Drury SIFE Students Spend Spring Break on Water Group gives clean water to Zambia, Africa
Springfield, Mo. - Images of sand and surf may come to mind when one thinks of Spring Break. But come March 17, a group of Drury Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) students will devote their break from classes to a different sort of water adventure as they help Convoy of Hope bring clean, drinkable water to impoverished people in Zambia, Africa.
The students’ trip will coincide with World Water Day on March 22, a day designated by the United Nations to draw attention to the more than 1 billion people worldwide who lack access to clean drinking water.
“Our SIFE team is always looking for service and entrepreneurial projects in our community and abroad,” said Chris Mitchell, SIFE Director at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. “A woman with the Peace Corps in Zambia recommended Convoy of Hope’s water purification filters.”
In an area that often uses less than 10 gallons of water per family, per day, the bio-sand filters are capable of providing 60 gallons (240 liters) of clean water a day, which can meet the needs of 15 people.
The filters cost approximately $30 U.S. dollars to make and once completed require no ongoing costs and only minimal upkeep. With a poverty rate of more than 70%, Zambia is one of the poorest countries in the world.
“We’ve hand-picked two families that we will train on the construction of the filters to provide them with the ability to start their own business,” Mitchell said. “This will provide a level of income way beyond what they’re capable of doing now and will make a difference by providing pure water in the surrounding villages.”
It’s not too late for others who want to spend Spring Break doing similar compassion efforts closer to home. Groups are still needed to help with ongoing Gulf Coast reconstruction efforts. And volunteers are needed at Convoy of Hope God Cares Community Outreach events, March 10 in Moss Point, Miss., and March 17 in New Orleans, La.
Convoy of Hope will also host outreach events in Rogersville and Marshfield, Mo. on March 31.
Note to Media: Convoy of Hope staff will instruct the SIFE students on construction of the bio-sand water filtration systems, from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, and 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, at the Convoy of Hope World Headquarters, 330 S. Patterson, in Springfield.
For more information:
Chris Mitchell, Drury SIFE Director , 417/873-6863, 417/425-4155 mobile
Jeff Nene, Media and Communications Director, 417/823-8998, 417/860-2196 mobile
Kristin Kubitschek, Public Relations Director, 417/823-8998
For more than ten years, Convoy of Hope(tm), a nonprofit organization, has provided resources to organizations and churches to meet physical and spiritual needs for the purpose of making the community a better place. This is accomplished through global outreaches, supply lines, and disaster response.