Nuru: a lack of clean water

Marshall University is one of 26 campuses and two cities in the nation participating in Be Hope to Her, an event hosted by Nuru International on Wednesday.

"Nuru International is a nonprofit organization with a holistic approach," said Kati Bailey, service project director with Marshall's Student Government Association. "In a community dealing with poverty, they help build schools, help with agriculture and farming techniques, they work with water sanitation, help small businesses and build a clinic."

Nuru International uses sustainable solutions to end extreme poverty by creating a Seed Project in a rural community in a developing world.  Nuru focuses on five areas of development within the Seed Projects: Agriculture, water and sanitation, health care, community economic development and education, according Nuru International's Web site.  

"Nuru is currently in Kuria, Kenya and by 2012 they plan to reach out to Nicaragua," Bailey said.

"Kenya women have to carry five gallon buckets on their heads and walk a long distance to a well and have to do this three times a day or more for water," Bailey said.

"There are little girls that are 8 years old who have to carry water and can't go to school," Bailey said. "Be Hope to Her wants to raise awareness for the lack of clean water."

The event will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Memorial Student Center plaza. People who register will carry five gallon buckets filled with water from the fountain. When full, the buckets can weigh 40 pounds. Participants will then carry the buckets around campus.

"There will be a rally, speakers, interactive posters and water facts that show how much water we consume on a daily basis," Bailey said.

"Last year we had 120 registered and that was the most in the nation," Bailey said.

"We were one of the leaders in the nation last year," said Will Holland, communications director of the SGA."We were one of the only campuses to add something unique to the event," Holland said. "We have a symbolic fountain for a symbolic event."

This is the second year Marshall University has participated in the event. Other universities in the region, including West Virginia University and Virginia Tech, also participate.

"Marshall's campus has really responded well to this event," Bailey said. "Who thought carrying a bucket could change your life."

Kimberly Bradley can be contacted at bradley82@marshall.edu.