Water, a human right?

I remember a story our guide, Jackson, told us last year about one of his clients, an Italian woman, who went home and raised enough money to bring water to his mother's village. (See my early post, "Jackson's story") For $5000, they brought water to the village and it changed everything.  The biggest impact was on the school children because it meant that 700 children could have their morning meal there -- often their only meal of the day.  That was a teachable moment for me --- look at the value and impact money can have for Africans when it is thoughtfully and lovingly directed.

I was looking at the receipts I received for the construction of the foundation and it struck me that water was close to 10% of the cost.  Do we even consider that as an expense when we are building something here?  Don't we just turn on the tap and use as much as we want?  We recently did a renovation and I don't remember ever paying for water!

Searching for, waiting for, and hauling water is an activity that takes up much of a Maasai woman's day.  When we were in Tanzania last year, we witnessed women standing in long lines waiting for water from a single well and then hauling it on their heads for long distances to marginally meet the needs of their families.

Maasai Mash

We partied for money!  And what fun it was -- we threw a bash complete with DJ, a cake walk, spot dances, a looney tooney draw and even a short concert.  We crammed a lot into a few hours and all left feeling full.  Full of fun, full of the satisfaction that comes from doing some good in the world as this was a fundraising event for our partners, the Maasai of Makuyuni.  We made the Cook Street activity Centre rock!!!!

Creativity manifest and donated for the cake-walk.

We crammed a lot into a few hours: dancing, cake walks, spot dances, a looney tooney draw, a concession.  And we raised over $1000 for our cause.  A win-win.

It takes a village!  Look at all these beautiful volunteers!  Hugs to all!

And even some costumes ......