International Humanitarian Inspires Youth to Take Compassionate Action

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2015.   

Contact: Debra Kahn, Amman Imman: Water is Life Associate Director, 240-418-1143,debbie@ammanimman.org International Humanitarian Inspires Youth to Take Compassionate Action

~ Amman Imman’s Founder Ariane Kirtley speaks at John F. Kennedy High School ~

Who: Amman Imman: Water is Life’s Founder and Executive Director Ariane Kirtley is in the Washington, DC area, just back from Niger, the poorest nation on Earth, and also a theater of regional struggle  against the rise of Islamist radicalization.

What: Kirtley will address students and parents from the John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, MD and other Montgomery County schools on the organization’s work in rural Niger, and how they can take a role as global citizens around critical issues like water scarcity and fostering friendships between diverse cultures. She will talk about what students can personally do to make a difference by participating in the the 2015 A Walk for Water, Amman Imman’s signature fundraising and awareness event in the Washington, DC metro area that will be held at John F. Kennedy High School on May 16.

Ariane Kirtley is also available for media interviews and features on such topics as: African development, combatting extremism, climate change, water, Boko Haram, roles of women in the Sahel, women’s entrepreneurship, choosing the humanitarian lifestyle, educating American schoolchildren about other cultures, and leading an international NGO.   

When:             Friday, April 24, 6:00pm

Where:           John F. Kennedy High School

1901 Randolph Road

Silver Spring, MD 20902

Photo Opportunity:

Best Time: 6:15 pm

Background:

2015 A Walk for Water is on Saturday, May 16th, 10:00am-2:00pm at John F. Kennedy High School. The event commences with an Opening Ceremony that includes AI’s Founder and Executive Director Ariane Alzhara Kirtley as keynote speaker, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett as special guest speaker, and John F. Kennedy High School Principal Joe L. Rubens as our host. There will be an interactive cultural festival, highlighting the cultures that Amman Imman serves and the issue of water scarcity, that features hands-on activities, food, live music from West Africa, traditional crafts and jewelry for purchase, and live demonstrations for the whole family. During the festival people gather to begin the 5K walk that symbolizes the 35 mile trek children living in the Azawak of West  Africa travel to bring water home to their families.

Funds raised go towards Amman Imman projects that help West African nomadic children and families suffering from water scarcity gain access to sustainable water sources and capacity-building projects focused on health, sanitation, food security, education, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability and livelihood opportunities.  More information available at www.ammanimman.org/walk

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