Wells of Love: An Opportunity for Students

Dear Friends of the Azawak,

As the program director for Wells of Love, the service learning component of humanitarian organization Amman Imman: Water is Life, I'd like to invite parents, teachers and students in your community to learn about our organization and get involved in our program. Amman Imman is dedicated to saving and improving lives among the poorest and most abandoned populations of the world by building permanent water sources in the Azawak of West Africa. Our program for schools, Wells of Love, empowers students as "Heroes of Compassion" - future leaders with a caring, philanthropic spirit - by engaging them to help bring water and hope to the people of the Azawak.

Children enjoy clean and plentiful water 

from the Tangarwashane borehole, built by 

Amman Imman with the help of students 

around the world.

For the past three years, students in over 50 schools around the world have had the opportunity to be among the first to bring attention to this region in Niger and Mali where half a million people suffer from the effects of extreme water scarcity due to a changing climate. These students have become part of a grassroots movement to help a population of people that no one else is helping. Through Wells of Love, students become leaders in raising awareness about the water issues in this region. They participate in fund raising projects that utilize their initiative, creativity and commitment to making the world a better place. Students from pre-school to college age have been helping make a tangible difference in the lives of the children and families in this Azawak.      

Students raise funds in A Walk For Water and other service projects.

Tuareg child from the Azawak of Niger
www.ammanimman.org

Very importantly, Amman Imman celebrates the dignity and rich heritage of the people of the Azawak by focusing on the beauty and the generosity that shines through in spite of the peril under which they live. Wells of Love personally connects students with children in the Azawak, making the act of giving more meaningful.

I am available to present this amazing and beautiful project at school assemblies, to individual classes or at club meetings.  Please help me make connections at schools so that more students can have this opportunity.  If you have someone you can refer me to, please contact me debbie at ammanimman.org or call 240-418-1143. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

You can be part of empowering students and helping the people of the Azawak have a future of hope!

Amman Imman honors the people of the Azawak 

whose courage and generosity are an inspiration to us all.

Yours in peace and hope for children everywhere,

Debbie Kahn

Associate Director, Amman Imman : Water is Life

Wells of Love, program director

Mia Farrow, Montel Williams and Wells of Love

Dear Friends of the Azawak,

As you can see from the many recent emails, Amman Imman is broadening its reach through the media and our new service learning program - Wells of Love!  Please read our most recent news:

Celebrity-Activists Mia Farrow and Montel Williams shine a light on Amman Imman!

We are proud to announce that celebrated actor and activist Mia Farrow has written about Amman Imman on her blog!  She states:  "There is no water in the Azawak region and people are literally dying of thirst.  The water table is now too deep in the ground for them to reach" (extracted from her blog).  Please read more of her blog post here.

If you missed my LIVE interview on "Montel Across America" on October 23, 2009, you can still listen to the broadcast on our website!  Highlights from the interview:

• "What do we have to do to make people in America understand that no matter
    how bad it is for us, there are still people that are worse-off, and we
    still need to do our part because that to whom much is given, much is
    expected."- Montel Williams  
 
• "It sounds so simple, let's see what we can do.  You've got our commitment
    here at "Montel Across America" to help you out.  We'll make sure we keep
    ringing the bell as loudly as we can."  - Montel Williams.   

For other media coverage from Air America, please listen to Jack Rice'sin-depth interview with Ariane, aired on October 21, 2009. 

Announcing Wells of Love led by Debra Kahn!

Wells of Love empowers students as Heroes of Compassion – future leaders with a caring, philanthropic spirit – by engaging them in service learning.  I am thrilled and honored to have Debra Kahn working full-time by my side as Wells of Love Director, employing her infectious passion to garner the help of our Heroes of Compassion for the children of the Azawak! For the past three years, Debra’s tremendous dedication and commitment as a volunteer has united students in partnership with Amman Imman in over 50 Montessori schools around the world.  Having left her recent position as Associate Director of Oneness-Family School, Debra will continue to engage our current and future public, private and independent school partners, providing resources and initiating collaborative projects to help them save the lives of the children of the Azawak.

Please tell your local schools about Wells of Love and the opportunity for their students to become Heroes of Compassion for their brothers and sisters in the Azawak.  To register as a Wells of Love School, please contact Debra at debbie@ammanimman.org. Learn more about the Wells of Love program here.

New Wells of Love Campaign: Hand in Hand
Debra has been hard at work to launch a campaign that combines philanthropy with creativity.  Hand in Hand offers an opportunity for our student Heroes of Compassion to use art as a means to help their brothers and sisters in the Azawak.  Here’s how it works: Wells of Love schools choose a craft project that students can make using their own hands. Students then sell their handmade crafts in their school and community to raise money for their Well of Love. These handcrafted gifts symbolize the growing friendship between the two cultures as they walk hand-in-hand toward love and hope.

Please join our Heroes of Compassion in bringing water to the Azawak by incorporating Hand In Hand into the annual holiday celebration of a school in your area!  For more information, please visit our campaigns on the web.

Yours in hope and friendship for the children of the Azawak,


Ariane Alzhara Kirtley