WaTER Center Representatives Present at Local School

Local school children welcomed representatives from the OU WaTER Center this past January to learn more about the world’s water crisis. Students from Terra Verde Discovery School of Norman listened to the Director of the WaTER Center, Dr. David Sabatini, as he identified opportunities and ways in which the WaTER Center works towards finding solutions to water issues in developing countries.  He was accompanied by staff member Cindy Vitt Murphy, who spoke to the awareness and importance of clean water, sanitation and hygiene in our world, and Dean Huffine, engineering student and president of Sooners Without Borders, who outlined in detail opportunities for international service projects in these impoverished countries available to students of the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Sabatini addresses the Terra Verde students about the WaTER Center

Sooners Without Borders President Dean Huffine tells about engineering experiences in developing regions

The Terra Verde students’ interest in global water issues began through reading the book A Long Walk to Water, which inspired the students to learn more about the need for clean water.  Since that time, they have visited water treatment plants, learned about local pollution problems, researched companies providing water solutions, experienced gathering and filtering their own murky water, and began projects to raise money for those less fortunate, all the while, developing a sense of empathy and understanding. 

29 lbs of can tabs were collected for Sister Rosemary's vocational school in Uganda

During the visit from the WaTER Center, the students presented Dr. Sabatini with nearly 30 lbs of can tabs which are used by a vocational school in Uganda run by longtime WaTER Center friend Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe.  They also had hands on experience with what it is like to carry 40 lbs of water. Notes sent to the WaTER Center after the presentation, clearly revealed sincere student interest and desire to learn and become more involved in solutions to this most important global issue.  We look forward to learning more about the activities of these young students and budding problem solvers and philanthropists. 
 

Students experience what it's like to carry 40 lbs of water, the average amount carried by women in Africa