December 18, 2003

By: Dustin Cyril
Website: http://www.water-purification-filters.com

Not sure what to get your child's teacher? Try the gift of water

Every year, parents face the challenge: what to buy for Janie’s teacher? Teachers also face a challenge: what to do with all the strange gifts they get from their students? This year, Starr Klube’s sixth grade class at Sunrise Elementary is giving something that will change lives: the gift of water.

It started last year, when Klube thought of a way to channel all that good will toward a good cause: “I found out about WaterPartners from Lois Nelson, a parent of one of my students, and thought that helping people get safe water would be a great lesson for my students. What really struck me was that someone on this planet dies from sickness caused by impure water …every time I breathe! Clearly, the children can do something here to make a difference.” She asked Marla Smith-Nilson of WaterPartners International, a Seattle resident, to come talk to her class about WaterPartners’ projects. Then, with the assistance of Nelson, Klube organized the students and parents to donate to WaterPartners instead of buying her presents. Nelson says, “I thought it was an excellent project, especially because my daughter and her classmates could learn about world needs beyond our backyards”.

Last year, the students in Klube’s class gave $335 to WaterPartners. Those funds helped people in Cololaca, Honduras start building a safe water system. In this way, the students are giving safe water to families in developing countries, and the gift of extra closet space to their teacher. “Most of us have more than we need,” says Nelson. The activity also helps the U.S. students appreciate their access to safe water, especially in the face of the local drought. Since it was a success last year, Klube asked Smith-Nilson to talk to this year’s class, too. Pam Balentine, whose daughter is in Klube’s class, will send letters to the other students’ parents. Balentine says, “My daughter thinks it’s great. The kids get really involved.”

Each day, an estimated 25,000 people in developing countries die of water-related diseases, and 15,000 children under the age of five die of dehydration. Water-related disease accounts for 80 percent of all sickness in the world and claims approximately 5 million lives each year. It is easy to take for granted access to a safe supply of drinking water. Yet, more than one billion people in developing countries lack this most basic commodity, according to the World Health Organization.

Author Notes:

Dustin Cyril contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.water-purification-filters.com.  Get educated on the benefits of water purification systems and different water filters available.