Susan O’Rourke’s Foundations in Special Education Class is celebrating World Water Day on March 22 by raising funds to drill a clean water well in Matata Village, Uganda.
| Marketing and Communications | For Immediate Release |
| Drew Wilson, Director, Media Relations | March 20, 2018 |
| 412.578.2095 (phone) | |
| 412.260.6807 (cell) | |
| 412.578.2080 (fax) | |
| agwilson@carlow.edu |
Class Raises Funds to Support Drilling of Clean Water Well in Matata Village, Uganda
Pittsburgh, Pa. – With three rivers constantly flowing and clean water available by turning on a tap, some in Pittsburgh may take clean water for granted, but not the students in Carlow University Professor Susan O’Rourke’s Special Education class.
O’Rourke’s students in the Foundations in Special Education class are collecting donations to support the drilling of a clean water well in Matata Village, Uganda. The pinnacle of their fundraising activities climaxes with a celebration for World Water Day, on Thursday, March 22, 2018, beginning at 3 p.m. on the Carlow campus. At that time, the students will have activities have activities across campus including a Water Drop Wall, handcrafted jewelry and ceramic mug sales, and a celebration in the St. Agnes Center of Carlow University, where food trucks will be stationed in Lot D and a band will play inside from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“The class and I discussed a few possibilities based on my international work,” said O’Rourke. “We discussed how drinking contaminated water causes disabilities, diseases, and death.”
The lesson was taken to heart immediately and enthusiastically by the 20 students in the class. The message they want to communicate to all who come to the World Water Day celebration, is that clean water can make a tangible difference in lives of children and families all over the world.
“Clean water decreases disability rates, improves health, nutrition, and hygiene, and, if children aren’t sick, they can spend more time in school,” said Yazmin Bennett-Kelly, a senior majoring in education.
This celebration is made possible through a grant from the Grace Ann Geibel Institute, one of the Social Justice Institutes at Carlow. Funds raised will support the drilling of the well by Stefro Engineering, and work is expected to be completed in August, 2018.
For more information or to donate online, please visit www.vcaya.org.
### Editor’s Note: Carlow welcomes coverage of the World Water Day activities. Please contact Drew Wilson on his cell phone – (412) 260-6807 – to arrange free, convenient parking.
About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow’s graduates, curricula, and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in three colleges: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Social Change, and Learning and Innovation. Carlow graduates are in demand for their professional expertise, in fields ranging from nursing, the sciences, and perfusion technology to counseling, education, and forensic accounting; their entrepreneurial spirit and creative mindset; and their ability to manage change. Carlow’s 13 athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.