In September of 2008, ten Rwandan Presidential Scholars from Oklahoma Christian University came together with an idea to serve their country by helping solve the problem of acquiring clean water in rural communities of Rwanda.Each summer Rwanda’s Presidential Scholars return to serve their nation by providing clean water where it does not exist. R4W has built 8 wells since their inception three years ago.
The most recent well was dedicated August 12, 2011 in Gishuri village. This location was chosen because the people in the village walk about an hour each day to get access to pond water, which is dirty and unfit water for domestic use. “This served as a daily inspiration in our work as we saw the dirty water that the people had to drink everyday,” said Tim Kaboya, member of R4W.
ROC is proud to partner with these young people as they demonstrate how a nation can help itself. Their objectives include not only drilling the well, but also teaching at least 5 local people the drilling technology and putting the local youth in charge of the well protection. Thus, the well becomes self-sustaining once the scholars go back to complete their studies.
Throughout the year, the scholars raise money to buy the necessary parts for the wells, as well as the needed funds for drilling once they are in Rwanda for the summer. These low cost, hand-drilled wells are providing a way for many more to realize the blessing of clean water. This year, the students were able to build 3 wells for about $7,000.
ROC is also proud to have been a part of selecting each of these students for their university education. To date, nearly 300 of Rwanda’s top secondary graduates have been selected to attend universities in the U.S. To learn more about Rwandans4Water visit: www.rwandans4water.org
