Buxton Students Give African Village The Gift Of Water
28 September 2009
The small village of Ademiti Awing in the West African Republic of Cameroon
The University is thrilled to be working with Village Aid on this project. It will give our tourism students a real understanding and appreciation of a country whose culture is so different to their own
”Geoff Shirt, Travel and Tourism lecturer.
Water, it's the lifeblood of Buxton, and students at the University of Derby are helping give a village in the Cameroon 'peak district' access to their very own source in a new partnership with Village Aid.
The project has been established by students on travel and tourism programmes at the University's Buxton Campus and aims initially to raise money so a hole can be drilled into the ground in the small village of Ademiti Awing.
Students and academics at the University are hoping this will lead to a long term relationship with the village and the people who live there that will see them support further projects over the years.
Nestled in the 'peak district' of the West African Republic of Cameroon, Ademiti Awing is home to a community made up mainly of cattle herders. The nomadic tribesmen tend grazing cattle in the hills leaving their wives and children in the village. With no water available locally the women and their children have a daily trek of six miles to a neighbouring village to collect the day's water which they use for cooking and sanitation purposes.
The project will be launched on Friday October 2, 2009 at the Buxton campus. Nuhu Salihu, Africa Programmes Manager, for Village Aid - a development charity working in West Africa which is based in Bakewell - will be talking to staff and students at the University about how they can help and how the project can help their academic studies.
Geoff Shirt, Travel and Tourism lecturer, said: "The University is thrilled to be working with Village Aid on this project. It will give our tourism students a real understanding and appreciation of a country whose culture is so different to their own.
"Over 80 students have the potential to gain recognition on their CVs by getting involved. A number of students plan to use elements of the project in their studies. Susanne Kraml, a Tourism Masters student from Bavaria, is focussing her independent study on the project."
Nuhu Salihu, from Village Aid, said: "We're incredibly excited about working with the Travel and Tourism Department and students at the University of Derby.
"People studying tourism obviously have an interest in the world around them, different people and cultures and the issues and challenges they face.
"Village Aid looks forward to capturing the imagination of the University's students about these challenges and how they, as individuals and a department, can make a real difference as well as enrich their own study experience."
Geoff Shirt added: "Safe water and sanitation close to peoples' homes bring such a wide range of benefits. Health is the first thing that springs to mind but with water a community can build an infrastructure that makes other basic needs more accessible. This includes freeing up childrens' time to be in the classroom rather than trekking for water.
"We're so fortunate here in Buxton with our precious water literally on tap so it's fitting that the students want to make this a reality for the people of Ademiti Awing."
For further media information please contact Annabel Harvey, 01332 593004, a.harvey@derby.ac.uk
