Fundraising efforts are underway for the 4th Annual Kids 4 Clean Water Camp held in the San Mateo Area. The camp, which has been hosted by Belize Community Conservation (BCC) since 2012, is offered to the local youth to provide environmental conservation and public health education to persons living in San Mateo. The week-long camp is headed by Founder of BCC Heather Zwicker, Caribbean Student Environmental Alliance (SEA) member Mary Beth and Early Childhood Educator from Canada Cathy Power.
Organizers are attempting to raise $7,000 to fund this year’s event through an online fundraising website called ‘FundRazr’. Monies raised will cover all expenses incurred during the camp. “The camp is a weeklong adventure where the children and community come together to learn about various aspects of clean water and its impact on their own health and the environment they live in. They learn how water is a huge part of their lives and how each and every one of them can make a difference. Less than a mile from the second largest reef in the world which boasts some of the best diving worldwide, on the fringe of San Pedro Town, is San Mateo. A place where many families live in a ‘shanty town’ of small homes on stilts built with discarded wood and metal over a swamp where the mangrove once grew. While some may see these living condition as inadequate, please remember it is their home and their community. The children talk about their community with so much love and pride,” said Power.
The camp allows volunteers to assist the San Mateo community in their development. “San Mateo is a community desperate for the basic commodities that you and I take for granted, such as safe drinking water and sanitation or clean, healthy and safe places for their children to play,” said Power. As part of the camp, the organization does water testing throughout the area in order to educate the community on clean water and the importance of sanitation. Since its inception, the camp has linked with many global partners that are working toward the same goals for San Mateo.
“We take the opportunity to ask you to donate to the cause since it is really important. Just $39 a day towards our three month campaign will make 2015 a success for the children. Give as much or as little as you want. It will move mountains! It’s okay to give extra. It doesn’t need to be the same people all the time either, however, if you feel extra generous and want to give twice that’s okay too! If a whole bunch of people just give a little once we will get there. 100% of the funds raised here support Kids 4 Clean Water. We are strictly volunteers on this project. We feel we are making a difference with this program and we love doing it,” said Power.
Those wanting to donate to Kids 4 Clean Water can visit https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/axiId. The program’s long term goal is for the children to no longer have to live with the raw sewage that surrounds their homes and offer those people most affected by lack of sanitation the opportunity to improve their lives.
For more information on the program or to learn how you can help the cause email [email protected].
Share
Read more
