Water Shortage in Africa, by Laurel & Lucy

Person Trying to Get Water from a Muddy Watering Hole

May 15, 2020

This year, Alice Mendor, a local scientist at PSU, has been working on getting water to people who have none, in places like Eastern Africa, where water can be very scarce. Mendor has created a system to bring water and water services to everybody in Africa who needs it. She says, "It is easier for an adult to turn away from another adult, rather than a child, strongly believing in what they are talking about. Children get adults attention, so the solution is very simple." Mendor has kids around the world talking in public spaces to adults, about water shortage, and the effects of not having clean water, or any water.

This subject of water shortage was widely spread around the United States—not by adults though—by kids. Mendor told us that children around the world are hugely underestimated, but she said that kids have some of the strongest voices, and they are the ones who can make big change. After the awareness grew in the adult population, Mendor now has 70% of the United States donating or traveling to deliver water to Africa.

We decided to travel as a group of Oregonian scientists to Africa to see if Mendor was right about the big change in water shortage. We were absolutely shocked to find that Mendor was more than right. Even the poorest and driest communities were gushing with people helping all of the water shortage needs. Many mothers and children were crying at the sight of a clean water source right at their fingertips twenty four hours a day. Things have really changed in 2020, looking better from here.