One conversation can change your life. In November 2019, Eric Slaugh flew to California to visit his brother. During the flight, Slaugh chatted with his seatmates, one of whom was on her way to Las Vegas to raise money for Sirua Aulo Academy in the Kapune region of Kenya. A dependable source of potable water was one of the specific needs for the school. The cause struck a chord.

Prior to graduating from Hempfield High School in 2011, Slaugh had started the Society for Environmental Advocates club at his school. He earned a degree in chemical and environmental engineering from Clarkson University and then backpacked through part of Africa for two months. Slaugh eventually moved to Seattle, where he works on water and environmental issues. One of his projects involves the remediation of a site where a laundromat discharged chemicals into the soil. The chemicals then leached into groundwater, and Slaugh's team will work with regulatory agencies to decide how to treat the water so it can safely enter a nearby river.

Similar concepts will be part of the well-building project that Slaugh has signed on to direct at Sirua Aulo Academy. He and a team of experts from the United States and Kenya have designed a well and pipelines that will provide water to the 300 students and staff members at the academy as well as the 3,000 people who live in the surrounding Maasai community. Engineers Without Borders provides support when needed, and Slaugh's fundraising efforts are under the auspices of Seattle-based Village Volunteers.

"We will break ground when we have the money," Slaugh shared, noting that the project needs at least $24,000 for drilling the well and putting in a pump. The construction of pipelines to the school and to the public access site, as well as a storage tank at the school and a taphouse at the access site, will have additional costs. Solar panels will also need to be purchased and installed to keep the pump operational.

Slaugh noted that similar projects in the area have been successful. Solar power will make the initial construction somewhat more complex, but it will be cheaper to operate and will require less maintenance over the long run. "We think it's a huge advantage," Slaugh commented. "It won't require diesel fuel, and there's less to break. Making things repairable is of huge importance."

So far, Slaugh has raised $6,000 for his project through word-of-mouth, and he submitted a proposal for support to a Rotary club in Seattle. At the request of his mother, Nancy, Slaugh is sharing the project with his hometown. Anyone who would like to learn more about Sirua Aulo Academy and the well-building project may visit https://siruaaulo.wedid.it/campaigns/8455, and for more information about Village Volunteers, readers may visit https://villagevolunteers.org. Those who have questions may reach Slaugh at slaughe@gmail.com.