In 2008, Arizona taught me what water conservation and water reuse meant to a desert climate. Inspired by the local women and children in the village of Fumbelo, Zambia in 2010 and 2011, I now work towards a greater change. Traveling from Charlotte, NC to Cincinnati, OH during the summer of 2012, showed me the long term effects of pollution on disadvantaged communities and the power of the people. Leading youth in Santa Fe, NM, in the spring of 2014 and 2015 reunited me with water through resource conservation techniques and sustainable farming, as well as encouraged me to focus on water resources through graduate school. Finally, Zanzibar brought all these past experiences and my education together in 2017. From A to Z, I have been inspired by water, by communities, by impact.
Why Water?
663 million people around the world are living without access to clean, reliable water, and about 2.4 billion people are living without basic sanitation. Most of these people live in rural areas of developing countries where basic infrastructure and resources don’t exist, leading women and children to walk for miles carrying as much as they can. This takes an incredible amount of time, time that could be spent on education, employment, and empowerment. Not to mention the negative health effects of consuming non-potable water and carrying heavy water containers over many miles.
In Zanzibar, the average daily per capita consumption of water for domestic purposes is 45 liters, much less than the global average of 160. I experienced daily water shortages in my village and watched friends and children carry 20L containers to salty water wells because there is no other option. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many parts of the world, but I want to change this because everyone deserves clean, reliable water.
Young boy filling 20L containers with water from the Jambiani Village main water supply, Zanzibar.
Why Communities?
I am inspired by the strength that comes when you find your tribe. Over the years I have been a part of many tribes, whether they be social, educational, or professional. I thrive in diverse cultures. I strive to identify opportunities and overcome adversity to make a difference, with as much empathy, compassion, and self education as possible. To me, community engagement is about understanding the interaction, involvement, and exchange between individuals and organizations to address a range of social and environment issues. I believe in the principals of participation, empowerment, and collective decision making, but also in the strength in numbers, especially when those numbers have passion for what they do and a passion for each other.
In Zanzibar, one motto is “sharing is caring.” This not only applies to basic resources, food, water, shelter, clothing, but also to local attitudes. The community shares its successes, its burdens, its truths. During the month of Ramadan, sharing is everywhere, but most importantly, this custom demonstrates the power of community. As I joined in this month, I had so many almost moments of weakness, but the support I felt from everyone in my community and the sense of togetherness in this process kept me going. I believe people can come together to advocate and support each other to overcome inequalities and social injustices when given the means to do so.
Teachers at the local school in Fumbelo, Zambia.
Why Create an Impact?
Right now about 1 billion people are living in water scarce regions. By 2025, 3.5 billion people are estimated to be living in absolute water scarcity, with two thirds of the world population under water stress. The areas that will be the most effected are ones that I am connected to.
My goal is to work with communities at home and abroad to conserve the water resources, and all natural resources, we have for the coming human generations, wildlife, and ecosystems. I will bring my passion for water conservation, my ability to connect with different people and cultures, and all my skills gained from my education, employment, and life experiences to help solve this massive challenge. I want to create a positive and lasting impact to ensure that communities like Fumbelo, Santa Fe, and Jambiani, and the people that I care about, have access to fundamental human rights and resources.
Conservation Club field trip to a mangrove conservation area, Zanzibar.
What’s Next?
With Zanzibar behind me, I’m back in Rhode Island. I am building on my career at Samiotes Consultants, but am always searching for my next adventure. I am excited about a future filled with experiences that impact and influence the policies and actions of individuals, communities, and larger actors surrounding water conservation and community engagement. I’d like an opportunity that allows me to connect with and learn from communities other than my own, build on my knowledge of resource conservation, and make a positive change for people, wildlife, and the environment.
