Walkin' for Water- International Education Week 2009

Does carrying 5 gallons of water seem like an easy task to you? Looks and perception can be very deceiving-this was the case with Walkin' for Water.

The Gender Excellence Learning Community (Women's and Gender Studies Department) created the Walkin' for Water service project as a way to give back and change the lives of women and girls in developing countries. On average a young girl or woman carries 5 gallons of water 4 miles a day! With so much of their time being spent on gathering water for their families-their education suffers.

We then set out to make it all happen-we began planning how we would raise money that would be donated to Water1st International. Water1st International is a non-profit organization that builds wells in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Honduras. After weeks of preparation Nov. 17 was finally here and we were all motivated to raise money!

Our first fundraising event was on Nov. 17, during International Education Week, we set up outside of Fretwell. In order to raise money we challenged people's strength and their perception by asking them to carry or run with two 5 gallon buckets-with 2.5 gallons of water in each- to get an understanding of what these women and girls go through on a daily basis to get a basic need:water. Some participants took nice calm strolls with the water in tow while others got more competitive and created a race out of it. The UNC Charlotte Women's Rugby team came out to help and challenged people to race them with the water-it was a hit! Needless to say most people were shocked at how difficult this seemingly easy task really was. This event was a success-a grand total of $102.55 was raised in 2 hours-that will build 5 wells!

Not only did we want this to be a fundraising event-but we also wanted to educate people on our cause. It is our hope that UNC Charlotte students, faculty/staff and visitors that participated-or saw the event going on-are now more educated on the cause and have a place in their hearts to help people in developing countries that struggle to get something that Americans sometimes take for granted.

Walkin' for Water will host another fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 19, outside of Fretwell from 2:30-4:20pm. Donations will be taken and races will resume. Come out and get involved with a great cause and fun!

Thanks to everyone that participated and donated. Your help and contributions are appreciated and will help to change the lives of people across the world.

International Education Week is Here!

International Education Week is here, and we have more events than ever before. No matter what you are interested in, you can find something you can enjoy during International Education Week. Have lunch or dinner with your friends in Crown Commons - they are hosting a week of International Cuisine from around the world. Each day offers food from a different region - Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Come enjoy the delicious food and world culture.

If you are not a foodie, don’t worry, we still have something for you. Come watch a movie - we have several award-winning movies from around the world that relate to international topics and issues.

• Sleepwalking Land is about how an orphaned trying to find his family in war-torn Mozambique. The film displays the power of imagination for surviving, and ultimately overcoming, the devastation of war.

• Nobody Knows is about how young boy in Tokyo trying manages the household and take care his three younger siblings after his mother abandons them. How the children find new ways to survive after the money runs out. Based on a true story.

• Gegen Die Wand is about two German Turks who decide to marry each other when they meet at the hospital after they tried to commit suicide.

• Trade is a story about a girl was kidnapped by underground traffic trying to escape from the brutal global underworld, and how her brother and police determined to rescue her. A socially conscious film, Trade does not look away or glance over the horrors of the sex trade, even in the most painful of details.

• A Journey to Darfur is promote awareness and education on genocide, hatred, mass violence and human right violations pertaining to historical atrocities and similar current conflicts.

If you are more of a social person, come to our international food sampler and international coffee hour to meet some new friends from around the world. Or join us for the brown bag lunch travel presentation, our presenters will share their international travel experience with you in the luncheon.

Prefer to be active? Recreational Services is hosting several dance classes; including Zumba, Salsa and Ballroom and Latin Dance over the week. Come get your international groove on.

Join us to celebrate UNC Charlotte’s global nature - history, language, film, culture, speakers, food, coffee and much, much more are combined for an exciting international experience. For the list of the events visit our website at http://www.oip.uncc.edu/IntEdWk.htm.

Eat. Drink. Learn. Think. Read. Do. Go Global.

15 ways to "go global" at UNC Charlotte

1. Participate in International Education Week
2. Join one of many International Student Organizations
3. Visit our Blog - http://ninerinternational.blogspot.com :)
4. Become a Friendship and Culture Exchange Partner
5. Study Abroad
6. Attend International Film Series
7. Join the International Club
8. Attend International Coffee Hour
9. Participate in the International Festival
10. Live in Witherspoon Hall’s International House
11. Become an International Studies Major or Minor
12. Join the Model United Nations
13. Join Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars
14. Facebook Group-Office of International Programs, UNC Charlotte
15. Attend the International Speaker Series


Right now we're most concerned with #1. The week of November 16-20, 2009 has 35 programs scheduled to reflect the global nature of UNC Charlotte - history, language, film, culture, speakers, food, coffee and much, much more are combined for an exciting international experience. The complete list of events is available online. Look for other announcements around campus - contact our office (704-687-7305) if you'd like more information or need special accommodations. Don't miss this chance to "go global."

Eat. Drink. Learn. Think. Read. Do. Go Global.