For immediate release: May 13, 2010

Contact: Morgan Perlson, Project WET Foundation, 406-585-4118

Learn About Award-Winning Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Materials Developed for Teachers and Students in Africa

Bozeman, Mont. 12, May, 2010 –The Project WET Foundation will present information about their current projects in 15 countries across Africa at an event being held in the Emerson Cultural Center Ballroom on Sunday, May 16, from 6-9pm. In 2007, Project WET produced customized educational materials about water, sanitation and hygiene for children and teachers in sub-Saharan Africa. Through working directly with educators and officials in Uganda, Project WET developed educational materials adapted to the specific needs of the African audience. The materials that resulted from the collaborative development process were the award-winning Healthy Water, Healthy Habits, Healthy People Educator’s Guide and accompanying student booklet, in addition to children’s booklets and posters about the water cycle and Nile River watershed. With support from USAID these materials have reached more than five million students throughout Africa.

Project WET is one of many non-governmental organizations working to improve water, sanitation and hygiene education world-wide. Illness caused by unclean water sources are a global human rights issue. The United Nations (UN) recently announced that more people die of water-related diseases than from war. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 10% of total deaths globally can be prevented with improved access to safe drinking water. Project WET seeks to increase awareness about these global water issues while educating students on how to prevent the spread of water-related illnesses through didactic educational materials.

The African Awareness event taking place at the Emerson on Sunday, May 16 aims to raise awareness about local Bozeman groups working to make a difference in Africa. It is free to the public and community members of all ages are encouraged to attend. The event organizer, Essau Pwelle, is a native Tanzanian who has been living in Bozeman for the past four years. He is involved in many Africa-related projects including the African Orphan Fund and his own African Banjo organization. The event will include speakers from the Project WET Foundation, Engineers Without Borders, and Kangen Water. The Project WET international team will showcase fun, hands-on activities that are great for all ages. The presentations will be accompanied by local musicians, including performances by Essau Pwelle, playing his traditional Tanzanian banjo. A traditional Tanzanian dinner will also be served.

Africa Awareness Event, Sunday May 16th 2010, 6pm to 9pm

Emerson Cultural Center, 111 South Grant Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715-5037

EVENT SCHEDULE:

TIME: 6:00 To 9:00 PM

For more information please visit www.projectwet.org.

About Project WET

Project WET is an award-winning 501(c)(3) global nonprofit that has dedicated itself to educating children, parents, teachers and community members of the world about water resources while empowering them to take action in their communities to address local water issues. Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET™ water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists, now in 45 countries on five continents.