Background information on the walk

Funds are raised by students themselves, mainly as donations from friends and family. It’s a dynamic community initiative designed to build excitement and engage our younger generation to help tackle the global water crisis. Students will have the experience to feel what it is like to carry heavy loads of water over a long distance. The money is used to finance water projects in developing countries. As a preparation for the walk, teachers may use materials provided by H2O for Life and other sources to educate the children about the importance of clean water and adequate sanitation in developing countries.

Help us promote an “H2O for Life Walk for Water” this year for your school or organization.

10 students, 100 students, 1000 students- All participants make a difference!

Walk for Water

Who?

H2O for Life Walk for Water is a sponsored walk for schools. The entire school can be involved in the educational aspects of drinking water and sanitation, encouraging all students to participate; or individual groups can gather friends and organize a walk on a smaller scale. All groups are encouraged to join us!

What?

The students walk 5 kilometers with 6 liters of water in a backpack – as many children in developing countries do every day. Students ask their family, friends and neighbors to sponsor their walk. (Many students own backpacks and can provide their own, or perhaps a local sponsor will provide a backpack for the event)

When?

Set a convenient date that works for your group. Many schools walk during their school day; others have chosen an after school or week-end venue.

Why walk for water?

Each school may choose their own specific drinking water and/or sanitation project provided by H2O for Life, or may choose to donate funds to an H2O for Life designated school in need. All projects target schools around the world that are in need of water, sanitation and hygiene education. (WASH in Schools projects) To choose a school partner visit: www.h2oforlifeschools.org

H2O for Life Walk for Water has two goals:

• Raising awareness.

• Raising funds.

The goal of the WALK is to raise awareness about the world-wide problems of drinking water and sanitation while raising funds to be part of the solution. H2O for Life will supply hand-outs and educational materials to help teachers present the issues in their schools. Contact us at: www.h2oforlifeschools.org or info@h2oforlifeschools.org

It is an easy concept

• Choose a school in need from the list on our website
• Raise funds for the project by walking!

Preparation

Planning a 5km walk with 6 liters of water may sound simple enough… but it actually takes a bit of preparation.

The Route

It is advisable to map out the route well beforehand. To make sure it measures 5 km, you could measure it on a map or cycle the route with a bicycle computer or GPS receiver. We also recommend you walk the route yourself to see what it feels like.
*At Schools, a track or field area often works well for a walk, and is easy to organize and monitor.
It is also an easy gathering place for a group.

Tips
If you do not choose to use the school grounds:
• Do not make the walk too hard (inclines, unpaved roads).
• Avoid traffic, busy crossings and major roads.
• We advise a circular route (the start will become the finish) and a nice break halfway, if possible offering a soft drink and/or snack. Make sure that there are volunteers to man these areas. .
• Children will enjoy the walk more if you make it as varied as possible.
• Include an area with lots of people. The walk will get more local attention this way and people will be able to see what the children have to do for the money they collected. Successful areas to pass through have included: care homes, parks, shopping streets, government offices and buildings of the sponsors.
• If possible, visit a water-related point of interest along the way.
• Give the start and finish of the walk a purpose. The start is the place where water is handed out (water supply point – the “source”). The finish is where the water is collected or returned to nature (back to the pond, ditch, flower beds, trees, water barrel, etc). Make sure the start and finish are easily recognizable:
• Make a good map and description of the route so it is clear for everyone exactly where it is. If possible, mark the route with arrows or other signage.
• Permits: The local authorities may need to be notified of the event. The walks often require a permit, but sometimes all that is needed is to inform the authorities. Ask well in advance what is needed in your particular area.

Volunteers:
Start early with recruiting volunteers –utilize school staff and parents. Volunteers are vital for a trouble
free walk:

Gathering Donations

Information for Participants:

The student’s achievement to be sponsored is clear: walk 5 km with 6 liters of water!
Recruiting sponsors can be done in many ways. The most obvious is to ask parents, other family members, neighbors and friends for donations. Please note: Student fundraising is a mandatory part of the event. Set a price, even if it is only a few dollars. Your school can set a target goal for students depending on your unique school dynamics.

Tips for schools:
• Start two weeks before the walk with recruiting sponsors. Be sure that students have enough information to tell people why they are walking for water. (Water fact sheet is provided)
• Let the students take care of handling the money themselves. The children will almost certainly achieve their goal. It also means the children do not have to go back to each sponsor after the walk.
• It helps the students if the teacher gives them a target amount. Most implementing organizations feel that they are able to provide water and sanitation for one individual for $20.00.

The day of the walk

Have each student provide three plastic 2 liter soft drink bottles. Encourage them to fill the bottles before reporting for the walk. (Back-packs are also the easiest way for students to transport the water. Students should not be encouraged to carry the water on their heads.)

* Note: it takes a long time to fill 3 bottles of water- have students fill and supply their own water bottles for the event)

Miscellaneous

The students should submit their sponsor forms the day before the walk if possible, otherwise be sure to have a collection center at the beginning of the walk.

Insurance
If something happens to the students or teachers during the walk, this should – in principle – be covered by their private insurance rather than the school’s insurance. The volunteers should also be covered by their own insurance, both with regard to any injuries they may sustain and their responsibilities during the walk.

However, depending on the jurisdiction, you may wish to take independent legal advice on this matter.

Donating funds that are raised:

Once your school or group has completed the Walk for Water please send the donation to:
H2O for Life
1310 Hwy 96 East
Suite 235
White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Please make checks payable to
“H2O for Life”
and designate the name of your school and the school that you are funding in a developing country, or designate “H2O for Life School in Need”.
The following brief presentation provides background and tips for your school as you plan for your 2012 ‘Walk-for-Water”.

Thank you for your participation, and enjoy the Walk!

Click the button below to download a pdf of these Guidelines, including Frequently Asked Questions, a Fact Sheet and a Pledge Form.

Download a poster to advertise a walk in your town.Full Size – 18″ x 24″ (PDF) Small Size – 8.25″ x 11″ (PDF) PREVIEW

For further information please contact: H2O for Life
info@h2oforlifeschools.org
or
651-­‐756-­‐7577
(H2O for Life is a 501c3 non-­‐profit organization)