BioSand Water Filtration Training Day 1

Our team of eight started their first day of BioSand Water Filtration Training on November 13th. This first day included: an introduction to different types of pathogens that cause water-borne diseases, a discussion on the problems faced in each trainees’ community, and a demonstration on how to build a BioSand Filter.

All the participants had a chance to punch holes into a 10″x10″ piece of metal with a hammer and nail. This is the diffuser that is placed on top of the sand. The water is poured over it.

In the next few days, they will learn how to build a BioSand Water Filter and how to use the system to improve the water in their communities.

Here are some photos from Day 1.

Roseline Sonday is working with one of the trainers on punching holes in the sheet metal to be used as a diffuser.

Kelvin Fomba is bending the diffuser that will be placed in the filter when it is complete.

UDS Team left to right: Dauda Dassin, Roseline Sonday, Kelvin Fomba (co-founder & director), Boakai Dillion, Godfrey Solomon, Davidlyn Yarkpah, William H. Josiah, and Isaiah Zayzay (taking the team photo).

Thank you to Roseline Sonday and Kelvin Fomba for sharing their first day’s activities, and Roseline and Isaiah Zayzay for taking photos.

UDS attending BioSand Water Filtration Training

We are always grateful when our Star Supporters refer Uniting Distant Stars (UDS) to great learning opportunities! We extend our heartfelt Thanks to Yeamah Brewer for connecting us to Friendly Water for the World, based out of Olympia, Washington! Friendly Water for the World is providing a BioSand Water Filtration training on November 13th-18th to five organizations in Liberia.

UDS will be sending eight (three volunteer staff members & five students) to attend this six-day training. They will receive tools and knowledge on how to use this system to “remove pathogens and suspended solids” from the water. And, they will have an opportunity to network with the other organizations and work together in learning how to provide safe and clean water to their fellow citizens.

Each organization will also learn how to produce and manage a BioSand Water FIltration Program using locally-sourced materials.  This will enable us to train our students on how to provide clean, safe water as a business. This program is helping to decrease the number of cases of water-borne diseases, like Cholera, and helping to protect the environment, by reducing the waste created by using plastic water bottles.

We look forward to sharing more about the experiences of our team post-training, and our plans to develop this program at our training center. We are thrilled about this empowering opportunity!

Shop for a Cause, Train for a Future, Watch Four Great Films

As part of our guiding principles, we advocate for great causes and engage our diverse audience of shining stars. I want to bring your attention to three exciting events that are coming up in the next few weeks. These include an opportunity to shop for unique items, start a small business, and watch award-winning films about inspirational African women leaders.

Shopping for a Cause: Partners for Women’s Equality (PWE) is holding an benefit event at Ten Thousand Villages in St. Paul on Wednesday, September 26 from 5PM to 8PM. This is a great place to shop for Fair Trade items create artisans in 130 countries. Ten Thousand Villages will donate 20% of the proceeds during this three-hour event to PWE.

I have served on the board of PWE for over two years. This organization provides leadership development and organizational support to empower marginalized women and girls around the world. So, while you are shopping please stop by our table–I will be there–and learn more about our Kenya Girls for Change Scholarship Program and Bridge to Change Leadership Training Course.

Training for a Future: African Career, Education, and Resource Inc. is offering a 12-week Microentrepreneur Development Training and Support Program at the North Hennepin Community College starting October 18 through February 7. The tuition is $99 and scholarships offer $50 are available upon request. This program provides technical assistance and other helpful information to equip new microentrepreneurs to start and operate their businesses. Participants will have a chance to apply for small business loans from $500 to $10,000. Applications for this program are due September 28. Contact Denise Butler at [email protected] or 763-493-8106 to apply or more information.

This program is provided by ACER in partnership with Neighborhood Development Center (NDC), North Hennepin Community College, Hennepin County Housing, Community Works and Transit / Public Works, and the City of Brooklyn Park.

I have volunteered with ACER for events twice this year–Job Fair in April and Walk, Run and Bike in September. This organization offers valuable programs to people of African descent and other underrepresented communities of color that are focused on Education, Health and Wellness, Community Economic Development, and Advocacy.

Watching Four Great Films: The African Women’s Development Fund USA (AWDF)-Minnesota Network is hosting their Pan-African Women’s Film Forum at St. Catherine University in St. Paul on October 20 from 1PM to 8PM. This is part of AWDF’s Celebrate Mother Africa campaign. They are featuring the following Four Award-Winning Independent Films:

  

I hope that you can find time to check out these wonderful events and inform others who might be interested. These are great organizations doing their part in making this a better world.