Vox recently posted a short 3-minute video that captures a little of what happens on a well repair expedition in Africa. Got 3 minutes? Check it out here…
News and Features
Making Education Work
This coming Saturday, students who participate in the Books+ scholarship program will be conferencing with Vox’s Mike Takas. Mpho Putu will lead the conference in South Africa. The scholarship recipients will go over reporting methods and be trained to be mentors for younger students. All Books+ recipients are required to give back to their communities by mentoring younger students. (Some of the Books+ scholarship recipients are pictured.)
In other Books+ news, late this spring Vox will be delivering 5000 books to students in three primary schools in Pimville and Kliptown, South Africa: Leihlo Primary, Paul Mosaka Primary and Tshebedisano Primary. Books will also be delivered to the Kliptown Youth Program and the Kliptown Preschool. Learn more about Books + or find out how you can get a book into the hands of one of these students.
Back in the CKGR
Preparations are currently being made for a Vox team to travel from Johannesburg, South Africa to (Molapo) Botswana next month. The expedition, led by Wikkie Duplesis, centers on outfitting a newly drilled borehole with a borehole pump and a reverse osmosis unit with desalination filter unit – giving local Bushmen access to clean, drinkable water for the first time ever in this area of the Kalahari Desert. Team leader, Jaco vanRensburg indicates that the project will take approximately 7-10 days to complete.
Celebrating [well]
Kids in Nazimoja, Mozambique celebrate the gift of clean water and their newly restored well. Thanks to all of you who help us provide clean water access to people in Africa!
Learn how you can start a campaign this holiday season to help an entire village receive clean water here.
School of Water
Vox’s Paul Kaufman and Brian King presented about the need for clean water in Africa to the 2nd grade classes at Rosepark Elementary School today.
Immediately following the classroom presentation, the 2nd graders gathered outside around Vox’s well repair trailer. Every student got to pump the Mozambican well and carry water in a bucket, similar to what most African children do everyday.
Special thanks to Melanie Scott for leading her students in raising money for well rehabilitations in Africa. Over the past 3 years Rosepark has worked with Vox to give hundreds of people access to clean water in Mozambique.
School of Water from VoxUnited on Vimeo.
Water Safari 2011 Mozambique
Water Safari 2011 Mozambique was a huge success on all levels. The goals this time, were to rehabilitate non-functioning wells in three districts in northern Mozambique and support local well committee structures with training and access to repair parts. Food for the Hungry handled all ground preparation by assisting with paperwork, national permissions, and setting up official meetings with strategic government leaders. VOX provided funding, repair expertise, training, all repair parts and tools, along with a surplus of parts for future sustainability. By the end of the project, an estimated 40,000 people received access to clean water via the newly rehabilitated wells. Map the results.
Vox is currently working on official reports, evaluations and next steps for 2012 Water Safari Projects. In addition, Vox will continue water work in Botswana this January 2012.
RTW Photo Competition Highlights
River to Well is a photo competition based out of Lawrence, KS where 100% of the entry fees support Vox water projects. This year, RTW took in over 300 entries from all around the world, which is more than any other years past.
In the two months that the River to Well Photo Competition was open for submissions, in addition to the three nights of photo exhibitions across three states, RTW raised close to $5,500 for the well restorations. River to Well has shared the vision of using photography to meet the need for clean water in the world. We couldn’t be more excited about next year.
Here are some galleries from the events in Kansas, Colorado and Texas, as well as the winning photos.
Downloadable Holiday Gifts
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your brother, cousin, boss, kids’ teacher, or the random person whose name you drew in the ‘Secret Santa’ gift exchange?
Celebrate [well] this holiday season by giving the gift of clean water. Vox makes it easy to give world-changing gifts to those around you by offering downloadable cards that you can print or email.
SURF [well]
Wet Mitten Surf Shop in Grand Haven, Michigan is raffling a 9ft 3in McTavish Fireball Surfboard donated by Global Surf Industries. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to fund a well restoration by Vox United that provides clean, safe water for a village of 1500 people in Africa.
With a goal of raising $2500, tickets will be available for $25 a piece or 5 for $100. No limit on quantity purchased.
Please visit Wet Mitten soon to pick up your ticket(s), give them a call at 616.844.3388 to make a donation over the phone, or visit their SURF [well] campaign page.
Water Safari 2011 Underway
The Water Safari Well Restoration Expedition in Mozambique is underway. The team met with provincial government this morning and is heading into the bush. The team will rehabilitate at least 30 wells along the Tanzania/Mozambique border and conduct field training for local leaders in well mechanics and restoration.
