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The organization was founded by Fraser Edwards and water scientist Bob Dell who have put together an energetic staff of impressive young people who plan to carry on the founders work for decades to come. One of 

I wanted to give you a little more insight into what The Water School is all about, the caliber of people who carry out its work and why it has gained so much support with the domain industry. I decided the best way to do that would be to share a recent chat with Sandra Getuba with you.  

DN Journal: Sandra, let’s start from the beginning. Tell us where you born and a little bit about your birth place and family growing up.

DN Journal: At what point in your life did you start thinking about what you might want to do with your life and how you could go about accomplishing your goals? 

Sandra Getuba: Growing up, my friends used to tease me that one day I would be a humanitarian of some sort. I was a tiny little thing with a smart mouth who often rushed to the defense of kids being picked on by bullies. At the time, my compassion for those who could not defend themselves was the driving force behind my recklessness. That temperament diminished over time but I never stopped empathizing with the less fortunate. I have always known that I wanted to help them in some way. When I went abroad to study, I became even more aware of the injustices that people in developing countries face as they struggle to secure basic needs such as water, food, education and shelter. I knew that I was very lucky to have the opportunities that had brought me to where I was and I knew that one day I wanted to give back to my own people in some capacity, to give a voice to the voiceless. I had no idea how but I knew the first step was to finish my studies first then figure out the next step.  

DN Journal: Cultures around the world vary greatly. Were there any particular obstacles in your country that a young woman has to pursue a career or particular goals?

As soon as I came back to Canada, I was diagnosed with Lupus which forced me to slow down and focus on my health for a while. This setback prevented me from going back to Africa to work because I needed to have access to a good healthcare system.  I fell into fundraising quite by accident after getting a job as a Project Coordinator with a leading fundraising management firm called Ketchum Canada Inc (KCI) based in Toronto. While there, Fraser Edwards approached me to draft a funding proposal for The Water School which he had just started with Bob Dell.

DN Journal: The Water School’s system for bringing clean drinking waters to developing nations is so efficient and cost effective and it is easy to see why anyone would want to get involved. Of course, you have a personal history with a continent where the Water School has been especially active so have a unique perspective. From your viewpoint, tell us what you thought about the program when you were introduced to it and the good you have seen it do first hand.

Sandra Getuba: Back in 2007 when Fraser Edwards approached me for help with a funding proposal, I began to research on solar disinfection (SODIS). I was completely blown away by the whole concept and the potential impact it could have on my own people. I had seen firsthand the effects of drinking contaminated water. I have numerous little cousins and relatives that suffer untold misery as a result of waterborne diseases and I could see how an organization like the Water School could change their lives. I have an eleven year old cousin out in the village called Moraa. We share the same name because we are both named after our great grandmother. Her father (my uncle) died of HIV/AIDS about 3 years ago and my grandmother helped their mother look after Moraa and her siblings until she died last year. Ever since Moraa was a little girl she was always home sick with diarrhea and stomach pains. It was discovered years later that her symptoms were related to Typhoid, a serious waterborne disease that plagues thousands of people in Africa. Moraa, a very bright girl, had missed so much school that she had to repeat a couple of grades.

DN Journal: Fraser Edwards has said that you are part of a team of young people that he and Bob are mentoring so their work will continue after they have gone. Tell us about how the relationship between Fraser, yourself, James and Brad and what you have learned from the Water School founders.

Sandra Getuba: Fraser and Bob (I, respectfully,  call them the old guards!) have always had the vision that The Water School movement would be carried forward by young people who are committed to issues the organization is trying to address. Bradley Pierik is studying his Masters in Chemical Engineering at the University of British Columbia and the idea is that he will continue to keep The Water School at the forefront of cutting edge research where water treatment technology is concerned. He is developing a relationship with Eawag, a Swiss federal water research organization that is the world leader in SODIS research and that implements SODIS projects in 24 countries. James Morfopolous, also a Masters student, recently came on board to assist with our marketing and communications efforts. He is focusing right now on the promoting and coordinating the Mount Kilimanjaro climb that will take place in March 2011.

The three of us bring a youthful and fresh perspective to The Water School that Bob and Fraser find very valuable. On the other hand were learning a lot from Bob and Fraser who have many years of experience in doing what they do. We have to sustain the vision and put measures in place now that will make sure that The Water School vision outlives us all.  

The Water School staff members (left to right) Sandra Getuba, 
James Morfopoulous and Brad Pierik with Water School Co-Founder Fraser Edwards.

DN Journal: Many people in the domain industry have begun supporting Water School efforts. Tell us a little bit about how much good even a small donation can do. Also, how can those who want to lend a hand best support the effort?

Sandra Getuba: At the recent T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conference in Vancouver, I got to meet and talk to a few of people in the domain industry who are supporters of the Water School and I was amazed by their level of commitment and dedication. They have a sincere desire to see The Water School grow and impact more people. For most of them, it took a trip to Africa to visit our projects or to participate in the Mount Kilimanjaro Climb for Clean Water (or both) for them to be convinced that the need is real and the impact of our program is profound.

The Water School relies on donations to carry out our mission. Every dollar helps. $50 will provide clean water to an entire family of five. For life. For a lot of people $50 is nothing. But for thousands of people in Africa, it is a matter of life or death. It is everything. It means that a mother does not have to worry about her children getting sick from drinking contaminated water. It means that a child does not have to miss school.