Pine-Richland students help bring clean water to 2nd African village through Walk for Water

A village of more than 400 people in the African nation of Ghana will have access to safe, clean drinking water thanks in part to the efforts of Pine-Richland High School students.

The students, most members of their school’s Key Interact Club, participated in the second annual Walk for Water on Monday, May 19. It involved students walking a mile — four laps around their high school track — while carrying a plastic gallon jug of water.

It’s less than the more than 4 miles the people of Avegborlo, usually women and girls, have had to walk round trip for water and less than the 5 gallons they carry. Their effort is rewarded with dirty water that could make them sick, said Dr. Steve Greene, a retired pediatrician and president and founder of Hope for Ghana in Shadyside.

“They literally walk miles for flooded rain water. That’s what they’re drinking,” he said. “They risk waterborne diseases since they’re sharing water with cattle and goats.”

Carrying just 1 gallon of water 1 mile was meant to simulate what the people in the village have to do to obtain what we take for granted, said Dave Hein, president of the Rich-Mar Rotary Club.

“They can make a difference in the world,” he said. “They can save lives just by walking the track.”

Greene had good news for the students — the well for the people of Avegborlo has been drilled about 300 feet down into an aquifer. It is expected to be finished and producing water by August.

The Rich-Mar Rotary Club and Ingomar Living Waters at Ingomar Church in Franklin Park will add to whatever money was raised by the Pine-Richland students participating in the walk to ensure the $5,000 cost is covered. The students raised close to $1,500, and donations are still being accepted at hopeforghana.com/make-a-donation.

Hope for Ghana has drilled 100 wells in Ghana since 2017, Greene said. Last year’s first Walk for Water, benefiting the village of Wugladza, raised $3,500, said Dawn Herbst, a Pine-Richland French teacher of 25 years and sponsor of the Key/Interact Club.

The celebration of the Wugladza well saw its residents wearing Pine-Richland T-shirts.

The community service club usually focuses on local efforts, with the Walk for Water being its only international event, Herbst said.

“I know they want to help,” she said. “Pine-Richland students are generous.”

After walking a mile with her gallon jug, senior Lauren Michie, 17, knew that their walk wasn’t anything like what the children in Ghana go through.

“I’m glad we raised all this money for them to get a well,” she said.

Hope for Ghana’s efforts to bring clean, safe water grew out of its work to educate children by building schools, libraries and computer labs, Greene said.

He learned about the water crisis upon building a school and discovering the village had no water. Drilling a well resulted in people lining up for water.

“We want a country where not one man, woman or child needs to drink dirty water again,” he said.

Greene has been visiting Ghana for going on 40 years, beginning as a medical student, and is there four to five months a year. The nation is nothing like most Americans would imagine.

“They are a beautiful, joyful people. They’re more joyful than we are,” he said. “They have God and their families and that’s all they need.”

But their most basic needs — roads, electricity, access to health care and education — are lacking and a daily challenge.

“Water is one of them, but it’s the most essential need,” Greene said.

In addressing students, Greene invoked a saying that, “Whoever gives a man water gives a man life.”

“You’re giving a village hope. You’re giving them dignity. You’re giving them life,” he said. “You have changed lives forever.”