News from H2O for Life

January 15, 2010

In the past few days we have received many questions from H2O for Life schools about taking action in Haiti. As an organization, we are committed to helping the people of Haiti by continuing to focus on the projects that are currently in progress. These projects are designed to bring sustainable sources of water to schools that are in rural areas. Current information tells us that the earthquake did not drastically affect these areas.

It is important to remember that the students you are helping through H2O for Life are desperate for water and sanitation. These are the moments when the world has to come together to do more than they are already doing. We don’t want people to redirect funds from already needy people. We want people to dig deeper to help provide resources for the immediate disaster AND continue to help the “global” water crisis.

So, our message to you and to all of our schools focused on Haiti is to stay the course.  Continue to work to bring water and sanitation to your partner school. We will continue to try to get updates and keep you posted. As things settle down and if we find that it is not feasible to complete the project at your partner school, we will work closely with you to select another school for you to direct your money. We want to stay true to the intention of the donors.

January 11, 2010

Happy New Year to all of our H2O for Life friends.  Please take time to read the latest article posted on our blog site.  Sanitation is a critical issue, and the article not only explains the issue well, but also highlights one of our H2O for Life implementing partners, Iko-Toilets and Mr. David Kuria.  Kuria has designed innovative toilet systems for schools, and we hope to support  Iko- Toilet projects for 10 schools in Kenya.  If your school has not yet chosen a project, this might be just the one for you.

On January 8, Abington High School in Abington, PA  hosted a huge “water” event at their school to raise awareness of water crisis issues, and to encourage other area schools and organizations to take action.  A huge shout-out to Mary Rodgers and her fantastic H2O for Life club for organizing the event.  We will post their blog with photos in a few days.

Reminder:  March 22 is World Water Day.  It would be a perfect day for your school or club to plan a walk for water, organize a presentation, or come up with another idea to raise awareness in your local community that will encourage others to take action.  Let’s make this the year that we all Make a Difference!

We hope to launch an H2O for Life FAN PAGE shortly- please watch for our announcement, and then become a Fan for H2O for Life.

December 31, 2009

Here's what Wayzata High School, MN did before the Holidays to aid in their fundraising efforts:

http://www.wayzatawalkforwater.com/

 

December 5, 2009
On November 19, students from Oyster-Adams Bilingual School celebrated World Toilet Day, and raised awareness on the lawn of the White House in Washington DC. H2O for Life and all of our partner schools help fund toilets for schools around the world. Help us fund sanitation for schools! Donate today!

 

December 2, 2009
On November 17, the state of Minnesota sponsored a GIVEMN day.  A number of Minnesota Foundations challenged Minnesota based non-profits to reach out to donors to “give to the max”.  As an incentive the foundations sweetened the pot with $500,000 in matching funds.  Imagine their surprise when donors broke all records and donated over 14 MILLION DOLLARS in one day!  H2O for Life had an amazing story due to our friends at Great American Opportunities.  The employees of GAO donated over $7000 for a project located in Mozambique.  They were further encouraged by a matching donation from within their company.  It just goes to show that one idea can snowball- $10 dollars turns into $20 and $20 shortly turns into $7000! One day, One company- Priceless!!  A school in Mozambique will receive water, sanitation and hygiene education.  Thanks Great American Opportunities! By the way,if your school is looking for great fund-raising ideas and opportunities, please visit Great American through our website link. (www.gaofundraising.com)
Incidentally, H2O for Life raised over $18,000 during GIVEMN day!

November 13, 2009
The Upper School Philanthropy Class is hosting a Benefit Concert on Monday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Ridgway Auditorium. The concert will be for the support and awareness of the lack of clean water in rural Africa. All proceeds go to building of a water well for a school in Kenya.

MORE INFO

November 12, 2009
H2O for Life recently attended the National Middle School Conference in
Indianapolis. We distributed H2O for Life hand sanitizer at the event, and
everyone seemed to like it! (Another item that could raise funds) We were
honored to be mentioned in both the opening keynote address and the closing
address. A wonderful video produced by Summit School in North Carolina won
a National award through the middle school organization. The video
highlighted their service learning connection last year with H2O for Life.
Please be sure to send copies of your successes to us! We want to celebrate
the great learning that is taking place among all H2O for Life schools. Our
goal is to educate students in the US and Canada about the water crisis and
bring water to students in need. You can help us by spreading the word
about our global partner and the work that YOU are doing! Don't forget to
wash your hands!
Thanks,
Patty

View NY Times Ad for 2009 (pdf)

November 5, 2009
H2O for Life is heading into convention season. We are currently at the National Middle School Convention in Indianapolis. It is a great event and a great town. We will also have representation at the PASC conference (Pennsylvania Association of Student Council), The National Social Studies Convention in Atlanta, the New York Social Studies Conference, and a large conference for students in Kansas City. If you are visiting any of these events, please stop by and say hello. Also, several of the listed conventions are being staffed by teachers that have participated and are participating in H2O for Life partnerships. They are our Ambassadors for H2O for Life. If there is a gathering of teachers, students or an organization that you think would enjoy a partnership through H2O for Life, please bring it to our attention. We will send you as our H2O Ambassador to share your story!

October 25, 2009
Look what Wayzata High School is doing!

Students donate to H2O for Life as they fill up a glass of fruit flavored water.
Wayzata is raising awareness about the water crisis, and working to support their partner school in Kenya.

October 1, 2009
Last week, the Clinton Global Initiative meetings convened in New York City.  Many corporations, philanthropic foundations and interested stakeholders meet to discuss strategies to address the Millennium Goals. The global water crisis continues to be a looming issue.  H2O for Life was discussed as a vehicle for change at the meetings. Kids helping kids sends a powerful message to everyone around the world.  Kind World Foundation, a supporter of H2O for Life shared their comments about the organization.  Please click here to read the article for further information.

Several schools are planning “Bucket Walks” as part of the fall kick-off for H2O for Life.  Students at Discovery Middle School in Alexandria, MN and students from Highview Middle School, Irondale High School, Edgewood Middle School and Sunnyside Elementary- all from the Mounds View School District in MN will walk 3-6 miles to raise funds for their global partner schools.  Schools have designed “bucket walk” t-shirts for the events.  Below are samples of the shirts!  Think about adding a “Bucket Walk” for your school!  It’s an easy event to plan and is a fun way to raise awareness and funds for your partner school. 

- - - -

Still don’t have a school partner?  Take time today to visit our available schools list.  Together, we can change the world.

September 28, 2009
We hope your school year is off to a wonderful start. Several teachers and H2O staff recently returned from Uganda and Kenya.  We had an opportunity to visit completed projects and future projects. It was an amazing experience! The work that everyone has put into their projects has resulted in incredible changes for the students at H2O for Life partner schools. We saw VIP latrines that are clean and in use.  Water tanks are ready for rain and soap is at the handwashing stations.  You may visit our “blog” about Africa. Click here for the blog.
Speaking of handwashing….October 15th is Global Handwashing Day!
Did you know….

• Handwashing with soap if the single most cost-effective health intervention.
• Handwashing with soap can prevent diseases that kill millions of children every year.
• The critical moments for handwashing with soap are after using the toilet and before handling food.
• Children can be agents of change by taking the handwashing lessons home.

Here is an idea for your school.
On October 15th get your students to pledge to wash their hands and bring awareness to handwashing by asking them to “sign” a handwashing agreement with a signature of their handprint.  Hang a huge sheet of paper on the wall that says, ”I Pledge to Wash my Hands!” Supply several colors of washable paint and have the students place a painted handprint on the paper. (When dry they can sign their name to their handprints.) Follow-up the activity with a thorough handwashing with SOAP. Challenge your middle school and high school students to do the same. Have fun and raise awareness.
Let us know how you celebrate Global Handwashing Day! For further information about Global Handwashing Day visit www.globalhandwashingday.org.
We have many global partner schools in need of water, sanitation and hygiene education.  Look at our “available schools” list, and choose a partner for your school today!  Together, we can change the world.

August 10, 2009
H20 For Life now has a blog for the most current updates! Visit our Blog at: h2oforlifeschools.blogspot.com

June 10, 2009
We hope all of our H2O schools are well on their way to reaching their funding goals! Remember, we hope to have your partner school funds by the end of May. Contact us if you need ideas or help! We have additional US schools that are looking to jump on a project and add their support. If you need help, don’t hesitate to let us know.

The school year is quickly coming to an end! We hope to fund all existing projects by the end of June.

Thank you to all of our participating schools for the work you have completed this year. We know that you have raised the awareness in your school and community concerning the water crisis, and have raised well over $200,000.00 dollars for water around the world. We will have a final total by mid July when the last of the funds are submitted and counted.

We have a new list of partner schools on our website. You may choose to fully fund a partner school or work with another U.S. school to work together to meet the goal. We are exploring a secure social networking site so that U.S. schools are able to communicate with other H2O schools. We hope that schools will share ideas and successes with one another. If you are working with another school, the site will also allow you to work collaboratively if you wish.

H2O for Life has been invited by the National Youth Leadership Council to assist in planning the 2010 convention that will be held in San Jose, CA from March 24-27. The focus of the conference will be the water crisis here and abroad, and peace building. We hope that many of you will attend the conference, and we hope that some of you will respond to the call for presenters. You have great projects and stories to share with others. We are also hoping to coordinate a “Walk for Water” next March for World Water Day. If you are thinking of using a walk to raise funds, think of joining us on either Sunday March 21, or Monday, March 22 which is World Water Day. Many schools raised funds this year by organizing walks that took place during the school day! Think about it.

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS: If you are looking for a great service learning project for 2009-10, please consider H2O for Life as a partner for that project.

2009 Institute for Student Leaders – Costa Rica
A 10-day gathering of students and teachers from around the world. Get more information.

H2O Schools with Uganda Partners!
Please visit the link. (http://www.africare.org/supportus/thankyou/kids/index.php) Many of our Uganda schools have finished raising funds, and the projects are making progress. Keep those dollars coming so that all 17 H2O schools can be completed.

SEND SUCCESS STORIES!
Many schools that have taken global partners are finishing their fundraising. Teachers and students are sending photos and “success” stories. We encourage our H2O for Life Schools to submit a short (250-300 word) story with photos of your students in action. We hope to post stories on our web pages and under each individual school.

SIGN UP FOR NEXT YEAR!
We hope that if you have taken a partner school for 2008-09, that you will consider a partner school for next school year; and we invite new schools to please join us! We will have a list of schools for partnership by late April-early May. We have learned this year, that we can divide schools into multiple partnerships and keep funding needs lower. We want every H2O school to be successful, and have fun while participating. Take action, and make a difference!

NYLC CONFERENCE
H2O for Life will had an exhibition booth at the National Youth Service Learning Convention in Nashville, March 17-21. We were also part of a World Water Forum on Saturday from 1:45-2:45. Mary Rodgers and her wonderful students from Abington High School presented Saturday morning at 10:45. They shared their H2O for Life –Wave water program. Mary’s students were also part of a live radio broadcast on Wednesday evening. (www.youthmediaproject.org)

In 2010, the focus of the National Convention that will be held in San Jose will be
WATER! We hope to host a “Walk for Water” preceding the conference to fund projects around the world. Please join us next year in San Jose!

CONFERENCES
H2O for Life presented at the following educational conferences:

• January 17-20, 2009: International Studies Schools Association, Tampa, FL
• February 26-28, 2009: National Principals Association
• March 18-21, 2009: National Youth Service Conference, Nashville, TN
• April 14-16, 2009: National Catholic Education Assication, Anaheim, CA