Wells of Life

Wells of Life (WOL) is a 501(c)(3) Christian non-profit organization whose goal is to provide rural Ugandans access to safe, clean water through the installation of sustainable borehole water wells and teaching the local community about sustainable hygiene and water supply. It was founded in 2008 and has funded over 500 wells [1] primarily in the Mityana and Mubende regions of Uganda, all of which collectively serve more than 385,000 people. It is based in Irvine, California, and is currently building headquarters in Mubende, Uganda. In 2018, Wells of Life founded its Irish counterpart, Wells of Life Ireland.

History

Wells of Life was founded November 28, 2008, by Nick Jordan, a Laguna Beach real estate agent and Ireland native who recognized the dire need for clean water while in Uganda. Its first wells were built in 2009.[2] Wells of Life was granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service in 2012.

In 2015, Wells of Life was recognized as Forge54's sponsored non-profit of the year,[3] receiving $574,725 in services from nearly 100 volunteers[4] during Forge54's third annual 54-hour weekend volunteering marathon.[5]

In August 2016, Wells of Life began partnering with the Christian East Africa Economic Development Trust (CEED).[6] The organizations were introduced by two Grove City College students interning at CEED.[7] CEED employs the local Ugandans who drill and maintain the wells that Wells of Life funds.

On March 12, 2018, the Kingdom of Buganda signed a memorandum of understanding with Wells of Life, affirming their common goal of bringing clean water to the Buluuli, Kooki, and Mawogola counties of Uganda, where water concerns are most severe.[8]

Also in March, Wells of Life purchased land in the Mubende region of Uganda to build a 12,000-square foot, $1 million headquarters facility.[9] The headquarters will include staff and guest accommodations, business offices, and well-drilling and maintenance warehouses and training facilities. The ground-breaking ceremony will be held August 17, 2018.

In May 2018, Wells of Life founded its Irish counterpart, Wells of Life Ireland, based in Navan in the county of Meath.

In 2019, we launched a project called Operation Restoration! This project was to help save the wells that began to act as non-functioning wells. Wells of life works to not only drill new wells, but to restore forgotten non-functioning wells drilled by previous organizations. There was many communities in Uganda that were lacking clean water in result of a non-functioning well. The only difference between a new well and a restored non-functioning well is timing. A repaired well has sometimes been non-functioning for several years. The result is the same, 1,000 people now have access to safe water!

In April 2020, In response to the Corona Virus, Wells of Life donated 10,000 bars of soap to both local and national leadership in Uganda. When this soap is dissolved in water, the components of the soap forms circular "micelles" exposing all of the water-loving ends outward. The Corona Virus is coated with lipids and proteins, the hydrophilic (water-loving) component of soap acts to dissolve the lipids and break down the proteins, both of which actions help prevent the virus from entering the cells on the skin.

Partnerships

Wells of Life has a partnership with the Honorable Charles Peter Mayiga, the Prime Minister of Buganda. During their March 2018 meeting, part of which aired on NTVUganda,[10] Jordan and Mayiga discussed the consequences of water inaccess in Uganda, as well as Jordan's goal of helping all of Uganda gain access to clean drinking water by 2038.

Wells of Life partners with the Christian East Africa Economic Development Trust (CEED) to drills its wells. CEED is a US-based non-governmental organization that has employed local Ugandans to drill and repair wells for more than 20 years.[11] CEED is responsible for designing the sustainable well that Wells of Life places in villages.

In 2018, Austin Hedges, catcher for the San Diego Padres and a Wells of Life Ambassador,[12] teamed up with Adam Wainright's Big League Impact to fundraise for Wells of Life.[13] Hedges asked donors to pledge an amount per Padres win in the 2018 season, and pledged to match their donations up to $12,000.

In 2020, Wells of Life partnered with She for She Pads. This is a Ugandan-based social enterprise, that provides sustainable menstrual kits to girls in rural areas. She for She ensures that the products primarily go to girls in school and women in the labor market. The idea behind She for She is to allow women and young girls to feel empowered and to allow them to reach their full potential.

Programs

The Wells

As of July 2020, Wells of Life has funded and drilled 524 wells in Uganda, primarily in the Mityana and Mubende regions. Each well costs $6,000, which includes drilling, maintenance, and repair costs. Wells of Life utilized PAT-Drill 301 TP drilling rigs for the first 220 wells and LS300 drilling rigs now, CompAir compressors, and India Mark II hand pumps for its wells.[14]

The wells are personalized with plaques containing information about the well's donor. Notable well donors include Pedego Electric Bikes[15] and Irish tenor Anthony Kearns.[16] Local Eagle Scouts,[17] as well as students from Mission Basilica School,[18] Mater Dei High School,[19] and Servite High School[20] have also donated wells. A well was donated to mark the engagement of actor Miles Teller and model Keleigh Sperry, who are both Wells of Life ambassadors.[21] Other wells have been dedicated to honor individuals posthumously: A 2018 well was dedicated to the late Reverend Billy Graham;[22] Kearns donated a well in 2015 in honor of victims of the September 11 attacks;[23] and a well in 2015 was dedicated to the six Irish students who died in a balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, that year.[24]

WASH Program

Prior to the installation of a well, Wells of Life and its partners help local communities prepare for the responsibility of operating the wells. This preparation includes teaching local villagers how to maintain and repair the wells, as well as money management techniques to save money for well repairs.

WASH is the collective term for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Due to their interdependent nature, these three core issues are grouped together to represent a growing sector. While each is a separate field of work, each is dependent on the presence of the other. For example, without toilets, water sources become contaminated; without clean water, basic hygiene practices are not possible.

Water Warriors

Water Warriors is a monthly giving program. This program is used for anyone willing to give back to the community and allows Wells of Life to bring clean drinking water back to the rural area's of Uganda. For just $1 a day/$30 a month, you can change the lives of thousands of people. To sign up for the Water Warriors Program, visit the Wells of Life website and click, "GIVE WATER": https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E166268&id=4.

Run4Water

Run4Water is the biggest fundraising event of the year. This event brings together schools, churches, businesses & families and allows everyone to play a part of the progression to bringing clean water to the communities that need it the most. For the past five years, this event has brought clean water to over 150,000 people in rural Uganda. In 2020, the goal was to fund 40 Operation Restoration wells. Although the Corona Virus made it a bigger challenge, Wells of Life was able to raise $123,706 and funded 41 wells to be restored!

Financials

Wells of Life funds its administrative expenses primarily through donations from its Legacy Donor program, which is a five-year donation commitment. This program allows donations for wells to go exclusively toward well drilling and maintenance operations.

Each well costs $6,000. Wells of Life's primary fundraising event is its annual charity 5K run called Run4Water. Most recently, in 2020, the event raised over $123,706, or enough for 41 restored wells. [25] Prior to 2015, when the first run was held, Wells of Life fundraised primarily through private galas.

Annual reports

2017, 2016

External Sources

References
  1. "Wells of Life –– Funded Wells". Wells of Life. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. Francis, Josh (13 July 2011). "OC man helps bring clean water to Ugandans". OC Register.
  3. "Wells Of Life –– Forge54". Forge54. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. Staggs, Brook (16 October 2016). "54-hour blitz: Marketing pros spend weekend using talents to help homeless". Orange County Register.
  5. "Third Annual Forge 54 - Wells of Life - Sparkhouse". Sparkhouse. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  6. "Wells of Life 2016 Annual Report". Issuu. Wells of Life. 13 February 2017. p. 1. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  7. "Interns get the job done, help bring wells to Uganda". Grove City College. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. "Buganda takes water to Kooki, Buluuli – Buganda Today". bugandatoday.com. Buganda Today. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. "Uganda Headquarters Update". Wells of Life. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. "Buganda Kingdom partners with America NGO to provide safe water to all Ugandans". YouTube. NTVUganda. 12 March 2018.
  11. "Uganda – CEED". CEED. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  12. "Wells of Life –– Meet The Team". wellsoflife.org. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  13. "Austin Hedges, his teammates and Padre fans are making a Big League Impact". pledgeit.org. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  14. Callahan, Pete. "Well Water: Drilling for Life". Water Quality Products. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  15. "Pedego Electric Bikes Helps Bring Fresh Water Wells to Rural Uganda". Pedego Electric Bikes. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  16. "Anthony Kearns Music - Anthony Kearns News". Anthony Kearns Music. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  17. Ekberg Padilla, Marie (17 June 2015). "Bravo: Eagle Scout helps Uganda water crisis". Orange County Register. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  18. "Local Student Group Helps Nonprofit Build Wells in Uganda". The Capistrano Dispatch. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  19. Audette, Alex (17 May 2018). "School raises about $12K for Wells of Life". The Scarlet Scroll. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  20. Wilson, Reilly (23 April 2018). "Servite Participates in Wells of Life Annual "Run4Water"". Servite High School | A Catholic All-Boy College Prep High School in Orange County, CA. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  21. Lee, Esther (12 March 2018). "Miles Teller Received a Sweet Engagement Gift From His Future In-Laws". The Knot News.
  22. "Wells for life overflows". OC Catholic. 8 May 2018.
  23. "Wells of Life National Ambassador Anthony Kearns, World Renowned Tenor, Performs for Wells of Life Gala – Exceeding Fundraising Goal at Sold Out Benefit - Aliso Laguna News". Aliso Laguna News. 1 December 2014.
  24. Bharath, Deepa (13 August 2015). "At 100, O.C. monsignor still giving to those in need around the world". Orange County Register.
  25. "3rd Annual Run4Water 5k/1k". CrowdRise. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
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