Riding on horseback through a tropical jungle last summer felt a lot like driving the Road to Hana in Hawaii. It was hot, tropical, and picturesque. The notable difference is that last summer I was in the rural region of Waslala, Nicaragua (a far cry from our island state). Instead of staying in a luxury beach-front hotel, I was staying in communities without electricity or indoor plumbing.

What took me from a Highlands Ranch resident vacationing in Hawaii to a college graduate traveling in Nicaragua? Water, our precious resource- that's what.

While preparing to graduate from Saint Louis University in May 2006, I was stunned to hear that more than 1.1 billion people live without access to clean water. That's one out of every six people on the planet! I couldn't imagine that such a situation existed in the world of today.

Then I went to Nicaragua. From the airport in the capital city of Managua, I took an eight hour ride over dirt roads to cover the 100 miles or so that brings you to Waslala. I spent two weeks rambling around the area and crossing flooded bridges in the back of a pickup truck, cleaning up from dinner in candlelight, and drinking nothing but bottled water (not for the taste, but for my own health and safety).

I visited a few of the more than 50 communities where people have nothing but polluted local rivers to supply their daily water needs. My visits to these communities brought hope, for I was there with "Water for Waslala," an organization building water systems for those communities in need.

Inspired by a college spring break trip to Waslala in 2002, Water for Waslala was started three years ago by Matt Nespoli, a recent college graduate who wanted to reach out to a region that touched his heart. Since then, Water for Waslala has raised nearly $250,000 and spoken its message to more than 25,000 people. More importantly, the organization has constructed eight community water systems serving more than 2,000 people. Meeting with the beneficiaries of these systems, the difference it made in their lives was tangible and significant.

After my own visit to Waslala, I went from the mountainous rural towns to the center of the universe in New York City. Talk about a change of scenery! There's simply no comparison between a stroll through a market in Waslala and a walk down Broadway in Times Square.

Living in New York, however, has provided me with an opportunity to bridge the gap between these seemingly isolated worlds. I have been volunteering full-time for Water for Waslala, arranging presentations and fundraisers throughout the city. I have worked to share the story of life in Waslala, while also raising the money necessary to eradicate the water crisis. It is about encouraging people to start thinking globally while also realizing that they can be change agents in the world.

Through these efforts, a real difference is being made. Eyes are being opened to the truth of the world's water shortage, a resource we so often take for granted. Lives are being changed in communities across Waslala: suddenly the reality of pure water is no further away than the tap stand outside their house.

Ultimately, the distance between communities in Waslala and the United States is lessening through an increase in solidarity. The story and spirit of the Waslalan people is being brought to individuals across the US while the gift of water is restored to people so desperately in need of it. And even though snorkeling the Molokini crater off the coast of Maui is quite the thrill, being involved in this process has been the best experience of my life.


To find out more, visit www.waterforwaslala.org or e-mail Brian at brian@waterforwaslala.org