Meet John.









John is the most famous 16 year old in his valley. When World Vision piped in water from the mountain streams, teams of men from the village would dig trenches from the piped in water to their village. The trenches are dug over long stretches of land to get to individual gardens.

Malawians in this region have agreed on sharing the water. Different areas get access to the water on different days of the week for irrigation. It is a beautifully green valley with patches of lush gardens produced by hard work and dedicated hands.

But what if your garden is on the other side of a small valley? Its impossible to dig a trench that will run up a hill. That is where John comes in. He invented a “water bridge” made out of wood and thatch and plastic. (Your gifts to Watering Malawi help provide supplies like the plastic.) The water bridge carries the water to places that were, until John came along, unreachable. And when they break down? They are easily fixed with more wood and thatch.

John has earned enough money from his year round gardens to build his own house. And, there are now 12 water bridges in the valley! Way to go John. This teenager is watering Malawi.






Meet Liz.

Liz is a mother that lives near the lake. She is a part of her village’s garden club. They have a treadle pump but it’s broken, and the person who was in charge of its repair has moved. They continue to garden by hand watering this large plot of land from a near by water source. It is full of mosquitos though, so she is more susceptible to getting malaria these days.

Garden Clubs like this one can submit simple proposals to Watering Malawi for the repair of the treadle pump. Once the treadle pump is fixed, Liz hopes to grow green beans, peppers and carrots for the hotel restaurant down the road.

Getting beyond subsistent farming is the goal. Growing more than just what you need to survive. Villages that can do this often create a “corn bank” so they can store or sell the surplus. This ensures a supply of food in the lean months and improves the local economy of the village.

Phase One Challenge:

-Host a Drought Out event.
-Make D.O. Bracelets.
-Print Take "5" Cards.
-Give a free cup of water.

- Host a D.O.(Drought Out) awareness event.Invite the local bands, have a coffee house, a talent show, a lemonaide stand. Make it your senior project. Get creative. Find it on Face book or Myspace and see what other teens have done.

-Write the number "5" on the indide of your wrist.When sumone asks, explain that 5 millon people are at risk in Malawi when drought hits. Make sure you direct them to this site, or wateringmalawi.org.

-Make D.O. awareness bracelets. D.O. stands for Drought Out! Cut a blue tee shirt into long thin bands. Blue stands for water. Tie it on. Share them or sell 'em for a buck and donate the profit. Remember to add the tag so others can find the websites!!!

- Give a free cup of water as people leave an event. Print the website on the cup with a sharpie.

- You CAN donate. go to www.wateringmalawi.org and click the words saying "DONATE NOW"

Or, send a check to:

Watering Malawi
Passport, Inc.
3421 Sierra Drive
Birmingham, Al 35216

Goal: Raising children’s awareness of our world is a wonderful beginning to being a part of solutions. The next goal would be to share that awareness beyond themselves.

Kids can make a big difference!
Here are some ways children can help people
know about watering gardens in Malawi.

Give a free cup of water
Have children print the Watering Malawi web address onto plastic cups with a Sharpie. Have the children pass out free cups of water as people leave church, or Walmart, or a school event.

Make a book: Mpatso’s Garden
1. Download it. 2. Print it and staple it together. 3. Share it with your class at school or church.

Grow a Gift Garden
1. Design your own planter by decorating a cup with paint and other craft supplies. 2. Add dirt and a seed and some water. 3. Once your “garden” sprouts share it or sell it to raise money for Watering Malawi. 4. Make sure you print the Gift Garden Card so they will know about Watering Malawi.














Water a Garden:
Have children carry and empty bucket or milk jug on a round about walk. Fill each container with water and then walk with the children back to a spot to water a “garden.” Talk about how many young girls spend hours each day in Malawi going to get water for their families.

Paint a Masterpiece: Have your child or group of children paint with yellow, and green (which makes blue) paintings. Paint them onto existing frames, found at a craft store, and auction the masterpieces at a parent event. Proceeds got to Watering Malawi. Be sure to connect adults with further information and ways to give.

Throw a “See Green” Party:
1. Send an invitation to your friends to a “See Green Party.”
Everyone is invited to wear green.
At the party you can: share the book, grow a garden or make a masterpiece.
2. If you want to serve some snacks try SUNchips and “blue water.” (yellow
and blue makes green.)
3. Ask a local retailer to let you set up a Yellow and Blue makes Green stand.
You and your friends can sell your Gift Gardens or Masterpieces to raise
money for Watering Malawi.
4. Make sure you print a thank you note to hand out to the person that buys
your art or garden. So they can learn about Malawi too!