my research and writings

Project Name*  WATER 4 SCHOOLS

We will positively impact the lives of primary schoolchildren in rural South African townships by equitably providing clean water to schools in need and supporting the health of students to ensure they can learn and thrive.

Project Country*

South Africa

Project City, Town, State*

Kabokweni/Ngodini (township), Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Tell us about the project you are seeking funding for?*

This project will focus on raising funds for purchasing and installing water tanks at primary schools with no secure water sources, and buying water to fill these tanks. For many rural communities, water is often a huge source of stress and serious health issues. Many schools are not on the municipal water system and have no choice but to buy water, install water tanks, or dig a borehole, all of which are expensive. In South Africa, 2,100 children under 5 die everyday from communicable diseases, many of which are contracted through contaminated drinking water. My goal is to make a difference in the lives of as many schoolchildren as I can, hoping to turn this initial project into an organized and sustainable non-profit that will positively impact the health and of children internationally.

What steps will you take to carry out this project?*

I have been in recent communication with a contact in South Africa that I met during my visit there last year. She works with many schools with major needs such as a reliable water source and improvements to infrastructure. We have spoken about and identified the most pressing needs at many rural schools in the surrounding area and the most efficient solutions. I have identified the specific costs of supplies needed and the schools most in need of clean water. Once an initial impact has been made, I will organize online and in-person fundraisers using impact stories. I will coordinate with my contact in South Africa to identify other schools in need of water tanks and water. I hope to use Pollination Project funds to make my first donation, organize the distribution process, use them as inspiration to incentivize further donations, and start the non-profit 501c3 that can apply for grants and formal fundraising.

Share who or what inspired you to create this project?*

When I first arrived in South Africa with several of my schoolmates on a service trip, we were greeted by students at Entokozweni Primary School singing and greeting us. Despite being exhausted from the long journey, their positive energy immediately lifted my spirits. During our first day working with the students, I noticed their main drinking water source. The pipes and basin were significantly in need of replacement. This inspired me to make a difference. After returning from that trip, I took a course about health disparities in the Global South with Brown University. For my final project, I crafted a research proposal related to this project and based it off of my prior experiences in South Africa.

What is your relationship to the community you are serving?*

My relationship to children of rural South Africa is personal. I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to visit and spend time with them. Their day to day lives are very different from mine, and I was impacted by their perseverance and positivity. Knowing where I live, we take many things for granted, especially water. I want to help these children be children, be students, and not have their futures at risk because of contaminated water. Many children do not have access to basic needs to stay safe and healthy. As someone who has lived a more privileged life, and who has a passionate to encourage others to support this cause, I know I can help.

​What is the projected impact ​of your project over the next 12 months?*

My goal is to start by purchasing and installing five water tanks at rural South African primary schools in need of clean water within 12 months of receiving Pollination Project funding. With the initial phase made possible by a Pollination Project Grant, and my additional fundraising efforts online and at school, I plan to further my impact. The initial grant will make a huge difference at four schools through the purchase of water tanks and municipal water for schools unable to afford them. Through the donations transferred directly to the schools in need, the resulting impact will be documented, shared, and used to inspire the next steps: a broader fundraising effort to increase impact beyond the initial Pollination amount to meet the year one goals. 

If your project meets your expectations, what comes next?*

The initial personal fundraising campaign and possible Pollination Grant will create impact and momentum. I will use the impact after the initial donation to connect and collaborate with a larger network that has possibilities for fundraising. This includes the Round Square network, of which my school is a member, that has over 250 schools in over 50 countries, which will allow me to generate visibility and awareness of my project. The impact will be documented on a website and will create opportunities for a more formalized GoFundMe campaign. If this is successful, I hope for this project to grow into a 501c3 non-profit organization. I will look to partner with other NGOs also working to fulfill these needs. Eventually, I hope to move beyond schools and include other institutions such as orphanages and community centers. I want to expand beyond rural South Africa, as I am aware of similar needs in Kenya, Tanzania, Central America, and Southeast Asia.

Will other organizations be involved in this project?*

While I do not yet have partnerships with other non-profits in place, my initial impact will allow me access to form such partnerships, with Round Square, an international network of more than 250 schools in 50 countries and other NGOs who have similar interests and do work in nearby regions of Africa. I have built a relationship with a contact in South Africa who will help identify and transfer funds as needed.

Budget

Project budget*

$1000

How will the funds from the TPP grant be used?

The $1000 Pollination Project funds will be used to make an initial impact through purchasing water tanks and water for primary schools in the Kabokweni Township, South Africa. This will be the start for greater impact as a non-profit.

TPP Budget $1000 (USD) = 17,500 (South African Rand)

R11,000 ($630) - Covers the repair of a currently broken borehole pump at Vulemehlo Primary School. It is situated in the Kabokweni Township. They have an enrollment of 259 pupils, from Grade 1 to Grade 7.

R2000 ($120) - Covers the installation of a small water tank for a recently installed kitchen at Entokozweni Primary School. It is in the Kabokweni Township.

R2000 ($120) - Provides three months of municipal water supply for Sifundindlela Primary School. It is situated in the Kabokweni Township. There are 1215 students from Grade R (preschool) to Grade 7. They have a borehole but it no longer yields water.

Will additional funding be needed for this project to be successful?*

While this funding will make a huge difference, I hope this seed funding is only the beginning of the difference I hope to make. In addition to this grant, I will host a fundraising campaign, talk to my classmates, friends, and family, and organize fundraisers at my school and in my community on a regular basis.

Are you using any non-financial resources for your project?*

The main resource is my own time and compassion to help these children. I will make the most of my time, my family’s connections, and the relationships I have built from my South Africa service trip. Recently, I had the opportunity to represent my school at the International Round Square Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where I made more connections that I will utilize when growing this project. My friends and family are committed to volunteering, building a website, and hosting GoFundMe campaigns. Currently, I am interning in the pharmacy department at a local regional medical center, doing a clinical internship with Stanford University, and also a Global Education intern developing international connections for my school. GoFund me campaigns. I will utilize all of these connections to build support.

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