Families Hunt For Water in Niger Valley

PBS Online Newsletter has published a photo slide show about water problems in Niger, by friend and fellow traveler, journalist Laurel Lundstrum. The photos were taken by Laurel and Ariane Kirtley during our trip to the Azawak in February/March, 2009.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/africa/niger/slideshow_water/index.html?type=flash

Spruce Pine Montessori Students Sing For Water

Anna Stoysich, a 6-9 teacher at Spruce Pine Montessori in North Carolina tells about their recent fundraiser:

Our class studied Africa this year. Lead teacher Mary Wray and I accompanied the students on a field trip to a program just outside of Ashevile, North Carolina called "Water is Life". This field trip influenced us to give to a cause such as yours. The "Water is Life" program taught our students in a hands-on sort of way how clean, accessible water is dispersed throughout the world. We saw on a huge world map (the size of a gymnasium) that many countries in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America do not have access to good clean water.

So our class decided to sing for water as a fundraiser. Every week throughout the school year, a volunteer, Katey Schultz, plays her acoustic guitar and sings with the children for their music class. I recorded the music on my computer and then edited the music to make CDs, titled 2008-2009 "SPMS Music Class with Katey Schultz". We sold these CDs at our end-of-the-year play. So far we have raised about $108.17 for your Wells of Love project. We are continuing to sell the cd's and as we receive more money we will continue to send it to you.

We thank Anna, Mary and the children of Spruce Pine Montessori!
Your songs for water are the songs of life!

$15 to save a life and fight desertification

Dear Friends of the Azawak,

Last week I called upon your generosity to help us raise $25,000 to build a borehole for the desperately thirsty children of Kijigari. I told you the story of Anaha, and her daily struggle against the deadly impact of desertification and drought.

Today, on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, let Anaha's story become your personal story of compassion for the children of the Azawak. Anaha and her friends in Kijigari need YOUR gift to survive.

On this day, I request that you do two things:

1. Contribute at least $15 towards the Kijigari borehole and personally become a part of the global battle against desertification and drought. Click here to make your contribution.

If only 1,000 people were to give $15 (that's about eleven Euros for those of you in Europe), Amman Imman would already be $15,000 closer to its $25,000 goal! Of course, contributions of any size, even larger or smaller, get us one critical step closer to building this much needed borehole. Every dollar helps us change the lives of children who deserve a brighter future. Give your gift today.

2. Forward this message to each and every person you know and post our campaign on your websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

If you and every person you know contribute at least $15, we may actually exceed our $25,000 goal and the children of Kijigari will never again go a day without a glass of water to drink!

I am making my personal $15 gift of life today. Please join me and Amman Imman today by making your life-saving contribution for the children of the Azawak. Believe that YOU can make a difference. Anaha and her friends are counting on you to survive.

Thank you! Together, we will build a borehole in Kijigari!

Yours for the children of the Azawak,

Ariane

Ariane Alzhara Kirtley

Founder and Director

Amman Imman: Water is Life

A program of The Friendship Caravan

phone # USA: +1(203)887-4213

phone # France: +33684468198

phone # Niger: +22797329388

www.ammanimman.org
http://montessori-amman-imman-project.blogspot.com/

June 17: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drough

June 17: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

Help us build a borehole in Kijigari!

Desert and drought are all 8-year-old Anaha has ever known. Despite the 120 degree heat, she giggles and plays while pouring brackish liquid from a hole dug in a dried marsh - she is grateful for the mud that keeps her brothers and sisters alive. She doesn't worry about the month to follow, when the mud will have dried and nothing will be left to cook with or drink. Today she smiles.

You and I already know that desertification threatens the lives and livelihoods of our friends in the Azawak of West Africa, Anaha's home, where more than half a million people live on the brink of survival. On June 17, the United Nations calls the global community to observe "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought".

In honor of this day and of Anaha, join us by contributing to Amman Imman's goal of raising $25,000 towards our work in the Azawak.

This $25,000 will make a critical difference in starting construction on our next borehole in Kijigari, Anaha's village. Less than two years ago, Amman Imman drilled its first borehole in the village of Tangarwashane. Now the children there drink pristine water, bathe, and have plenty of time to attend the newly built school. Their parents now go to adult learning classes and have begun reforesting the land near their borehole. These and other development projects have become possible thanks to the precious water it provides.

On this day, I request that YOU and EACH AND EVERY PERSON I know, do two things:

• Contribute $15 towards the Kijigari borehole today and personally become a part of the global battle against desertification and drought

If only 1,000 people were to give $15 dollars (that’s about eleven Euros for those of you in Europe), Amman Imman would already be 15,000 dollars closer to its 25,000 dollar goal! Of course, contributions of any size, big or small, get us one critical step closer to building this much needed borehole. Every dollar helps us change the lives of children who deserve a brighter future.

• Forward this message to EACH AND EVERY PERSON you know and post our campaign on your websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

If you and every person you know contributes only $15 or less, we may actually exceed our $25,000 goal and the children of Kijigari will never again go a day without a glass of water to drink!

We are depending on you. Without clean water, as many as one in five of the children in Anaha's village die of thirst and dehydration before the age of 5, and another third die of water-related disease. Simple things like a pimple or scraped knee can be life-threatening.

Support our work today and help us build a borehole for Anaha and the other children of the Azawak. They are extremely grateful for your continued support, and depend on your generosity for a future of hope.

Yours for the children of the Azawak,

Ariane Alzhara Kirtley
Founder and Director
Amman Imman: Water is Life

To find out more about Amman Imman and our programs please write us at: info@ammanimman.org

Ariane's Update: Partnerships and Progress in the Azawak

May 18, 2009

Dear Friends of the Azawak,

I am relieved to report that my dear husband Denis has finally returned from Niger after spending the last month working with our local team in Niger. Fassely and I had to return home early due to the unbearable heat and a dangerous meningitis outbreak. Denis remained behind to finish up all the last minute work for Amman Imman in the field. Several positive developments took place over this past month in Niger...Read the rest of Ariane's update on the Amman Imman website or on the Amman Imman blog

The Amman Imman field team: Moumine -- local representative , Denis -- Niger Program Coordinator, Amamatou and Jalal -- field agents

Amamatou and Jalal training Tangarwashane Management Committee vice president, Yacoubou, and treasurer, Raichatou how to maintain financial records

Amman Imman field agent, Amamatou, speaks to women in a camp near Tangarwashane about the borehole, as well as hygiene and sanitation

Moumine, Denis, Amamatou, and Jalal in frount of the Tchinwagari water tower

Lessons from A Walk For Water

On behalf of Amman Imman, I’d like to thank everyone from the Barrie, Oneness and Aidan school communities for their support and participation during A Walk For Water. While we are still in the process of calculating the total amount of money raised for the next borehole, we know that everyone enjoyed a beautiful hike in the woods. For many, A Walk for Water at Lake Frank has become a yearly tradition, an event through which families experience what it means to take action together and make a difference in the world.
I heard many stories that day that made me realize how important Amman Imman’s work in the Azawak has become here in America for the students and families who have become our ardent supporters.

For three years, Ryan has participated in A Walk for Water. For his family, cultivating values of service in their children are very important. Every year with his parent’s support, Ryan approaches his friends and neighbors to sponsor his three-mile walk. Although he feels a little shy about asking, he has gotten better and better at explaining the water crisis and how his school’s involvement in the Amman Imman project has changed lives in the Azawak. The response from his neighbors, when they give a donation every year, builds his confidence.

Rose’s mom told me that her daughter makes discerning choices on how to spend her allowance money. She will often choose not to buy a toy or gadget saying, I don’t really need that. Yet, when it came time for A Walk for Water, Rose insisted on contributing $100 of her own savings to Amman Imman. (Please note, I have not used Rose’s real name because she wanted to make this donation anonymously, rather than bring attention to herself.)

Five-year-old twins Kieran and Callum attended A Walk for Water for the 2nd year. Their mom, Christine, a teacher at Oneness-Family School, took her time walking the trail with the boys, their friend Josh, and 11 year old husky dog Colby. For the boys (and for their mom keeping them on the trail!), it was a great achievement to complete these three miles. Christine and her family, including 19 year old Sophie, middle schooler Sebi, and the twins, have made A Walk for Water and raising funds for the children of the Azawak a special event for their family. Even the five year olds ask their neighbors for money to help the “Aaazawaak” .

Of the seven people who sponsored Wynne’s Walk for Water this year, her own contribution provided her largest sponsorship. Each year Wynne chooses a charity to donate a portion of her allowance. This year she chose Amman Imman because “everyone deserves to have water”. According to the number of sponsorships she collected, Wynne qualifies to receive an incentive prize. However, she says that even if prizes were not offered she still would have approached the same sponsors and asked them for a donation.

At the rally, I spoke about the importance and magnitude of everyone’s effort just to be there, and how whether they knew it or not, every one of their contributions, no matter how small, does count. As I learn about fundraising, I’ve discovered that most of the good that is done in the world is not funded by foundations or large corporations, but rather by individuals like you and me who care. I think this is a tremendous insight that brings credence to the adage “You can make a difference”. We have this example in our own country as President Barack Obama funded his election through contributions from average Americans. When we work together, we can really and truly make the world a better place. While bringing life and hope to the Azawak by building boreholes, we also bring life and hope to our own communities and children.

The wonderful day we had this past Saturday would not have been possible without our volunteers, walkers and their sponsors: teachers, family members, friends, and students from the three schools that came together at Lake Frank, and those who participated through sponsorships. Thank You!