In preparation for the fall launch of our Water for Schools program, I had the pleasure of traveling to Ethiopia a few weeks ago with four fathers and five of their daughters, ages 9 – 14. One of the dads, Shawn Budde, has been volunteering as a strategy consultant with charity: water for over 6 months and has been a huge blessing to us. On this trip, I had a surprise for him. I was going to take him and his daughters to a well he’d helped fund through the borninseptember.org campaign. Filming them at the Adiayfela school was one of the high points of 2009. I remember smiling through tears as we saw the handmade signs that read “We love Budde family” and listened to speeches. We asked Shawn to write about his experience. As so many of you have contributed to the more than 1,247 water projects we’ve now funded, I ask you to put yourself in his shoes and imagine the many celebrations around the world you’ve made possible like this one. I hope this video and Shawn’s words will inspire you.

- Scott Harrison. February, 2009.

Read Shawn's Story:
charitywater.tumblr.com/post/79438819/the-budde-family-well

thanks also to Bob, Luke, Rick, Campbell, Chloe and Carley. Also to our implementing partner A Glimmer of Hope. music by Adrianna Kirkl.