Blog

Month: September 2015

Fourth Annual Benefit Success

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IMG_4332This past Friday we had our Fourth Annual Benefit at the W Hotel in Boston. Our whole team was blown away by the tremendous amount of support we felt. It was so inspiring to be surrounded by a room full of Saha supporters as we celebrated all of our successes and made our announcement  that our next country is…..NICARAGUA!

Nicaragua

It is because of that support that we were able to raise $20,000 towards our expansion! We would like to thank everyone who helped make this night possible, especially our event sponsors: Wolf Greenfield, Dwell Proper, Oasys Water and KPMG; our Board of Directors: Vanessa Green, Sarah Kearney, Mark Moeremans and Pat Cahill; our amazing performers Amory Sivertson and Fermata Town; and all of our generous donors who contributed items to the auction.

We would also like to recognize the seven Next Step Living employees, who cycled nearly 400 miles the weekend before the Benefit as a part of Climate Ride, a non-profit that that raises awareness and funds for sustainable practices through multi-day bike-rides. The Next Step Living and Saha Global Climate Ride Team joined Climate Ride’s Northeast 5-day biking expedition, through Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts on September 17, and are raising funds for Saha Global through December. Thank you Next Step Living for your continued support!

Saha Executive Director & Co-founder welcome everyone
Saha Executive Director & Co-founder, Kate Clopeck welcomes everyone to the Benefit

 

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From Left to Right, Pat Cahill (Board Member), Vanessa (Co-founder & Board Member), Kate Clopeck (Co-founder & Executive Director), Sam Reilley (Director of Operations & 2011 Field Rep Alum), Kathryn Padgett (Director of Programming & 2011 Field Rep Alum) and Brianan Kiernan (Past Ghana Country Director & 2012 Field Rep Alum)

 

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Amory Sivertson on the piano
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Acappella group, Fermata Town

 

There were many people invested in this expansion. There were hours worth of research that went into choosing which country would best suit Saha and we can not thank our Saha Challenge participants enough. Congrats to past field reps Bryant Foreman and Lucas Hilsbos for pitching Nicaragua and getting us to where we are today. And a huge thank you to past field reps Leah Staschke and Aly Carr for making an incredible case for Peru.

There is still a lot of work to do, but we feel confident in our ability to bring clean water and solar electricity to communities in Nicaragua that do not currently have access.  In order to make our expansion into Nicaragua a reality we will need to establish a base to begin our in-country operations: plotting potential communities, researching local water treatment and solar materials and exploring local partnership opportunities. We are currently seeking an additional $50,000 to make that happen. Help get Saha to Nicaragua by donating on our website here.

 

Scouting Trip Recap

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Two weeks ago, Kate & I returned home after an incredible scouting trip to Nicaragua & Peru. After months of research stateside it was so exciting to finally see how statistics matched up to the reality of water and electricity access in rural communities.

We had a fantastic trip and were impressed by the enthusiastic reception of each and every person we met along the way. Once we announce our chosen expansion country at the Benefit (in just ONE MORE WEEK) we will give you all the details of how we came to our decision. Until then, check out these pictures recapping our adventure!

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And we’re off! Next stop Peru!

 

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After a 2 hour flight from Lima to Pucallpa, Kate & I were off up the river for 6 hours to a small community with a big name, called Santa Rosa Tamaya Tipishca

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Long journeys aren't so bad when there is hammock involved.
Long journeys aren’t so bad when there’s a hammock involved.

 

The vast Amazon River! And this was the dry season, so the water level is at its lowest.
The vast Amazon River! And this was the dry season, so the water level is at its lowest.

 

Alum, in its natural form. In Santa Rosa there was a UNICEF project where they were given chlorine and alum to treat the river water within their own home.
Alum, in its natural form. In Santa Rosa there was a UNICEF project where they were given chlorine and alum to treat the river water within their own home.

 

Here is typical home in the Ucalyali Region.
Here is typical home in the Ucalyali Region.
Kate & I stayed the night in this community and watched the sunset with some of the community kiddos.
Kate & I stayed the night in this community and watched the sunset with some of the community kiddos.
An eco-sanitation project in the commmunity. There was one for each household.
An eco-sanitation project in the commmunity. There was one for each household.
Our sleeping quarters for the evening.
Our sleeping quarters for the evening.
Boots on and ready to trek.
Boots on and ready to trek.

 

Our boat back down the river, a bit smaller and with no shade and no hammock. It was hot journey back down to Pucallpa!
Our boat back down the river, a bit smaller and with no shade and no hammock. It was hot journey back down to Pucallpa!
Next city we visited was Iquitos. It was 2 hour flight from Pucallpa to Iquitos. Here we are with our translator and area expert Jose as we head out on another 6 hour journey to check out more rural communities in the area.
Next city we visited was Iquitos. It was 2 hour flight from Pucallpa to Iquitos. Here we are with our translator and area expert Jose as we head out on another 6 hour journey to check out more rural communities in the area.
A local hand-dug well in the community of Puerto Miguel.
A local hand-dug well in the community of Puerto Miguel.
In many communities they use these kerosene lanterns as their source of light at night.
In many communities they use these kerosene lanterns as their source of light at night.
After 6 hours on the river, we are off on a hour-long hike thru the Amazon to a small community called Nuevo Jerusalem.
After 6 hours on the river, we are off on a hour-long hike thru the Amazon to a small community called Nuevo Jerusalem.
This is Bana! Can you even handle the cheeks on this little cutie?
This is Bana! Can you even handle the cheeks on this little cutie?
Here is just one of the many people we had the opportunity to speak with on our journey. Her name is Chachita and she is from Piyarote.
Here is just one of the many people we had the opportunity to speak with on our journey. Her name is Chachita and she is from Piyarote.
Closing out a successful trip through Peru. Now off to Nicaragua!
Closing out a successful trip through Peru. Now off to Nicaragua!
Off on this small plane for a short 45 minute ride from Managua to Puerto Cabezas, located on the East Coast of the country!
Off on this small plane for a short 45 minute ride from Managua to Puerto Cabezas, located on the East Coast of the country!
After an awesome meeting with some great contacts in Puerto Cabezas we were determined to get to small town called Waspam, located 4 hours north and on the Coco River, which is a river that borders Honduras.
After an awesome meeting with some great contacts in Puerto Cabezas we were determined to get to small town called Waspam, located 4 hours north and on the Coco River, which is a river that borders Honduras.
Reminds us of Ghana!
Reminds us of Ghana.
And so does this!
And so does this!
Our amazing translators! In the communities around Waspam, people speak Miskito. These guys were a tremendous help.
Our amazing translators! In the communities around Waspam, people speak Miskito. These guys were a tremendous help.
A household in the community of Kiwastara.
A household in the community of Kiwastara.
Louis Jackson, the Heffe of Andres, was extremely helpful as we tried to learn more about their source of electricity and water.
Louis Jackson, the Heffe of Andres, was extremely helpful as we tried to learn more about their source of electricity and water.
We could get used to this boat thing!
We could get used to this boat thing!