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H2O for Haiti seeking volunteers

Posted on Feb 08, 2010 in News

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The Student Association for Graduate Education (SAGE) is looking for volunteers to participate in this year’s TAP Project. The UNICEF TAP Project is a nationwide event that takes place during World Water Week, March 21-27. During that week, participating restaurants ask patrons to pay $1 for the water they would normally get for free.

According to UNICEF, all funds raised support UNICEF’S water, sanitation and hygiene programs aimed at bringing clean water to children around the world. The project started in New York City in 2007, but last year SAGE recruited local restaurants to participate in the event.

“Last year, we had 17 restaurants participate, and as a city we raised $3,570,” said SAGE member Meg Davis.
Participating restaurants included Rojo, Highland Bar and Grill, Becky’s South and Cosmo’s Pizza.

Davis said the group started late last year, and this year they hope to recruit more restaurants and raise more money by starting earlier.

“The biggest problem last year was not enough people knew about it. This year we hope to raise awareness on the campus and across the city,” said Davis.

In order to raise awareness, SAGE hopes to have more volunteers help with the project. According to Davis, volunteers have the opportunity to participate as little or much as they want.

“We have three different things to do, and volunteers can choose their level of involvement,” said Davis. “The three things they will be doing are restaurant recruiting, community awareness and event planning.”

If interested, volunteers are encouraged to attend one of two interest meetings Wednesday, Feb. 10 from noon to 12:30 p.m. or from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the Ryals Building room 234.

For the Birmingham portion of the project, this year’s theme is “H20 for Haiti: the Birmingham TAP Project.”

All the money raised locally will go to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, which will then donate the money to countries around the world prioritized according to their immediate need.

Davis said SAGE chose the TAP Project for many reasons.

“Last year we wanted to do something here in Birmingham that would have an international effect,” she said. “Several of us in the School of Public Health have an international interest, so we’re trying to do what we can here to help there while we’re still in school.”

According to UNICEF, $1 provides a child with clean drinking water for 40 days, which is important considering there are nearly 900 million people worldwide who lack clean access to water, about half of which are children.

For more information, students are encouraged to attend one of the information meetings, visit http://www.tapproject.org or email Meg Davis at megdavis@uab.edu.

Email: news@insideuab.com

 




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