SUMMARY
Over the last 7 years, I have dedicated my life to gaining the skills needed to pursue my vision: Providing clean water to developing countries through education, sustainable treatment methods, and environmental health. After attaining my Bachelor and Master Degrees in environmental studies and watershed science, traveling throughout many developing countries, and leading multiple non-profits, I am finally ready to start applying my skills and pursuing my life's work. This November, I will be setting off on a 6-month journey to Nepal with the focus of creating the groundwork to bring water filtration, environmental sustainability, and environmental education to the youth (orphanages and schools) in rural Nepalese communities. This crowdfunding campaign is to support PHASE ONE of the project. Please continue reading to see how I'm going to make this vision a reality.
OVERVIEW
The lack of access to clean and safe drinking water is one of the leading causes of death in developing countries. Water is vital for life, and when there is no option for clean water, communities make due with what they have; this is often localized water sources with little or no filtration, resulting in a high contamination of dangerous viruses and bacteria. Hepatitis A, Cholera, Dysentery, Polio, Norovirus, Typhoid Fever, plus many other diseases, are all related to contaminated drinking water.These water-borne illnesses pose the greatest risks to infants and young children due to their undeveloped immune systems, with the highest concentration of mortality in developing countries occurring between the ages of 0 to 5 years old.
In April, 2015, a devastating earthquake hit Nepal, killing an estimated 9,000 people, destroying homes, communities, and greatly reducing the ability for people to maintain and sustain life in an already impoverished nation. Nepal has significantly suffered from the lack of access to clean water throughout the past, with over an estimated 6,000 people dying from diarrhoeal diseases and enteroviruses annually, and these statistics were calculated BEFORE this year's earthquake. Creating a sustainable, long-lasting, solution to poor water quality in both urban and rural areas is desperately needed to insure the rebuilding of the Nepalese communities.
STEPS TO SUCCESS
PHASE ONE (NOV 2015 - MAY 2016): FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS (What we are funding now)
The first step, which will take place this six-month trip, is to do preliminary research on the ground floor. This will focus on assessing the magnitude of the water crisis following the earthquake, with a concentration on orphanages and schools in Pokhara and surrounding areas. This will be done through getting to know these communities on a personal level, consistent two-way, solution based communication with the organizations, and working with water agencies and organizations within the area.
In addition to creating a personal relationship with the target organizations, I will be conducting research on water supply, quantity, quality, and hydrology. This research will lead into a comprehensive report on the amount of potential potable water in the region, an epidemiological analysis of common contaminants in untreated water, and the potential for different filtration methods, based on pressure, total dissolved solids, turbidity, etc... Understanding the magnitude of the problem and the feasibility of providing solutions is vital to making significant, long-lasting solutions that can be sustained by the communities throughout the future.
PHASE TWO (MAY 2016 - OCT 2016): NON-PROFIT CREATION
After the feasibility analysis, it will be clear on what the goals, targets, and objectives will be for the initiative. Once I have a clear understanding on the magnitude of the issue, what is needed to solve the issue, and how the solution will be implemented, creating a focused and successful program will be feasible. In addition, having objectives, timelines, and indicators for success will make receiving grant funding more attainable. I'm confident that with my understanding of water quality, community based conservation, hydrology, along with my past experience in nonprofit coordination and community involvement in Nepal, I will be able to create and manage a nonprofit that will create change.
PHASE THREE (OCT 2016 +): IMPLEMENTATION
This phase will focus on implementing water filtration at multiple orphanages and schools within Pokhara and surrounding areas. This will be done through using funds to create on-site water storage and filtration at the selected locations, educating the organizations, children, and community leaders on how the process works, and creating a local office that is managed by Nepalese community members. In addition, this phase will also focus on expanding the non-profit through creating new funding opportunities, both locally and abroad, to increase the amount of organizations and communities that we can provide with clean potable water.
Thank you for your support! Together we can help protect our global communities through healing our shared environment.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Environmental Studies, B.A. - University of California, Santa Barbara
Coastal and Watershed Science and Policy, M.Sc. - California State University, Monterey Bay; Monterey Institute of International Studies
6 week field study course in Belize on community conservation, water quality, and environmental health in developing countries
Coordinator for Sprout Up, Santa Cruz environmental education non profit over two years
Water quality coordinator and program developer for Surfrider Foundation, Santa Cruz Chapter
Over the last 7 years, I have dedicated my life to gaining the skills needed to pursue my vision: Providing clean water to developing countries through education, sustainable treatment methods, and environmental health. After attaining my Bachelor and Master Degrees in environmental studies and watershed science, traveling throughout many developing countries, and leading multiple non-profits, I am finally ready to start applying my skills and pursuing my life's work. This November, I will be setting off on a 6-month journey to Nepal with the focus of creating the groundwork to bring water filtration, environmental sustainability, and environmental education to the youth (orphanages and schools) in rural Nepalese communities. This crowdfunding campaign is to support PHASE ONE of the project. Please continue reading to see how I'm going to make this vision a reality.
OVERVIEW
The lack of access to clean and safe drinking water is one of the leading causes of death in developing countries. Water is vital for life, and when there is no option for clean water, communities make due with what they have; this is often localized water sources with little or no filtration, resulting in a high contamination of dangerous viruses and bacteria. Hepatitis A, Cholera, Dysentery, Polio, Norovirus, Typhoid Fever, plus many other diseases, are all related to contaminated drinking water.These water-borne illnesses pose the greatest risks to infants and young children due to their undeveloped immune systems, with the highest concentration of mortality in developing countries occurring between the ages of 0 to 5 years old.
In April, 2015, a devastating earthquake hit Nepal, killing an estimated 9,000 people, destroying homes, communities, and greatly reducing the ability for people to maintain and sustain life in an already impoverished nation. Nepal has significantly suffered from the lack of access to clean water throughout the past, with over an estimated 6,000 people dying from diarrhoeal diseases and enteroviruses annually, and these statistics were calculated BEFORE this year's earthquake. Creating a sustainable, long-lasting, solution to poor water quality in both urban and rural areas is desperately needed to insure the rebuilding of the Nepalese communities.
STEPS TO SUCCESS
PHASE ONE (NOV 2015 - MAY 2016): FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS (What we are funding now)
The first step, which will take place this six-month trip, is to do preliminary research on the ground floor. This will focus on assessing the magnitude of the water crisis following the earthquake, with a concentration on orphanages and schools in Pokhara and surrounding areas. This will be done through getting to know these communities on a personal level, consistent two-way, solution based communication with the organizations, and working with water agencies and organizations within the area.
In addition to creating a personal relationship with the target organizations, I will be conducting research on water supply, quantity, quality, and hydrology. This research will lead into a comprehensive report on the amount of potential potable water in the region, an epidemiological analysis of common contaminants in untreated water, and the potential for different filtration methods, based on pressure, total dissolved solids, turbidity, etc... Understanding the magnitude of the problem and the feasibility of providing solutions is vital to making significant, long-lasting solutions that can be sustained by the communities throughout the future.
PHASE TWO (MAY 2016 - OCT 2016): NON-PROFIT CREATION
After the feasibility analysis, it will be clear on what the goals, targets, and objectives will be for the initiative. Once I have a clear understanding on the magnitude of the issue, what is needed to solve the issue, and how the solution will be implemented, creating a focused and successful program will be feasible. In addition, having objectives, timelines, and indicators for success will make receiving grant funding more attainable. I'm confident that with my understanding of water quality, community based conservation, hydrology, along with my past experience in nonprofit coordination and community involvement in Nepal, I will be able to create and manage a nonprofit that will create change.
PHASE THREE (OCT 2016 +): IMPLEMENTATION
This phase will focus on implementing water filtration at multiple orphanages and schools within Pokhara and surrounding areas. This will be done through using funds to create on-site water storage and filtration at the selected locations, educating the organizations, children, and community leaders on how the process works, and creating a local office that is managed by Nepalese community members. In addition, this phase will also focus on expanding the non-profit through creating new funding opportunities, both locally and abroad, to increase the amount of organizations and communities that we can provide with clean potable water.
Thank you for your support! Together we can help protect our global communities through healing our shared environment.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Environmental Studies, B.A. - University of California, Santa Barbara
Coastal and Watershed Science and Policy, M.Sc. - California State University, Monterey Bay; Monterey Institute of International Studies
6 week field study course in Belize on community conservation, water quality, and environmental health in developing countries
Coordinator for Sprout Up, Santa Cruz environmental education non profit over two years
Water quality coordinator and program developer for Surfrider Foundation, Santa Cruz Chapter