Water is everywhere. Above the Earth in the form of both air and clouds. On the surface of Earth in the forms of rivers, oceans, and ice. Inside the Earth just right under the surface. 

Could this be why it is the most basic, yet taken for granted, human need? Because it’s everywhere.

With nearly 71% of the Earth’s surface being water, and for a person who has water at their daily disposal it can be hard to understand how water could be unavailable, or that people could be going without. 

I mean if you think about it, people in the United States even associate water with recreational activities and even vacation, some people might even take its far to say that being in or near the water is their “happy place”.

Now let’s think about a few things. 

How many times a day do you think the average person fills their water bottle? Also to keep in mind, more than likely the water bottle “has” to be an insulated HydroFlask to keep the water perfectly chilled. Think about it.

How many times a week do you think the average person takes a shower? If not one daily, but potentially multiple daily depending on their profession and lifestyle. Think about it.

How many times a month do you think the average person leaves the water running for the duration of time while brushing their teeth? Also, if this is multiplied by two, considering the person brushes their teeth both morning and evening. Think about it.

Think about the number of conversations that have been exchanged between individuals, over what’s considered to be a highly debatable topic of “What brand of water is the best?”. I mean it’s definitely, Ice Mountain, am I right or are they all the same?

During our lives, we all have been guilty of at least one or multiple of these instances.With these instances, it exemplifies the role of water within the average United States citizen’s life. These instances also only begin to scratch the surface of how people are able to quickly take for granted the access and availability of water we have within our country. 

Speaking statistically, the average person is made up of 60% of water. Our hearts and brains are composed of 73% water. Our lungs are composed of 83% water. People need water. It is part of our physical make-up but also an attribute in ensuring quality of life throughout other aspects of our lives that physical well-being impacts. 

It is devastating to think that there are people lacking access and availability to water, and that ultimately impacts their quality of life.

With that being said, that statement takes us to a different location of the world, that being rural African Communities within Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Within these communities, water is not as easily available as it is within the United States, and if it is, the water is both unclean and unsafe for people to use, but they are still using it because it is all they have. And as we know, people need water. 

For women and children within these communities, they will wake up early in the morning to spend approximately 6 walking, waiting, and fetching for the unclean, unsafe water to bring back to their family. Within their walks for water, there are obstacles and challenges that both women and children encounter. 

For the children’s challenges, they are spending on average 6 hours of their day walking, waiting, and fetching for the water. With that being said, it leaves little time in their day for education. Will a child fetch water or will they attend school? Children have to make a choice or the choice is ultimately made for them. Something to also be considered with children not being able to attend school is the consideration of young girls; since they are not having the opportunity to be educated, they are getting married younger which then leads to becoming a wife, then mother, and then serving their family without ever having been able to receive an education.

And for women’s obstacles, they experience feelings of fear and uncertainty as they are traveling lengthy distances in unfamiliar surroundings putting them at a higher risk of potentially being sexually assaulted as they are walking for water. With that, the walk for water is long, if a woman is spending her entire day walking, waiting, and fetching water she is not able to upkeep with the household demands of making a house a home, therefore dinner is not on the table when her husband gets home and the house isn’t clean; depending on the relationship and circumstances, this can lead to instances of domestic abuse.

For the basic need of water, women and children are sacrificing their quality of life to provide for the people of their communities. Also to mention, with the unclean and unsafe water, it is often ridden with waterborne diseases, then bringing an entirely different set of health related problems to these rural African communities because people are getting sick from the water. 

When we stop and think about it, it is incredibly hard to wrap our minds around. This concept of how desperate the people within the communities are for water, then here in the United States we won’t drink a bottle of water if it isn’t our preferred brand or we won’t drink a bottle of water if it is warm. But this entitlement comes from having water at our fingertips, and not having to think twice about where it comes from or how our lives would be different if we didn’t have it so readily available.

For the people of these rural African communities, this is where the blessing of the work done by Water to Thrive comes into effect. With Water to Thrive building a well within communities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda they are essentially being “built a blessing” when a well is established within a community.

With the funding and building of a well, a community is able to have easier access to clean and safe water which will ultimately improve and impact the quality of their lives positively.

With having access to clean and safe water, the aspects of life positively impacted are overall better health, improved sanitation and hygiene, more opportunity for education, and decreased instances of both sexual assault and domestic violence.

Also, the time it takes to walk, wait, and fetch for water is decreased exponentially because the clean water source within the community is placed in a central, practical location that allows for convenient access allowing for women and children to pursue other endeavors enhancing their quality of life with either pursuing education, taking up a trade, or developing a craft for revenue. 

Overall, the work that Water to Thrive does to fund and build a well within a community helps aid in the Global Water Crisis and impact the lives of the users for the better, while also providing longevity and sustainability within the community and their relationship with water. 

Through my internship position, I have been able to be a small part in making a larger impact with the work I have done this summer. For my internship project, I was first able to do Marketing and Outreach within my local area, with hopes to potentially spread the message about Water to Thrive. From there, my project was extended to Media Outreach with my goal being to initiate and implement the summer Facebook Live Series, “Where There is a Well, There is Hope”. This Series was educationally based, with each week being centered around a different topic relating to the Global Water Crisis, Water to Thrive, and the work being done through the nonprofit. All of the sessions can be found on the Water to Thrive Facebook Page. 

Being an intern with Water to Thrive this summer, I have felt incredibly thankful to have had this eye opening, perspective changing experience in relation to educating and understanding in greater depth the Global Water Crisis. Then being able to pay my knowledge forward in raising awareness and educating on the Global Water Crisis while also sharing the mission of Water to Thrive with others.

I began the application process for the CAPS fellowship by working on a personal statement which took me days – even weeks – to complete. Coming to Valparaiso University, I had struggled trying to simply decide what I wanted to study. Now I found myself sitting in front of a blank page on my computer screen struggling to discuss what my interests were or what possible career endeavors I hoped for in the near future. The only thing I have been certain of since childhood is my desire to help others. Throughout my life, numerous things such as hobbies, sports, and extracurriculars have pulled my attention in various directions. However, the one thing that threaded everything together was my desire to help people.

It was not until nearing the end of my internship experience and having an intellectual conversation with a mutual friend of mine that I discerned what it is I am called to do. Over coffee, this woman and I were discussing my current internship with Water to Thrive and the work I was doing. One of the things that I mentioned was how much I loved that I was working both in the field of communication doing community outreach, but also fundraising, which is more related to the field of nonprofit. I explained that I was experiencing the same amount of fulfillment as I had assumed only came from the types of helping professions that work hands-on with others, such as doctors, counselors, or teachers. The epiphany I had when my coffee date responded to this totally changed my viewpoint on a profession in fundraising.

Just because I was not providing hands-on help or services to others this summer does not mean I was not doing anything of benefit. Raising funds in order to allow these opportunities to occur genuinely was and is the root of all positive outcomes for an organization. At Water to Thrive, the work I did directly impacted the way that the business could run and to what extent their organization can help those in need. Just because this career field is one that is more business-focused does not mean that it is any less important and in alignment with the mission of the organization. Working at Water to Thrive was so eye-opening and only furthered my interests and desire to fundraise for a non-profit organization post-graduation. I have already begun applying for job opportunities since I am graduating in December, and without this summer internship, I would have never known how to narrow down this search.

During my time in DC I have found a favorite pizza place, as one always should when living in a new place. Situated perfectly on the route to the Lincoln memorial, &Pizza is the ideal pick-me-up after a long day of sightseeing and easily found when wanting to meet a new friend for dinner. It’s also a chipotle-style pizza place, meaning that you’re able to customize your pizza from the sauce to the drizzle on top and an excellent size for dinner plus leftovers. I’ve found myself going often when with others and it was the first place I ate when moving in for the summer. Like &Pizza, my time as a CAPS fellow has been very customizable both in and out of the workspace. I have been able to choose whether to live at home or move to a big city, to work with child welfare or senior services, to have one roommate or three in my apartment, and how to engage with the CAPS community and with communities here in Washington DC. 

The one decision I was most excited about making was working with Lutheran Services in America as my CAPS fellowship. I remember my interview fondly. I immediately felt welcomed and that I would have the opportunity to explore different sectors within LSA and be able to learn along the way. This rang true throughout my internship, as each person I interacted with at work welcomed me with warm smiles and encouraging comments. 

A lot about this summer left me with more questions than answers about my future and even about what the rest of my time at Valpo will be like. I have questions like, do I want to go grad school and when? What do I study after undergrad? Where do I want my networks to be? Where should I live to cultivate these networks? What jobs do I want to look for after my undergraduate degree? However, my time at Lutheran Services in America has shown me that being within a supportive work environment is one of my most important bases for my future. To be supported and able to receive constructive feedback among colleagues is essential to a successful organization. 

Another thing I’ve learned through my experiences this summer is the importance of community and networks. When arriving in DC, I knew I still wanted to be involved with my faith life even when away from home and the Valpo community. So, I joined a local church and was able to spend the summer making connections with young adults around the nation’s capital. Some of them were young professionals who had lived here for several years and some were summer interns like me. By listening to their stories and journeys I was able to learn valuable advice while creating relationships that will hopefully last beyond a summer. I was able to get an inside look on what living in the capital is like when it’s more than just a few weeks. I also learned the struggles and joys of other internships and working environments which will inevitably help shape my professional path in the future. 

Traveling to a new city is one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out where to go, planning itineraries, and observing the distinct culture of the new place. So, needless to say, I was elated to get the chance to stay in Austin, Texas for three weeks as part of my internship with Water to Thrive. Before arriving, I spent time researching and learning about what Austin was like and all of the activities to-do. I have learned when traveling that it is better not to hold tight to expectations, and to come into a new place with as open a mind as possible. Of course, it is impossible to have no preconceived ideas of what a new place will be like, but it has helped me to truly enjoy a new place.

Keeping an open mind while traveling has also translated into starting my internship. When starting anything new, it is easy to have an idea of what it will be like. This could be either extreme excitement or dread, or something in-between. For me, a fresh graduate, the transitioning time between college and “the real world” has been different to what I thought. Yet, it has shown me how I have no control over specifics, but I do have control over what I do and how I think about it. For example, even though I may not be able to understand traffic or the weather, I can adjust my attitude about it. For example, even when it begins to down-pour while paddle boarding, I can keep a cheery attitude and recognize that the rain was actually helpful in cooling me down after being in 90 degree Texas weather. This is just a small silly example, but the same is true as I continue to work through my internship. 

Water to Thrive does amazing work in building sustainable water wells in rural East Africa, which is the kind of work I am extremely passionate about. It is hard to find an organization that cares so deeply about truly changing lives, and not just creating band-aid fixes to massive global issues. It is also difficult to find an organization working on international aid that does not allow donors to go and physically help with the work. I think this well-intentioned help can often cause more hurt, and works to boost the ego of Americans who travel across the globe to help with a cause. Donors may visit the sites, but they are not allowed to help with building the wells themselves. Thus, at Water to Thrive, the work here in Austin is mostly to achieve funding so that local communities in Africa can build and establish their wells. After taking many classes on how to serve global communities well, I was ecstatic to learn about how Water to Thrive effectively makes a difference in the world without playing into the white-savior trope. Of course the role of the donor is important, but what is most important is the community being served. This is what caught my attention when I first learned about Water to Thrive. 

My role as an intern is to begin establishing corporate partnerships with local businesses— something I have never really done before. I knew it would be a challenge on both a large scale especially post-2020 since so many businesses have struggled financially. However, I also knew it would be challenging on a personal scale since I have had to teach myself about how businesses work and how to make a corporate business feasible. Something I subconsciously expected, however, was that businesses would be extremely receptive and responsive to my pitch. Why wouldn’t they want to support a cause that is so meaningful? Although I always try to come into new situations with few high expectations, I found that I do sometimes have the idea that everyone cares deeply about global causes. In my role, which has been mostly research, outreach, and some designing, it has been difficult to decipher the interest level of those that I am reaching out to. 

Last week, I was able to tag along with Kim and Morgan in asking for specific donations to local businesses for Water to Thrive’s silent auction. In this in-person situation, I was able to finally see the generous spirit of business owners and managers. It was encouraging to hear people’s intentions and excitement over our mission. Austin seems like a very generous city, it is one that has different initiatives to help community members. Most businesses already have some sort of philanthropic endeavor, and it is easy to see why Austin is the fastest growing city in North America.

So, for me, even though my work is not directly with those that Water to Thrive is serving, I have to remind myself that the mission is greater than my own small tasks. Discouragement is part of working for a non-profit, simply because of the unknown nature of where funding will come from. Yet, conversely, there is great excitement and joy in seeing the generosity and willingness to give in these particularly hard times. Being in the office where I get to see images of joy of those in rural communities receiving water, has also helped me in maintaining my passion for my work. 

My own frustration and joy has been part of the beauty of this summer. Challenges help me grow, and I can already see how my summer at Water to Thrive has impacted me and exposed the kind of work that I enjoy. It is easy to get caught up in the small inconveniences of my life here— a lack of response, a wrong bus, an unexpected rainstorm— and yet, these are the things that make this experience so unique. I have the chance to take these small problems and change my perspective. Instead of inconveniences they are an opportunity for a follow up, for more sight-seeing, and for the chance to see a rainbow.

My time at LINC Ministries is quickly dwindling; I am feeling very downhearted towards this memorable chapter in my life ending. I have felt incredibly humbled to be both a CAPS Fellow and an intern for my dream nonprofit. This month I have started a project that has differentiated from the rest of my internship tasks. I have had the privilege of kickstarting a LINC Ministries project called Root to Rise. Saint Philip is a Lutheran church nestled in between the neighborhoods of Logan Square and Rogers Park of Chicago. This region is overflowing with diversity; many of the residents are from different countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. The church has an abandoned Early Childhood Center which has been closed for three years now. At one point, learning was cultivated inside these walls for young children through the hands of passionate teachers, however, it is now a desolate and somber building. Thankfully, starting in the fall, the building will be transformed into a cultural arts and community center for families and children in the area. During the day the community center will house a workspace for residents to come and spend time in. During the evening, the building will become an afterschool program for students. It is crucial that these immigrant students have a place to congregate at night because they are unfortunately susceptible to becoming vulnerable to gang-related encounters. The children will be given the opportunity to express themselves individually and culturally during their time at Root to Rise. Classes such as dance, art, yoga, and other similar activities will be offered for the students. These classes will allow the students to learn more about their abilities as well as the abilities of others who may be different from them. This building will soon encourage hope for this flourishing community– the seed will be planted, the roots will firmly create a foundation, and the fellowship will rise.

In the meantime, I have been preparing Saint Philip for this impending project. Currently, the building has been used as a dumping ground for Saint Philip’s items; my job has been to organize and clear out these items. I have found myself in Chicago’s unpredictable summer days; I experienced 90 degree weather in that unairconditioned building and a brisk 60 degree day, preparing the building for renovations. I filled up over thirty trash bins, swept for two hours, hosted two curb alerts, and donated items. I have accumulated sweat and dirt, gained a new knowledge of social work, thanks to Brene Brown’s podcasts, and walked in with far too many iced matcha lattes.

In all seriousness, I have enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that have come out of this project. I have had the privilege of connecting with the community through hosting curb alerts and community meetings. The curb alerts that we hosted at Saint Philip were a joy; residents of the community were able to come out, grab free items, and learn about the upcoming project at Saint Philip. It was encouraging to meet so many community members and learn about their stories. My boss and I were able to develop relationships and make connections for the future. I learned that with any opportunity comes many challenges. Clearing out Saint Philip was not easy; a lot of the time, my thoughts felt clouded and my body felt weak from all of the physical toil. I did enjoy the stillness that came with the building though, I found myself dreaming of the potential of it. What allowed me to keep going was the dreamt up visualization of my end goal. I knew that this cultural arts and community center would not be able to exist without the clearing of the building. I knew that I had a responsibility to fulfill, for the community. Through this experience, I was able to learn that hard work always pays off; nonprofit work is not always pretty but the end result is what makes it worth it. It took strong discipline to work on one project continually, but I am so glad that I kept with it. I hope to come back to Root to Rise years from now and see the impact that it has had on the community. I know in my heart that every long day spent at this building will soon produce fruitful fellowship for a community in need.