School project compels Sam to walk for water

JULIA WADE

Motivated by empathy and compassion for others, a former local teen has taken it upon his shoulders – literally – to help people on the other side of the world to have access to clean, safe drinking water.

On May 1, 14-year-old Sam Plummer hiked from Mangawhai Village to the Heads beach and back to Wood Street shops, a total of 9.8km, carrying 10 litres of water on a pole across his shoulders to raise donations for Charity: Water, an organisation which helps provide safe, clean drinking water to developing countries.

A fairly new student at Silverdale’s Kingsway School, Sam was conducting research for a social studies project and felt compelled to do the ‘Walk for Water’ after feeling dismayed at what he discovered.

“I thought everyone had access to clean water but when I looked into it, I found out some people in poor African communities still have to walk a long, long way and then they still just have dirty water to use and drink,” he says.

“I love drinking cold water, and it makes me feel sick that they have to do that, but they have no choice.”

In particular, women and girls in developing countries are responsible for the daily water collection, trekking for hours a day and carrying up to 20 kilos of H20 in a ‘jerrycan’, usually across rough terrain and under a scorching sun.

Along their path they can face life-threatening dangers such as wildlife attacks, sexual assault, rape and physical violence, all in an effort to supply what is often unclean water for their family.

The hours spent on water collecting robs women and girls of precious time, to attend school, to work, to rest and to play.

However, when clean water is able to be supplied to a village, relieving females of the duty, research shows school attendance for girls rises by 15 per cent.

Sam was in Mangawhai for the recent school holidays when he decided to do his walk and, being proactive, called up ten local companies who generously donated $100 or more.

Local businesses had Sam’s back during his trek, supporting the cause, with generous donations from Barfoot & Thompson, Mangawhai Water, Aotearoa Surf, Mangawhai Books & Gifts, Heads Four Square, Mangawhai Retreat, Bammas, Training 4 Safety, Movewell Physio, Waitoki Builders and Salthouse Next Generation Boats.

To date his many footsteps have now raised over $1200, and the long walk with the heavy H20 load has further deepened Sam’s empathy for those who have to repeat the burdensome task every day.

“I wasn’t feeling the best after, my legs felt really heavy and my shoulders were sore and tight, I could hardly move,” he says.

“Feel quite sad that people actually have to do that every day for something we all need… I’m really happy to donate the money so I can do my bit to help the world.”

Charity: Water is a non-profit organisation. To find out more about what they do visit charitywater.org

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Sam Plummer on his mission to raise cash for clean water. “We’re all stoked, such a spunky kid, and he smiled all the way,” said dad Francois. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

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Sam with major sponsor, Aotearoa Surf owner Che Burnett. PHOTO/SUPPLIED