What it means
As an annual event at Austin High, all AGS Freshmen shall take part in a Walk for Water. It is a tradition since 2015 to promote water issues faced by residents of Burundi in Africa.The goal is to show and experience what people in Burundi have to walk every day to get some fresh, clean drinking water and to help to raise a fund that helps the Gazelle Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to support Water projects in Africa.
Groups of students carry a 5-gallon water jug for 3 miles around Lady Bird Lake. That is the distance every day for the people in Burundi to get access to clean water.
My Experience
We were a group of 8 students carrying the 5-gallon jug. The walk started at the school, walking down to the Lake to fill the jugs with water. This was the first difficulty. How to fill the jug? We tried it from the shore, but then a student had to take off the shoes and go into the lake to be able to immerse the jug. It was a lot of fun, and some looked for a branch.
After that, everyone should carry the jug for a short while, but we hung the jug on the branch, and two students on each side carried the branch with the canister. So we all worked together to find an easy way to carry it.
We had a lot of fun during the whole time, but after the first mile, the jug became heavier and heavier.
We alternated with carrying a lot to make the route, but it seems that the last mile gets longer and longer. But finally, we made it all together!
What I learned
So this experience was very exciting and interesting. We had to work together and find a way together. We could help many families with this event, raising money for building water pipelines and fountains and showing others how hard it is to live under the circumstances of the people in Africa.
I’m glad to live in a big city where the water comes „out f the wall, “ and we only have to carry heavy water jugs to buy them in the supermarket.
I think I appreciate more now the meaning of having fresh, clean water every time and everywhere.
For the Gazelle Foundation, we could raise almost 5.000$, which could help the people in Burundi.
I’m glad to take part in this great experience.
And You can be a part of this Change!
Visit the Gazelle Foundation’s Website
