TLU’s Water to Thrive Student Club is getting set to fund its twelfth water well in rural Africa thanks to the generosity of those who attended this spring’s fundraising benefit. The event, hosted by the club along with the TLU Center for Servant Leadership and Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, brought in a total of $2,430 toward the goal of $6,000.
“The evening was a warm, welcoming environment with lively, generous individuals, good food, and thoughtful discussion about the less fortunate in the world we all share,” says club president Jacob Sagstetter.
Water To Thrive is a nonprofit organization that works to bring clean, safe water to communities in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania which are deeply affected by issues with waterborne disease, drought, and pollution, where women and children often must walk as many as six hours to reach a source of clean water. The TLU Water to Thrive Student Club was created to support the mission of the larger organization through fundraising efforts which go toward building water wells in these communities.
“I find the goal of this organization meaningful since clean water access is often something we take for granted here at home despite how hard it is to come by for most of the world,” says Sagstetter. “Solving this single issue of clean water access also alleviates more problems than other issues that are addressed through nonprofit solutions, given how much water is connected to other larger problems such as hygiene, medical issues, education access, work/career access, and basic survival.”
For those who didn’t make it to this year’s benefit, there’s still time to help make a difference in the lives of those to whom the simple gift of clean water would have a profound impact. “Consider donating to a well, given the level of opportunity it presents to a community,” says Sagstetter. “Whatever you donate, you’re utilizing effective altruism as you kill multiple birds—the many issues stemming from lack of clean water—with one stone.”
Follow the link to make your donation. Donation Form