Pure Thirst 2022

What is Pure Thirst?

The mission of Pure Thirst is to work with the Olkokola community in northern Tanzania in its effort to gain better access to clean water, while teaching students how to be agents of positive change in our world. Grounded in the Spiritan tradition, Pure Thirst embraces the building of ongoing, authentic relationships with the people of Olkokola. Pure Thirst works with Spiritans, Duquesne faculty, and community leaders in Olkokola to explore ways to increase water access and to improve water quality thereby positively impacting health.

While we eagerly await the chance to continue our work in person, your donation today will allow us to prepare to make a big difference when travel restrictions are lifted.

How have we made an impact in the Olkokola, Tanzania community?

On our trips to Olkokola we:

• meet many of the community members and form ongoing relationships with them
• hear from the local water board about their priorities and needs to gain a better understanding of the community's relationship with water, its challenges, and how we can work as a partner to hopefully improve access to clean water
• hear from local health practitioners about the health system and priority areas to improve health in the Olkokola region
• test the filters printed here in Duquesne’s 3D printing lab for effectiveness in removing dangerous levels of fluoride from the water
• map the water access points so we can see the areas where access is still lacking
• use purchased equipment to test the water for exceedingly high levels of minerals, as well as dangerous bacteria
• travel around the Olkokola region to collect and test water samples to see what contaminants are impacting the water supply at each access point
• assist local health providers in obtaining child height and weight and evaluating local growth and development data. 

How will your donation be used?  

We are proud of all these accomplishments, but our work is far from done! A successful crowdfunding campaign during the pandemic will allow us to continue to foster our collaboration with the people of Olkokola. Your gift will help us tackle the building of handwashing stations at the schools and/or health clinic, provide needed medical equipment like stethoscopes to the clinic, and provide culturally appropriate health education relating to hand hygiene to the community. We can’t do it alone! Please consider donating!

Please donate today and help us spread the word!

We ask that you please donate today to this special project. Another way to help is to spread the word is by sharing this page - www.spirit.duq.edu/purethirst22 - with family, friends and on social media. Stay connected with Pure Thirst by following us on Facebook and Twitter. 

Thank you!

Questions? Contact Yvonne Weideman , Duquesne University School of Nursing, at weidemany@duq.edu or David Kahler, Duquesne University Center for Environmental Science, at kahlerd@duq.edu.