administrator at a school. Ariane was traveling from school to school asking students to help her build borehole wells that would access clean water starting at 600 feet deep through the vast Azawak region. She went to the children because she could not get the government nor other organizations to do what needed to be done.

I was deeply moved by Ariane's stories, and her passion and concern for the people of this region. I felt compelled to join her. As a volunteer, I began to develop a school network and service learning program called Wells of Love. Since then, over 100 schools have participated in the program. 

In 2009, I left my school administrator job, and now work for Amman Imman full-time. With school children around the world who have given their time and energy to raise funds, I've helped Ariane and Amman Imman build five of these borehole wells. Now, over 135,000 people and animals in the Azawak have gained access to life-giving water. Within the communities where our boreholes operate, food programs, education, health and economic activities have begun, truly making our villages "Oases of Life".  

We don't have much control in this world, but making things better when we see a problem is our responsibility. This is the lesson I learned when I teamed up with Ariane. For me, working with Amman Imman to save and improve the lives of the people of the Azawak gives me the opportunity to make a difference. It's one corner of the world where I can do a little repair.   

I am honored to be able to "repair the world" - to help real people, to save lives - in this small way.  I hope I've answered your question, Ethan.  Please let me know if you have any more and I'll be happy to respond.

I invite you and your family to join us at A Walk for Water on May 11 at the Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda!  Click here for more information including registration and fundraising.  I invite you to join me in making the world a better place for the people of the Azawak of West Africa!

Sincerely,

Debbie