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BLOG | If it’s Yellow, Let it Mellow – Happy World Toilet Day!
If it’s Yellow, Let it Mellow World Toilet Day Did you know that November 19th is World Toilet Day? Let’s celebrate! Here is what you need to know about World Toilet Day- It became officially recognized November 19, 2012 as a United Nations International observance day to “inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.” … Continued
No One Should be Scared to Poop
All over the world, 2.5 billion people have no safe, dignified place to ‘go’. In addition, our little ones, young children under the age of 5, truly fear using a pit latrine (the common, inexpensive hand-dug pit). These pit latrines, cement or not, can be very scary for anyone. Children think they will fall in, … Continued
Read moreOur hero David Christof and why every drop matters
David Christof is a hero. It’s not everyday that someone decides to wake up and exhaust their body beyond what many of us think is even possible all for the sake of saving people’s lives. David is that person. In 2007, David participated in Blue Planet Run to support safe water projects through our … Continued
$1,000 Challenge during Earth Month
After a very successful private World Premiere FUNdraiser on International World Water Day March 22nd, we received some great news! Bill and Debbie Doty, lovers of our great mother earth and long time supporters of Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc., have decided to launch a $1,000 challenge to help support our three safe water projects … Continued
POSTPONED——Pre-Movie Release [FUN]draiser
We will be postponing this event! We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to seeing you soon! There are still plenty of opportunities to help support local film and water. Please contact us at erin@drinklocaldrinktap.org with questions or sponsorship interest, thank you! Join us for an evening of African dance, food, drink, art and a meet and greet with … Continued
RECAP: Drilling our first borehole and next steps in East Africa
Dear Drink Local. Drink Tap. Supporters, We did it! Thanks to the support of BNE Water Foundation who gained naming rights to the borehole, Blue Planet Network’s Team Hope, Katie Spotz, Drink Local. Drink Tap. supporters, Wavemaker Program students in Northeast Ohio, and Laura Watilo Blake’s Gallery Show, we raised the funding needed to help … Continued
JOIN US Friday August 24th, 2012 5pm-10pm for our 2nd Annual BACK FROM AFRICA BASH
Join the CREW at: Winking Lizard Tavern in Lakewood, Ohio (14018 Detroit Rd., Lakewood, Ohio) Friday, August 24th 5pm-10pm $10 cover includes light foods and entry Donate $25 at the door and get light foods, entry, 5 raffle tickets and a beer wrist band for unlimited Great Lakes Brewing Company Wright Pils draft … Continued
Turning appreciation into action: Uganda 2012
Based in the Great Lakes region in the United States, Drink Local. Drink Tap.© (DLDT) realizes that reconnecting to local water wealth is critical in creating the foundation for people to “wake up” to water. The entire planet is covered with water, but only 3% is fresh, and .3% of that is available to drink. … Continued
Uganda Update- the dates are set!
We are proud to announce the tickets are bought for Uganda! June 4-mid-July DLDT will be filming and working to finish the borehole in rural Uganda for over 700 children (about half are orphaned) and the surrounding village of Mulajji. The only way this is made possible is through our sponsors– especially Affinity Consultants, Inc. … Continued
World is Africa Party @La Strada East 4th, Downtown Cleveland
Thanks to the generosity and support of this World is Africa Party, Drink Local. Drink Tap. will be collecting voluntary donations instead of a cover! Friday, May 11th on East 4th, Downtown Cleveland @La Strada View it and share it on Facebook Come dance after Pecha Kucha!
15% Day at Jammy Buggars’ ALL DAY (and DLDT volunteer meeting 5:30-7pm)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 11:00am until 11:00pm Step 1: Eat and drink at Jammy Buggars’ 5/15 during business hours (ALL DAY) 11:30-12:30 Step 2: Mention Drink Local. Drink Tap. to your friendly server Step 3: Jammy Buggars’ will donate 15% of the sales to DLDT’s last push for Uganda Here is their website: http://www.jammybuggars.com/ Please share a meal … Continued
Uganda and Great Lakes Row Benefit at Brother’s Lounge
Come join us for a late afternoon full of music raffles and more! Just $10 at the door! FLYER Sunday, May 20th at Brother’s Lounge (11609 Detroit Rd, Cleveland, OH @117th) -MARK YOUR CALENDAR 4pm-8pm MEET Beth O’Kain the rower and SAY FAREWELL to Erin Huber before she leaves for Uganda to dig for new … Continued
DINE, DRUM, DANCE & DONATE
Saturday, February 25, 2012 6:00pm until 10:00pm Loren Naji Studio Gallery, 2138 West 25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio An evening of art and entertainment to benefit families without safe drinking water. The event will include an exhibition of photography by Laura Watilo Blake, plus interactive live entertainment, food, drink and an African handicrafts market.Gallery Show and Entertainment night for … Continued
The Diseased Staple of Africa
Meet the Jerrycan. Imagine saving up your shillings (maybe $2USD) to purchase a dirty, used plastic container to carry the water for your family. For the orphans at St. Bonaventure school in Mullajji Village, this is the water for themselves to bath in, brush their teeth, wash their hands, cook, clean, and complete other water … Continued
$30,000 in 30 days
It’s the season of giving! It’s the time of year where we hope to open our hearts and share what we can to make this world a better place. We are working on two major projects right now at Drink Local. Drink Tap. (501c3) and YOU can be a part of the wavemaking with us! Currently, we funding our: … Continued
Father Gerald and HIS golden soul.
Father Gerald doesn’t sleep- because he’s got a BIG job to do and a big heart. He cares for the vulnerable; a trait that reminds me of my own father. His love is so special. If I had to give him a job title, it would be “Regional Social-worker Aids Rescue-research-education-stigma distinguishing, Assistant parish priest (Mulajji Village, … Continued
Freddie is one of many.
See this photo and more at: flikr.com/photos/dldt Photo by|Erin Huber Photo Reflection Blog by| Erin Huber, Director of Drink Local. Drink Tap. Freddie IS the reason we need to share LOVE. I met this handsome young man on my last day in Mulajji and he made me smile and cry all at once. Mama … Continued
Irene and SHARING.
Nakamatte Irene is tough and has a heart of gold, like most African women I have come to know. See this photo and more at: flikr.com/photos/dldt Photo by|Laura Watilo Blake Photo Reflection Blog by| Erin Huber, Director of Drink Local. Drink Tap. Irene has done whatever it takes in her 30 some-odd years on this … Continued
Gonzaga. My brother.
If there were a contest for the greatest smile, attitude and laugh on the planet- I would bet all the cows, elephants, money, and matoke in the world that my brother Gonzaga would win. Tom, Laura and I have laughed so many times about recording and downloading Gonzaga’s laugh as our phone ringer. Just sitting at … Continued
Father Joseph (the youngest priest)
Photo by Elbee Studio| Laura Blake Reflection by Erin Huber| Director Drink Local Drink Tap FATHER JOSEPH reminds me of an intelligent child. He has every quality of someone you … Continued
Patricia.
Patricia. As I look back at some writing I did in my personal journal pre- Africa, I found myself writing about being in love with these children and people of Africa before we ever met. I wondered if it was, in fact possible, to love someone you have never met? Well, it is. Patricia is … Continued
Joseph: The kid in the yellow shirt
PHOTO Reflections (Photo above by Laura Watilo Blake @elbeestudio) Joseph Ssekyanzi didn’t have a name until a few weeks ago after I tracked it down via emails for weeks across the globe to the small village of Mulajji, Uganda. This place is as rural as it gets, and Joseph’s hut is deep in the … Continued
September 9th, Back from Africa Movie Trailer, Photo-sharing night and more!
(View more photos on Flickr) Photo by: Laura Watilo-Blake at Elbee Studio Kibera Slum, Kenya- July 2011 Join us September 9th after returning home from 30 days in a place where people have never flushed a toilet, seen a lake, had a hot shower, or even know what a “tap” is. Access to safe … Continued
Parting Thoughts
Africa is crazy. So much work to be done. Borrowed the money from Affinity Consultants, Inc. for the engineer to bring his equiptment out during the trip. After being here for weeks, we’ve realized how hard it is to communicate and organize anything in Africa. We have a few options for bringing water to … Continued
The journey home…
We were making cars from water bottles on our last day in Africa.
Africa Photo Gallery
Laura (also known as Namanda) performs with the kids from St. Charles School (now called St. Bonaventure) during a big celebration on Friday, July 29. People from the community seemed to appreciate the effort. They would come up during the performance and drop to their knees and present and offering of candy or money to … Continued
Parting thoughts
Holy matooke- it’s a hot one! We call today “africa hot” or “equater hot”- the locals laugh. Everyday we wake to roosters, no alarm clock here-power is a luxury. In fact, right now, I am watching the water crew nap near an outlet waking to the sporadic noise of power coming back on only for seconds. If … Continued
Celebrations and Sadness
Celebrations and Sadness as Our Visit Comes to an End As much as we were happy about the festivities, it also meant that our departure was imminent. We were all reflecting on our time together. Even though it was only a short time that we’d been at the school, we had really learned a lot … Continued