Upcoming trip to Uganda and Kenya

Members of the H2O for Life organization, Patty Hall, Val Johnson and Steve Hall, along with teachers Mark Domschot from Centennial Middle School, and Chris Ripken and wife Lisa, from Centennial High School in Lino Lakes, MN will be visiting Uganda and Kenya from Aug. 17-Aug. 30. We will be visiting completed H2O for Life projects and viewing schools in need for the coming year. We hope to be able to post photos, stories and video on our blog while traveling. Please check our blog site to follow our journey.

Last year, H2O for Life schools raised over $250,000, which was matched dollar for dollar by the implementing organizations in the developing countries. Just think! $500,000 dollars for WASH projects around the world. We hope we increase that amount this coming year. We need your help!

Many of our in-country partners provide opportunities for teachers and students to visit projects and volunteer service. H2O for Life does not provide funds however, and all trips (including our upcoming trip) are personally funded. If you would like information about travel opportunities, please contact H2O for Life.

Sit back and join us as we visit the wonderful countries of Uganda and Kenya.

students participate in school presentation

H2O for Life- The tough facts about water!

Many children around the world lack access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene education in their schools. Imagine a long school day, where there is no place to get a drink of water nearby, if a latrine is available it is shared by too many students, and hand-washing education and facilities are non-existant. For many schools in developing countries, this is fact!

Lack of water greatly impacts the lives of woman and girls. They are responsible for gathering water for their family needs. Girls often are not able to attend school due to the hours needed to gather water. The water they do collect is usually from contaminated water sources and is heavy to carry! Multiple journeys are required every day.

Toilets are often unavailable or very over used. Statistics show that girls stop attending school upon reaching puberty due to lack of privacy and a decent place to use the bathroom.

Handwashing is a simple way to combat disease, yet in most schools handwashing facitlities are at best limited or unavailable.

• Every 15 seconds a child dies form lack of access to clean water


• Women and children can spend up to 60% of their day walking for water


• 4,500 children die each day due to lack of water and basic sanitation


• 1.1 billion people lack access to safe water


• 2.1 billion people lack access to basic sanitation


• Without access to a latrine, girls stop going to school upon reaching puberty

Fortunately, these problems can be solved! Last year, H2O for Life Schools raised funds needed to bring water, sanitation and hygiene education to 70 schools around the world. Schools around the US learned about the water crisis, studied the issue, and planned activities and events that raised funds for a partner school. Your school or organization is invited to join us this year! Together we can make a difference! Visit: www.h2oforlifeschools.org to learn how to join our service learning opportunity. We need your help today!