Keren Johnson ’02 visited the Westville Boys’ High School in Durban, South Africa, to deliver the water filters for future distribution to areas lacking access to clean water.
Community Council and Johnson worked with Cole Kawana ’16 to distribute Clean Water Ambassador water filters in South Africa in November.
The council initiated the project after twenty-one Westville students visited Harvard-Westlake Oct. 4.
Johnson began working with the council at the beginning of the 2016 school year. She assisted in organizing a team to work with Kawana and began the process of planning the trip in October.
“Towards the beginning of the year we weren’t as focused on the water project because of larger projects, but we are taking the initiative to change that,” Community Council Member Natalie Choi ’18 said.
Their initial goal was to support Kawana in the distribution of the water filters as well as fundraising.
Students from Harvard-Westlake, including Evan Keare ’18, have become ambassadors with the program.
“It was really special for me because it gave the trip a whole other purpose,” Keare said.
The council has been actively encouraging more students to bring filters whenever they travel internationally.
“I think it’s feasible [for students] to bring filters abroad, especially if you are able to get a bucket at your destination because that is the most of the bulk,” Keare said.
The council and Johnson plan to continue their work with Clean Water Ambassadors throughout the rest of the school year and into the future.