National Youth Leadership Council-Service Learning conference in Atlanta!

The NYLC service learning conference is always a magnificent event.  This year was no exception. The conference was hosted by the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, GA.  The forum hosted great speakers, interesting service opportunities in the Atlanta area, and a varied exhibit hall.

H2O for Life lead several presentations as well as an exhibition booth and a photo display at the event.  We had student speakers from Abington High School, PA, Quaker Valley Middle School, PA and Heber Hunt School.  We also met many other H2O for Life schools that were attending the event from Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Jersey, California, Texas, Missouri and other states as well. 

Youth Service America was also attending the event- don't forget to register your service project on their website if you are doing anything between April 15-17th.  The numbers should soar past one million participants once again this year. http://www.ysa.org/

Mary Rodgers and her students from Abington High School gave a wonderful presentation about their continuing work with H2O for Life.  They have partnered with schools for the past 4 years.  Imagine the impact their efforts have made on the water world.  Several of the students are serious about planning and starting a water college for training in developing countries.  We love their enthusiasm and their creativity and hard work to pursue this amazing idea.  We do believe that the youth of today will change the world.

We also had the opportunity to work closely with Mr. Brian Wolovich and his band of 12 sixth graders- and Karen- the wonderful librarian that was brave enough to come along and help!  These young people had a lot of energy, and were always well behaved, and ready to go.  They  took part in a presentation that was attended by over 60 people. Each student had a role in the presentation.  The students were poised, prepared and shared their passion for the work they have done this past year.  They created a great video that is available on our facebook page and on our website as well. Their edible aquifer, while messy and a little chaotic, was tasty and fun for all. Thanks for attending and sharing your H2O for Life project.  I think Quaker Valley convinced many other teachers and students that they too could help change lives for a school around the world.

At the conference, H2O for Life in collaboration with NYLC announced a "Call to Action" for help in Japan.  Between now and June 15th, we are asking students, youth groups and schools to plan a "Walk for Water" that will help rebuild the water and sanitation systems for the areas that were destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami.  All the proceeds raised through H2O for Life donations will flow to our partner NGO, Mercy Corps.  100% of the money raised will be sent to Japan.  For further information, visit our dedicated webpage: http://www.h2oforlifeschools.org/2011/04/japan/   You will find donation forms, a tool kit to help you organize a walk, and posters and flyers to use for publicity. 

If you live in Minnesota, don't forget to come to Target Field on April 16th.  Today, students from Irondale High School Volunteered at the community booth at the stadium to promote the walk.  It was a beautiful day to be outside.  We hope that next Saturday, you'll join us.  Walk and raise awareness and funds for a great cause. Information is available on our website.

Magnificent work at Magnificat High School- Water Wednesdays!

Take two young ladies, teach them about the water crisis, and look out!  Grace and Maddie visited our H2O for Life booth in Kansas City last year, and became passionate about the need for water around the world.  The girls studied the issues, and approached their advisor, Ms. Higgins, with the plan to raise funds for Okio Primary School in Uganda.

After "much collaboration and many meetings, the idea of our Water Wednesday was born," said Grace.
Students would take a pledge to only drink water on Wednesdays, and donate their extra money to the project.

After seven Wednesdays, lots of publicity, and an overwhelmingly generous school community, the girls and the school reached their goal of $1350.

They said, "Magnificat has learned, not only how lucky we are to have water at our fingertips, but how it is part of our responsibility as human beings...to care for the less fortunate.

Thank you to the entire Magnificat High School student body, community and teachers  from Rocky River, Ohio, and a special thanks to Grace, Maddie and Ms. Higgins.  You saw a need and went into action!
Congratulations!  Your school has helped change the lives of students at Okio Primary School in Uganda.

"7 Songs for 7 Wells!"

Today, H2O for Life received a fantastic video from Grandville High School in Michigan.  Their school choose H2O for Life partnerships with 7 partner school projects in Nicaragua.  They came up with a unique and entertaining fund raising idea.  They titled it, "7 songs for 7 wells."  They did an all school "lipdub" challenge for the Guinness Book of Records.  They attempted to do the world's longest lip synch.  I don't know if they won, but the video is great to watch.  Talk about students and staff having fun together for a great cause! As we watched the video, we were amazed at the costumes, the planning and the fun that was shared by the whole school. Love the gym scene at the end.  Congratulations Grandville.  We will play your video at our Walk for Water on April 16th at Target Field as people line up for the event.

A note from Grandville teacher, Kelly Stouten:
"I just wanted to let you know that we've raised over $5000 - closer to 6 - so far and have a couple more fundraisers in store for the remainder of the year, so we will have no problem raising our goal amount. I'm sending you a link to the lipdup we did as an entire school. We made and sold t-shirts that the H2O logo on the front and said 7 songs for 7 wells (even though some of the project are for wash stations/latrines) on the back. It was a different fundraising idea that maybe others haven't heard of."

Kelly

Thanks for sharing Kelly and students from Grandville.  You are AWESOME!

WARNING:  the video is about 15 minutes long- don't start unless you have time to finish watching-because you'll be hooked!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AzcURe9LPI

What can you do to raise the passion and the fun level in your school?

Speed Volunteering by Irondale High School

Thanks to Mrs. Karen Aalund, and Mrs. Mindy Handberg and their service group of volunteers that helped assemble "Rainmaker" bracelet kits at Irondale High School in MN this afternoon.  They worked hard and filled a bin with completed kits. Thanks to all!

Celebrate World Water Day!

Tuesday, March 22 is World Water Day.  What are you doing to raise awareness and help solve the world's increasing water problems?  There are many small things that we all can do to conserve water, and there are big things as well!  Here are several events that are taking place in the name of water.


This is one of the BIG events that can change water access for the world.  Kudos to the Senators that are leading the charge to pass the Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2011.

WASHINGTON DC, (March 18, 2011) — Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate yesterday by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) would put the United States in the lead of responding to the worldwide safe drinking water and sanitation crisis. The Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2011 would commit the United States to extending safe, affordable and sustainable supplies of drinking water and sanitation to 100 million people within six years. This major bipartisan initiative would put the United States at the forefront of addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for drinking water and sanitation.

The WASH Advocacy Initiative commends Senators Durbin and Corker for their leadership on this important issue, and thanks the five other senators who have signed onto the bill as original cosponsors: Harry Reid (D-NV), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).
“We applaud the leadership of Senator Durbin, Senator Corker, and their colleagues in working to provide 100 million people in developing countries with sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation,” said Gary White, Chairman of the WASH Advocacy Initiative. “This is one of the most effective – and one of the most efficient – actions the United States can take to improve health and alleviate poverty worldwide.” Each dollar invested in safe drinking water and sanitation provides an eight dollar (8:1) return on that investment in reduced healthcare costs and time savings.

Patti Simon, wife of the late Senator Paul Simon, said “We shouldn’t forget that the global water and sanitation challenge is solvable – we know the solutions today. This new legislation will help make those solutions a reality. Paul would be proud to see this bill being introduced to address an issue that was a priority for him in Congress, and pleased that leaders like Senator Durbin and Senator Corker are taking the challenge seriously."

“Access to safe drinking water is a right that everyone in the world ought to enjoy but too few are able to realize,” Assistant Senate Majority Leader Durbin said. “Water access is no longer simply a global health and development issue; it is a mortal and long-term threat that is increasingly becoming a national security issue. The United States needs to do much more to ensure that global water access is protected and expanded.”

“As a fiscal conservative, I realize the urgent need to dramatically reduce federal spending and be more efficient with our resources – especially as it relates to our limited foreign aid budget. That means better focusing, targeting and coordinating our efforts to achieve results without authorizing more funding, which is exactly what the Water for the World Act does,” Senator Corker said. “A lack of clean water leads to the deaths of 1.8 million people a year – 90 percent of them children. It stifles economic growth, keeps women and girls from going to work and school, and contributes to political unrest that threatens our national security. For many reasons, I believe water is one of the wisest places we can focus our foreign aid.”


Almost one billion people currently lack access to safe water, and 2.6 billion people lack a way to dispose of their human waste safely. More than two dozen resulting diseases – including cholera – trigger the world’s most serious, and most solvable, public health problems. These diseases kill more children than AIDS, malaria and TB combined. Development experts point out that safe water and sanitation contribute markedly both to global health initiatives and to efforts to keep children in school, alleviate poverty, and empower women. Women and children, as the primary water-haulers across the developing world, bear the brunt of this crisis.


Another event: New focus and commitments for water this year!

3 H2O for Life Schools, Quaker Valley Middle School, PA, Abington High School, PA and HB Woodlawn, VA will attend the event as representatives of H2O for Life.  The students will be part of a high level event that will focus on bringing funds to the forefront of the water crisis.

Location: World Bank Atrium, Washington DC


Event: Water for the World, featuring high level leadership from the US State Department and the World Bank, and commitments from the philanthropic and corporate sectors to help solve global water challenges. The event will feature the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US Government and the World Bank.

Small but important events:

We hope that all teachers, and especially teachers partnered with H2O for Life this year, will take a few moments to remind your students about the global water crisis, and the role that we all must play to be part of the solution! for ideas for your classroom, visit our website to find:

• World Water Day Curricular Connections.
•  View a video with your class.
•  Find ideas to challenge your students to make a difference through small actions.     

Today, I visited Irondale High School.  The student service club held a "speed volunteering" activity.  They assembled hundreds of "Rainmaker" bracelet kits for H2O for Life.  These kits will be available for schools and youth groups around the world. The purpose of the bracelet:

• Buy a kit, and proceeds support a WASH in Schools project
• Become a Rainmaker- tell others about the water crisis
• Wear the bracelet in support of H2O for Life and the work we do (schools, students, and H2O for Life) to "be the change!" 

"Running Dry"- A look at the Global Water Crisis

Several years ago, a good friend introduced me to a  video called "Running Dry".  There was a scene in the video that showed a woman in a refugee camp walking to a truck and placing her dead child into the back of the truck like a cord of fire wood. The truck was filled with bodies of children.  She turned, and slowly walked away, sadly, and without a backward glance.  The scene depicted the desperation and hopelessness of the woman.  Her child died of starvation and lack of water. It made me cry. It also made me realize that I needed to try to do something to help solve this horrible, yet solvable crisis.  We always hope that H2O for Life is making a difference- a measurable difference- one school at a time.  After recently visiting Kenya and Tanzania, I know this is true.  The funds that YOU are raising at your schools, and the efforts you are putting into raising awareness of the water crisis in your schools and communities is a huge part of the work needed to educate our youth to "Be the Change, Save a Life".  The youth of today, will be the changemakers in our world.  We need to be sure they have the information and tools to do so.

Below is an article written by our friend, Jim Thebaut, the producer of "Running Dry"- and more educational vidoes about water.  Visit his website and view clips of the videos and find out more about what the Chronicles Group is doing.  We do have copies of "Running Dry" available.  It is geared for upper middle school and high school students.  If you wish to have a copy, please email us and we'll send one to you as long as we have them in stock.  Please read the article, and post your comments!

__________________________________________________________________________________________
From the Desk of Jim Thebaut, The Chronicles Group
There is an effort by some Members of Congress to cut and/or stop funding Foreign Assistance programs. This is penny-wise and dollar-foolish because, in reality, the seeds of terrorism evolve from overwhelming poverty and the humanitarian crisis!

Foreign Assistance programs are a vital component of national defense and security assistance activity. It is imperative that Foreign Assistance programs be funded to allow NGOs and other humanitarian missions to uplift lives in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia and avoid the temptations of terrorism. It is critical to implement economic reforms in order to generate a viable societal paradigm shift. People don’t rebel and turn to terrorism because they are deep in poverty but because they are shut out of society and have no hope for the future.

Hope will come when people have access to water, sanitation, health care and education. It will come when there is humanitarian aid for refugees and disaster victims. It will come when entrepreneurs can get micro-loans.

As previously suggested in my February newsletter, let’s usher in a new era which utilizes grassroots organization and social networking tools in order to communicate with Congress and public officials the importance of funding Foreign Assistance which supports economic programs as well as improving social and environmental conditions in developing countries, specifically through the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the World Act 2011. The legislation was introduced this week by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Bob Corker.

“Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a right that everyone in the world ought to enjoy but too few are able to realize,” said Durbin in a March 18 press release. “Water access is no longer simply a global health and development issue; it is a long-term threat that is increasingly becoming a national security issue. I hope the Senate can pass this legislation before this problem reaches a devastating tipping point.”

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Jim Thebaut

Chronicles Group

Don't forget to join H2O for Life to Walk for Water on April 16th.  Organize a walk at your school or in your community.  Remember, a small group can make a huge difference.  You may also register your service learning event at ysa.org.  Be counted in the over 1 million youth participating in service on April 16th.

Be the Change, Save a Life.

www.chroniclesgroup.org • www.runningdry.org • donate





















Chronicles Group
800 S Pacific Coast Hwy. #8 #328
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 Email Marketing by

















__________________________________________________________________________________________



From the Desk of Jim Thebaut



There is an effort by some Members of Congress to cut and/or stop funding Foreign Assistance programs. This is penny-wise and dollar-foolish because, in reality, the seeds of terrorism evolve from overwhelming poverty and the humanitarian crisis!



Foreign Assistance programs are a vital component of national defense and security assistance activity. It is imperative that Foreign Assistance programs be funded to allow NGOs and other humanitarian missions to uplift lives in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia and avoid the temptations of terrorism. It is critical to implement economic reforms in order to generate a viable societal paradigm shift. People don’t rebel and turn to terrorism because they are deep in poverty but because they are shut out of society and have no hope for the future.



Hope will come when people have access to water, sanitation, health care and education. It will come when there is humanitarian aid for refugees and disaster victims. It will come when entrepreneurs can get micro-loans.



As previously suggested in my February newsletter, let’s usher in a new era which utilizes grassroots organization and social networking tools in order to communicate with Congress and public officials the importance of funding Foreign Assistance which supports economic programs as well as improving social and environmental conditions in developing countries, specifically through the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the World Act 2011. The legislation was introduced this week by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Bob Corker.



“Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a right that everyone in the world ought to enjoy but too few are able to realize,” said Durbin in a March 18 press release. “Water access is no longer simply a global health and development issue; it is a long-term threat that is increasingly becoming a national security issue. I hope the Senate can pass this legislation before this problem reaches a devastating tipping point.”



Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”



The following are brief “Running Dry” video clips which provide depth and dimension to this discussion. Please circulate!



“Running Dry” intro

“Confronting the Crisis”

“Beyond the Brink” preview





Jim Thebaut

Chronicles Group







www.chroniclesgroup.org • www.runningdry.org • donate




















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