Mission and Vision

Amman Imman's is dedicated to empowering and preserving Africa's most vulnerable indigenous peoples and engaging school children worldwide as socially conscious leaders.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

World Water Day: Bring Hope to a Land without Water

With World Water Day being celebrated this week, the world has acknowledged the millions of people across the globe struggling to survive a growing water crisis. In the Azawak of West Africa, half a million people live with the daily fear of dying of thirst. In this vast region the size of Florida, young children travel as far as 30 miles round-trip looking for water. The little mud they gather is hardly enough to offer even a glass of the liquid to each of their family members. For this reason, one out of two children die before they reach age five, most from dehydration.

Ariane Kirtley, a Yale University graduate, came upon this region in 2005 while conducting public health research as a Fulbright scholar. At this time, she met families that had spent up to eight years digging wells over 300 feet deep, without ever reaching a drop of water. She interviewed mothers that begged, “Please help bring us water. Our children are dying of thirst”. What impressed Ariane even more than the dire living conditions was the fact that no other organization worked to help bring year-round sustainable sources of water to the land. As an answer to the populations’ plea, she founded Amman Imman: Water is Life to drill borehole wells that each provide sustainable, abundant, and pure water for up to 25,000 people and animals.

In February 2010, Amman Imman: Water is Life drilled its most recent borehole – the Montessori Well of Love, financed by Montessori students worldwide -- in the village of Kijigari, home to over 6,000 people. Each well drilled is an adventure of hope and inspiration. Ariane invites you to join Amman Imman and students worldwide in the Kijigari adventure as she recounts the drilling tale, and requests help to finish the borehole by May. In order to build the infrastructure that will bring the water to the surface Amman Imman must still raise $50,000.

Building a Well of Love, by Ariane Kirtley
A Convoy of Hope Leaves from Niamey
Our convoy of five rigs, equipped with drills, tubes, and all kinds of impressive machinery traveled two days from Niamey to Tahoua, then through Abalak. As the convoy barreled into Kijigari, we were generously welcomed by curious children, passers-by, and community leaders praying that construction happen safely. The rest of the day was devoted to setting up the machinery and equipment.

Songs of Thanks as Drilling Begins
At 5 AM the next morning, the construction site glowed from miles away while temporary light structures lit the otherwise dark and barren landscape. Villagers of all ages sat in anticipation while 9 meter drilling tubes were loaded onto the drill bit. Then, whoosh, drilling began. Silt and mud churned out, as the machine drilled deeper and deeper. As the dawn of the day brought the 110 degree sun to shine on Kijigari, village children crowded in glee around the drilling site. Young girls danced and sang songs giving thanks that their long trips in search for water would end, as water would soon flow in their home. The children’s exaltation was coupled late afternoon when sediment samples proved the presence of water. 590 feet deep into the ground, initial drilling ended.

Blowing Air to Clean 590 Feet Deep
Now came time to blow heavy bouts of air into the hole in order to clean it out of sediment and dirt that had fallen in during the drilling. Mud, that eventually became clearer and clearer, shot out of the borehole. As water continued spewing out into the night, one construction worker took a “shower” in the downpour for the first time in several days. Only the next day did the water come out potable.

Finally…. water for everyone
The “blowing out” procedure was followed by the pump trials, which show how much water can be pumped out of the borehole without the water level plummeting. After six hours of constant pumping, the water level hardly budged, indicating that the aquifer is bountiful. We invited villagers to fill up all their water containers and jerry cans during this process. Once the pump trials began, nomads and villagers from far and near came to fill as many containers as they could handle. Donkeys pulled wagons covered with ten or more jerry cans and barrels. Men, women and children carried up to five jerry cans, and waited patiently their turn. Women did their laundry, and children bathed in the runoff. A group of four young girls washed their hair. More children sang and danced, this time jumping in the puddles formed by the water. Even the animals drank to their heart’s content. The next day, people still traveled to the borehole hoping to fetch water, only to be turned away….

Capping the Borehole
After seven hours of joy and hope in gathering water, the pumping trials, although successful, had ended. One single construction team member stood packing sand around a capped tube sticking out of the ground, the only proof of the borehole accessing water 590 feet below. A few men and children watched as he placed a lock on the tube, and handed the keys to the village chief. Who could have guessed that over the past many days, banging machinery had replaced the pounding of millet, camel yelps, and blowing wind? All impatiently await for the capped borehole to be equipped with a pump, water tower, faucets and troughs so that the water can flow abundantly for children and adults alike.

Joy Turns to Anxious Anticipation
The dry season has already hit the land, and Kijigari villagers have gone back to traveling 20 to 30 miles a day in 120 degree heat looking for water. Yet water lies 590 feet at the bottom of a deep pipe installed right in their village. Every day we get messages from the villagers asking when we will be able to bring the water to the surface. They are counting the time, not in months or days, but in seconds and minutes. The lives of their children lie in our hands.

Pure and permanent water in Kijigari is only $50,000 away. Please be a part of fulfilling the mothers' wishes, and help raise $50,000 to bring clean and plentiful water to their thirsty children by May. Over the next two months we intend to build the water tower, pump, faucets and animal troughs - before the height of the dry season - BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.

Here's what you can do to join us and our student partners and help make water flow in Kijigari by May:
• Become an Individual or Corporate Sponsor and offer to match the funds raised by a school. Contact info@ammanimman.org to find out how.
• Join an already planned Walk for Water event and raise funds by finding sponsors. Register here at www.active.com/donate/awalkforwater as events are added.
• Plan your own official A Walk For Water or Amman-a-thon Earth Day event in your community. Step-by-step guides are available. Visit www.ammanimman.org/walk to sign up.
Donate directly and/or Help in your own creative and compassionate way.

photos by Denis Gontero

Monday, March 22, 2010

Water is Life: African Nomads on the Brink

The Bing Stanford in Washington Art Gallery Presents
Water is Life: African Nomads on the Brink

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bing Stanford in Washington Art Gallery is proud to host Water is Life: African Nomads on the Brink. This exhibition of photography by Ariane Kirtley highlights the struggles of the people of Azawak, a remote area of Niger, as they live on the brink of dehydration due to years of persistent drought and lack of resources.

Ariane Kirtley is the founder of Amman Imman: Water is Life, a Bethesda, Maryland, based organization whose mission is to build permanent wells in the Azawak, thus securing water for its vulnerable inhabitants. Her photographs document the lives of two nomadic ethnic groups – the Tuareg and Wodaabe Fulani – and their daily struggle to secure water. Water does exists in reliable quantities 600 to 3,000 feet below the earth’s surface, but can only be accessed by sophisticated drilling techniques. Amman Imman has taken on the challenge of drilling borehole wells that are able to provide clean, free-flowing water to the Azawak, and thus provide year-round relief for up to 25,000 people and animals. Kirtley’s photographs document the extraordinary efforts the Tuareg and Wodaabe undertake in search of water and the hopeful glimpse into the future each newly constructed borehole brings.

The Bing Stanford in Washington Art Gallery is located in The Sant Building at 2655 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Washington, DC 20008. Red Line to Woodley Park-Zoo / Adams Morgan. Hours are 9:00-7:00 M-F, 12:00-6:00 Sat & Sun.


The exhibit runs from March 22, 2010, until May 24, 2010.
Please call 202-332-6235 for more information or visit bsiw.stanford.edu/art_gallery.
Admission is free.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Part 6 - Making The Water Flow In Kijigari: What You Can Do

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Dear Friends of the Azawak,

After the end of the successful pump trials, Kijigari fathers, mothers and children are back to traveling 20 - 30 miles a day in search of water. Yet water lies 180 meters at the bottom of a deep pipe installed right in their village. Every day Denis, Moumine, and I get messages from the villagers asking when we will be able to bring the water to the surface.  They are counting the time, not in months or days, but in seconds and minutes.  The lives of their children lie in our hands.
Pure and permanent water in Kijigari is only $50,000 away. You can help Amman Imman make the water flow.   Over the next two months we intend to build the water tower, pump, faucets and animal troughs - before the height of the dry season -  BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.  
Over the last four years students around the world, particularly in Montessori schools, raised the funds that helped us drill the Kijigari Montessori Well of Love, dedicated to our dear late Dennis Hamilton.  This spring, thanks to our new partnership with the Earth Day
Network
, A Walk For Water and the Amman-a-thon have been named official Earth Day events.

Here's what you can do to join our Heroes of Compassion and help make water flow in Kijigari by May:
  • Become an Individual or Corporate Sponsor and offer to match the funds raised by a
    school.  Contact info@ammanimman.org to find out how.


  • Plan your own official A Walk For Water or Amman-a-thon Earth Day event in your community. Step-by-step guides are available. Visit www.ammanimman.org/walk to sign up. 

  • Help in your own creative and compassionate way.
Please be a part of fulfilling the mothers' wishes, and help raise $50,000 to bring clean and plentiful water to their thirsty children by May.  

Yours in Hope and Love for the Children of the Azawak,

Ariane

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Part 5 - Joy Turns to Anxious Anticipation

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Part 5 borehole is locked.jpgDear Friends of the Azawak,

Part 5 back to searching for water.jpgYesterday I ended our installment with the jarring news that after seven hours of joy and hope in gathering water, people had to be turned away the following day.  The pumping trials had ended.  Instead, the team had begun loading tubing and other equipment  onto their lorries, in preparation for departure.  One single construction team member stood packing sand around a capped tube sticking out of the ground, the only proof of the borehole accessing water 180 meters below.    A few men and children watched as he placed a lock on the tube, and handed the keys to the village chief.

Who could have guessed that over the past many days, banging machinery had replaced the pounding of millet, camel yelps, and blowing wind?  Mothers asked Denis, "Do we have to go back to searching for water afar?  How much longer must we wait before we can drink this water?".... the same water that was so tangible and drinkable just the day before.   Denis wanted to answer "Right away", but instead had to respond, "We are working very hard to come up with the money needed to bring the water above ground, we hope before the height of the dry season".

The dry season has already hit the land, and Kijigari villagers have gone back to traveling 20 to 30 miles a day in 104 degrees F looking for water. 


TOMORROW: Part 6 - Making The Water Flow In Kijigari: What You Can Do 

Yours,

Ariane


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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Part 4 - Finally..... water for everyone

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Dear Friends of the Azawak,Part 4 header.jpg 

Part 4 pump trials.jpgWe continue our story after the hole, 180 meters deep, has been cleaned out.  Now came time for the pump trials, which show how much water can be pumped out of the borehole without the water level plummeting.  These tests also determine the type of pump and engine that must be used once the borehole is equipped. After six hours of constant pumping, the water level hardly budged, indicating that the aquifer is bountiful. 

Denis and our local representative, Moumine, visited households inviting villagers to fill up all their water containers and jerry cans during this process.  Once the pump trials began, nomads and villagers from far and near came to fill as many containers as they could handle. Donkeys pulled wagons covered with ten or more jerry cans and barrels.  Men, women and children carried up to five jerry cans, and waited patiently their turn.
Women did their laundry, and children bathed in the runoff.  A group of four young girls washed their hair.  More children sang and danced, this time jumping in the puddles formed by the water.  Even the animals drank to their heart's content. 

The next day, people still traveled to the borehole hoping to fetch water, only to be turned away....
TOMORROW: Part 5 - Joy Turns to Anxious Anticipation 

Yours, 

Ariane

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Please help Amman Imman raise $50,000 this spring!


Monday, March 8, 2010

Part 3 – Placing Permanent Tubing and Blowing Air to Clean 180 meters Deep


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Dear Friends of the Azawak,
Second drilling tubing mud.jpg

Our story resumes when water is reached at 180 meters and the preliminary drilling is completed. 

Next, the hole-making tubes were lifted out one by one, only to be replaced by PVC plastic tubing.   These long and sturdy blue tubes were loaded onto another drill bit resembling a monster with big teeth, and carefully placed into the hole in order to permanently align its walls and prevent it from caving in.  

Less than 48 hours later, machine and engine sounds halted as drilling came to a close.  Now came time to "blow out" the borehole.  This consisted of blowing heavy bouts of air into the hole in order to clean it out of sediment and dirt that had fallen in during the drilling.  Denis recalls mud shooting out of the borehole.   As water continued spewing out into the night, one construction worker took a "shower" in the downpour for the first time in several days.   Only the next day did the water come out clear and potable.
Shower and clean water.jpg
Tomorrow: Part 4 - Finally...... water for everyone 
Yours,  
Ariane



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   Monster drill bit.jpg
  
 


Friday, March 5, 2010

Part 2 - Songs of Thanks as Drilling Begins

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Dear Friends of the Azawak,drilling begins resized.jpg
At 5 AM the next morning, the construction site glowed from miles away while temporary light structures lit the otherwise dark and barren landscape. Denis sat with villagers of all ages in anticipation while 9 meter drilling tubes were loaded onto the drill bit. Then, whoosh, drilling began.  Silt and mud churned out, as the machine drilled deeper and deeper.  A sediment sample was taken every meter drilled, and set aside for examination.

As the dawn of the day brought the hot sun to shine on Kijigari, village children crowded in glee around the drilling site.  Young girls danced and sang songs in Tamashek -- the local language -- giving thanks that their long trips in search for water would end, as water would soon flow in their home.  The children's exaltation was coupled late afternoon when sediment samples proved the presence of water.

180 meters deep into the ground, initial drilling ended. water and rejoicing resized.jpg 

On Monday: Part 3 - Placing Permanent Tubing and Blowing Air to Clean 180 meters Deep

Yours,

Ariane

Donate here

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Click here to plan fund raising event

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Part 1: A Convoy of Hope Leaves From Niamey

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Dear Friends of the Azawak,
Our story about the drilling of the Kijigari Well of Love
unfolds... Part 1 photos white p2.jpg

denis_gontero_crop.jpg Denis left Niamey on February 1st to join a convoy of five rigs, equipped with drills, tubes, and all kinds of impressive machinery.  After two days of travel from Niamey to Tahoua, then through Abalak, Denis and the construction team finally reached the village of Kijigari.

Part 1 photos white.jpg
 As the convoy barreled into the village, they were generously welcomed by curious children, passers-by, and community leaders praying that construction happen safely.

The rest of the day was devoted to setting up the machinery and equipment. The first thing that had to happen was to find water to create mud necessary for the drilling. Several members of the team traveled another 20km away to one of the rare marshes that had not yet dried, and then filled up large holes that had been dug around the borehole location to create mud pits.  Those that stayed in Kijigari placed the equipment and machinery, and prepared all drilling bits and tubing.

TOMORROW:
Part 2 - Songs of Thanks as Drilling Begins

              Til tomorrow,  
                    Ariane                                          
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Click here to register your A Walk for Water event

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Prelude: Kijigari Borehole Drilled Before Niger Military Coup



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Dear Friends of the Azawak, 
I write to you after last month’s military coup that ousted President Tandja from power.  Everything has calmed on a political level, as the populace awaits democracy to be restored.   To the casual observer, no one could guess that instability shook the country last week.  Niamey is bustling with honking taxis, donkey carts, laughing children, and street vendors as usual.  Everyone I’ve spoken with is relieved that their country’s fate has been removed from Tandja’s hands.

Now onto our own news of relief and change:


Over the next several days, I’m going to send you six emails that will tell you a moving tale about the drilling of our Kijigari Well of Love.  Denis returned from the bush with amazing and inspiring stories, as well as photos and footage. Rather than tell it to you all at once, I’m going to unveil it in small bites, with lots of pictures, so that you can savor and imagine the entire adventure along with me.

IMG_7947.jpgLet me start by saying that although the borehole has been drilled, it has yet to provide the people with the abundant water it is capable of producing.  This is the wrenching irony, and where the story turns from inspiration to appeal:  In order to make water accessible for the people of Kijigari, we need to raise $50,000 by May. This is how much is still needed to build the infrastructure that will bring the water to the surface.

I ask you to join me on this adventure to the village of Kijigari, and follow with me to its closure so that together we can satisfy the quest of the people for water!

TOMORROW: Part 1 - A Convoy of Hope Leaves from Niamey


Yours in Hope and Love for the Children of the Azawak,

                                                        Ariane 


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Please contact us to get involved!


 
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