Dick Gregory at Burkina Faso Fundraiser
Oct 21, 2011
posted in: Center
USF Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) under the leadership of PSGS Fellow Dr. Maya Trotz, the Zodo Nogo Organization and Community Building Group have teamed up to coordinate the fundraising, design, and construction efforts for two new water reservoirs in Burkina Faso.
In order to begin work on the large-scale project, the Community Building Group is hosting a fundraiser at the Lyceum in St. Petersburg on Friday, October 28th which will feature civil rights activist and internationally known comedian Dick Gregory. The event includes a silent auction, door prizes and music. The goal of the evening is to raise $200,000.
Project History
Kathleen McDonald from the Community Building Group and Solange Kabore, the late founder of Zodo Nogo, met in the 1970’s when McDonald worked in the Peace Corps. After years of staying in touch, they helped to build a water reservoir in Kabore’s home village of Sissen, Burkina Faso. After the success of the first water reservoir, which holds 1.5 million gallons, two more villages have been identified for additional reservoirs. Burkina Faso is just south of the Sahara Dessert and the country experiences less than 14 inches of rain per year, making these water reservoirs extremely valuable for the community.
For more on the event click here. To listen to the University Beat broadcast about the water project, click here.