Brianne Steakelum's Fundraising Page
Help Fund a Water Project
My name is Brianne Steakelum, and I am a First Grade Teacher at St Margaret School in Reading, PA.
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to be 1 of 13 teachers across the country to be chosen by the US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION to represent our education system for about 5 weeks while visiting East Africa. While there, we went on Safari, and worked in schools and orphanages across Tanzania, Rwanda and Zanzibar. In doing this, I realized that the beautiful people of Africa are missing the basic needs of life. Without basic needs such as water, food, and shelter-- the quality of life is diminished. The schools, teachers, and leaders were like nothing I have ever seen. Hope emanates from cracks in the walls and floors. The dust from the surrounding plain covered the children so completely that you could barely make out the color of their skin. Their tiny bare feet, tattooed with dirt and dust made such a beautiful picture on my camera- but such an awful sight in the big scheme of things. One little girl, around two years of age, tottered her way over to me; looking up to study my face, she found and clutched two of my fingers. Her grasp felt like that of my niece and nephew, but disguised quite a different message. I bent down to get to her level while she silently examined me a bit more, all while never releasing her grip from mine. It was an amazing moment. She didn’t say a word, but it was one of the most incredible conversations I have ever had in my life.
I went to Africa on a journey to figure out how I could give my students more of a voice in this world- only to discover I was just finding my own. There are no words that can spell out what that journey has done- I have found my voice, I plan to use it.
I couldn’t help but to make it my mission to aid in bringing life to our African neighbors. How can you help? I have found a non-profit organization called The Water Project. The Water Project gives 100% of funds donated, to a school or village in Africa. Donations help to provide the people in the village with safe, clean drinking water by installing a water pump and filtration system.
A few facts...
* A child dies every 15 seconds from a lack of clean water.
* 1 in 4 children who die before age 5 worldwide, die of a water related disease.
And just to put into perspective just how much water we use: Running your shower for 1 minute uses 5-10 gallons of water.
Please join us in our efforts! Donations can be made out to THE WATER PROJECT. Cash or checks can be given or mailed to
Brianne Steakelum
381 Turner Street
Hamburg, PA 19526
I thank you in advance for your contributions, your generosity will be felt half way around the world.
More information can be found on www.thewaterproject.org or you can contact me at [email protected]
Thank you,
Brianne
Who's Helping?
| Date | Donor | Amount | Message |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/06/11 | Michelle Frymoyer | $62.00 | |
| 09/06/11 | Patricia A. Jones | $12.00 | |
| 04/27/11 | St. Margaret School | $1715.50 | |
| 03/31/11 | Offline Gifts | $70.00 | |
| 03/14/11 | Brianne Steakelum | $200.00 | thank you Reading School District |
| 03/01/11 | Offline Gifts | $100.00 | |
| 03/01/11 | Offline Gifts | $20.00 | |
| 02/28/11 | Erica Cook | $30.00 | |
| 02/27/11 | Janie Moore | $100.00 | I know you'll reach your goal, Brianne! |
| 02/14/11 | Brianne Steakelum | $50.00 | thank you Brush Wellman Inc. |
| 02/14/11 | Brianne Steakelum | $400.00 | thank you A.R. |
| 02/14/11 | Offline Gifts | $201.02 | |
| 02/09/11 | Kristi Gray | $20.00 | I hope you reach your goal, Brianne! It's great what you're doing! |
| 02/08/11 | Katie Romanski | $20.00 | |
| 02/08/11 | Chad Boyer | $20.00 | |
| 02/08/11 | Brianne Steakelum | $20.00 |
Why It Matters
Did you know nearly 1 billion people don't have safe water to drink?
Together, we can change that. Let's fund a new source of drinking water for those who suffer needlessly without it!
Our gifts will be used to construct or rehabilitate a water project, like a well or sand dam, in Africa. We'll see pictures, GPS coordinates, and updates as they come in from the actual water project we fund so we can celebrate the results along with the community we help.
About The Water Project
The Water Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization unlocking human potential by providing clean, safe water to communities around the world who suffer needlessly without.
Working with local partners in countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Uganda, we build long lasting water projects that are organized, owned and managed by the communities receiving them.
Together, with our partners we identify, implement, report on and follow up on every project. Then we share the whole story with you to inspire confidence in the work being done and the impact it has.