May 2, 2008

Students work to raise money for water in Africa

The X-Force student ministries are working again toward raising money to help African countries get pure water. The last weekend in April, the group worked to raise money to enable them to raise more money for a triathlon this summer.

Students washed the cars as well as themselves during a free car wash held at the Church of God of San Jose on April 26. The students are part of the X-Force Student Ministries of San Jose and are working to raise money to provide safe drinking water to people in Africa. Photo by Carol Rosen

About 15 students ran a “free” car wash and rummage sale to raise money for their six-day camp, which will include the Get Well Triathlon this summer. On June 19, the students will hold a 25-mile triathlon by kayaking, biking and hiking. To pay for the kayaks, the students are busy raising money through car washes and bake sales.

These are the same students, mostly from the Willow Glen area, that took a 15-mile hike last June 19 in Death Valley.

“Students were moved to action after learning that more than half of Africa’s people lack access to safe drinking water, leaving them vulnerable to water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid and infectious hepatitis. Health care is often inaccessible too. So water borne diseases often go untreated and millions, especially young children, die as a result each year,” April Hunt said. /she is a DeAnza College student and youth leader for X-Force Student Ministries of San Jose.

The African Water Project, www.africanwaterproject.org, is a student-led initiative to build wells and clean water projects in sub-Saharan Africa. These projects will bring safe, clean drinking water and improved sanitation to thousands. African Water Project exists to focus on one achievable goal: providing access to clean water to everyone in Africa.
“One-hundred percent of the donations go to provide wells in Africa, especially in Kenya and Zambia,” Hunt said. Besides getting parents, friends and neighbors to sponsor the triathlon, Hunt said the student group is looking for businesses to sponsor the walk or to provide matching funds.

The group will be holding similar fundraisers this month. For more information, contact the group at www.sjcog.com or call the church of God of San Jose at (408) 295-3605.