Spring Break
SIFE helps bring water to India
SIFE to install two water purification systems in New Dehli
Amanda Foster
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Water. It's a necessity of life. Yet, the United Nations estimates over one-sixth of the world's population lacks access to safe water.
Over the past year, SIFE members have traveled to Zambia and Mexico to install bio-sand water purifiers that help bring clean drinking water to the communities they visit. A team of SIFE students will travel to New Delhi, India next week to launch the project in Asia.
"These water purifiers create an economic opportunity for the people," says Charlie Buchanan, director of Drury's SIFE team. "They have a real need for purified water."
The purifiers take approximately four hours to install and immediately produce 90% pure water. Convoy of Hope, a local non-profit organization, developed the technology behind the purifiers.
Obtaining clean drinking water can be a significant cost of living for many in the world. The purifiers installed when the team traveled to Mexico over the summer brought a savings of $600 per month.
The trip to India will consist of installing two water purifiers. By installing these devices, villages near Delhi, India will be able to save money spent on pure water and use that towards other necessary purchases. Not only will these purifiers help save money, they will also provide the knowledge base for creating new purifiers so that villages can sell this idea to others and create a situation for economic growth.
The purifying device consists of a bottom layer of rock and gravel, followed by 16 inches of sand through which the water seeps. Once the water exits the purifying device, it is cleansed of a majority of dirt and impurities. While results are seen within a minute, the purifying process takes one week in order to create water that is 99 percent pure.
SIFE students say the trips provide a valuable experience for locals and SIFE students alike. "It gave them a sense of accomplishment as to their abilities to increase their own quality of life," says Chris Gilstrap, a senior Drury SIFE student who traveled to Zambia, Africa to introduce the device last spring.
Edward Jones is financially sponsoring the trip to India and making it possible for five SIFE members to partake in this opportunity. Javier Detrinidad, Jon Marrs, Sarah Montgomery, Caitlin Pierce and Charlie Buchanan will all be traveling to India.
SIFE is hoping to continue the implementation of the water purification project in the future within a multitude of other countries. "Students return with a stronger appreciation for what they have here," says Buchanan, who hopes that the trip will be beneficial to residents of Delhi as well as Drury students.
"The empowerment is amazing through SIFE," says Detrinidad, "You can really change the world."
In the past six years, the Drury SIFE team has won the national championship three times and the world championship twice. Winning teams are selected by top leaders in the business world based on the team's successful implementation of innovative, effective projects that aim to create economic opportunity.
Over the past year, SIFE members have traveled to Zambia and Mexico to install bio-sand water purifiers that help bring clean drinking water to the communities they visit. A team of SIFE students will travel to New Delhi, India next week to launch the project in Asia.
"These water purifiers create an economic opportunity for the people," says Charlie Buchanan, director of Drury's SIFE team. "They have a real need for purified water."
The purifiers take approximately four hours to install and immediately produce 90% pure water. Convoy of Hope, a local non-profit organization, developed the technology behind the purifiers.
Obtaining clean drinking water can be a significant cost of living for many in the world. The purifiers installed when the team traveled to Mexico over the summer brought a savings of $600 per month.
The trip to India will consist of installing two water purifiers. By installing these devices, villages near Delhi, India will be able to save money spent on pure water and use that towards other necessary purchases. Not only will these purifiers help save money, they will also provide the knowledge base for creating new purifiers so that villages can sell this idea to others and create a situation for economic growth.
The purifying device consists of a bottom layer of rock and gravel, followed by 16 inches of sand through which the water seeps. Once the water exits the purifying device, it is cleansed of a majority of dirt and impurities. While results are seen within a minute, the purifying process takes one week in order to create water that is 99 percent pure.
SIFE students say the trips provide a valuable experience for locals and SIFE students alike. "It gave them a sense of accomplishment as to their abilities to increase their own quality of life," says Chris Gilstrap, a senior Drury SIFE student who traveled to Zambia, Africa to introduce the device last spring.
Edward Jones is financially sponsoring the trip to India and making it possible for five SIFE members to partake in this opportunity. Javier Detrinidad, Jon Marrs, Sarah Montgomery, Caitlin Pierce and Charlie Buchanan will all be traveling to India.
SIFE is hoping to continue the implementation of the water purification project in the future within a multitude of other countries. "Students return with a stronger appreciation for what they have here," says Buchanan, who hopes that the trip will be beneficial to residents of Delhi as well as Drury students.
"The empowerment is amazing through SIFE," says Detrinidad, "You can really change the world."
In the past six years, the Drury SIFE team has won the national championship three times and the world championship twice. Winning teams are selected by top leaders in the business world based on the team's successful implementation of innovative, effective projects that aim to create economic opportunity.
Article last update: 10/10/07 at 7:23 AM CST
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