Furman University
ER-2: Student Sustainability Outreach Campaign

The Global Issues Forum (GIF), a student group which stemmed from Furman’s Year of Global Citizenship (2010-2011), sponsored several activities throughout the 2011-2012 academic year, focusing on the global issue of water. The primary goal of the campaign was to expose the widespread reach of the global water crisis and show Furman’s students how deeply this crisis affects their everyday lives as global citizens. GIF and other student groups hosted several prominent speakers, including Dr. Peter Rogers, Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Engineering at Harvard University; Dr. Eduardo Perez, Water and Sanitation expert at The World Bank; and John Tynan, member of the Greenville County Water Commission. These speakers discussed the importance of sanitation and potable water, as well as the local, national, and global conflicts arising due to water shortages. GIF’s culminating event was Water Walk, a campus-wide campaign in which students and faculty carried gallons of water for one mile to symbolize the trek that people in developing countries often must make to reach potable water. Held in conjunction with the walk was Furman’s third annual Soccer Extravaganza, in which teams of students, faculty, and staff competed throughout the day. The university’s goal for the campaign was to raise $12,500 to match a $12,500 grant from The Duke Endowment funding the construction of a potable water system in Esperanza San Antonio, Guatemala. Dr. John Beckford, Dean of the Faculty, challenged all academic departments to participate in the Water Walk, offering a $500 prize to the department with the most participants. Overwhelming support of Water Walk and the Soccer Extravaganza allowed GIF to reach their goal, donating a total of $25,000 to the construction of Esperanza San Antonio’s water system. In the past, students have traveled to Guatemala to study global sustainability, and Furman will send future groups to Esperanza San Antonio, maintaining a relationship with the people of the village.

The university successfully reached a broad group of students, as well as faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. With over 400 participants, the drive met and exceeded the goal of raising $12,500 to match a grant of $12,500 from The Duke Endowment to support the construction of a potable water system in Esperanza San Antonio, Guatemala.