Gift:
The recent, brief water crisis that happened in Boston when we had to boil water before we could drink it and the resultant run on bottled water, made me truly appreciate how available good water is in the U.S.
For many people in the world, getting water for daily use requires leaving their homes and villages and walking many miles to bring home water in buckets. A simple and elegant solution has been designed: the
Hippo Water Roller .
The videos on the website are quite lovely – especially the “Hippo Tears” one. The “Project Leader Video” explains the thoughtfulness and science in the ingenious design. (I’ve donated one Hippo Water Roller and plan to donate more as my budget allows.)
For educators, raising money to donate a Hippo Water Roller would be a good project for students. It may also get them thinking about other practical design and science solutions.
Lesson
During the Youth Producing Change Screenings at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival in January 2010, the film, Aquafinito, was screened. It was produced by Annalise Littman, currently a freshman at Tufts University and a former student at Newton South High School.
Aquafinito describes the struggle of people around the globe to gain access to clean water.
“Aquafinito raises awareness about the environmental and societal implications of bottled water, and Youth Producing Change has provided an important opportunity for the film to be seen and it’s message to be heard.” – Annalise Littman
To get a DVD of this film and those of other youth filmmakers from 2010, contact:
nedbalj@hrw.org. The DVD is available free to educators.