ETHIOPIA
Information Book
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About Wine To Water
Wine To Water’s US staff, although small in number, shares a huge passion for bringing clean water to folks in need. Our passion unites us and brings us joy as we work with our local partners on the ground. Wine To Water has worked in 25 countries and have provided clean water to over 600,000 people since our inception. We find it a privilege to currently work in 5 regions (The Amazon, Dominican Republic/Haiti, Ethiopia, Nepal and Cambodia) to support over 30 field staff on 4 continents, as we all work hard to fight this epidemic together.
Our Mission
Wine To Water is committed to serving in community to provide water to those in need.
What We Do
Each project is unique, but the common theme is that we use local people in each country. We develop leaders in the community and educate them on proper water and sanitation methods to promote sustainability. Our work empowers the local community to help them meet their ongoing needs.
WITH EVERY PROJECT, THE COMMON THREAD
in our work is ensuring that the proper type of water system is used for each specific community.
Our methods include shallow & deep wells, well repairs, ceramic water filters, bio-sand filters, Sawyer filters, and rain-water harvest tanks.
We also improve sanitation using latrine and hygiene education.
We use local materials whenever possible.
We monitor and report on all our projects.
We are constantly developing our programs and striving for more efficient systems.
We have water projects in 25 countries
Belize, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, United States, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
How We Began
Doc Hendley is the founder and international president of Wine To Water. In 2003 he dreamed up the concept of the organization while bartending and playing music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. The first fundraiser was held in January of 2004 and by August of that year, Doc was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government supporting genocide. When Doc returned home in August of 2005, the haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to continue building the organization he had started two years earlier.
In 2007, Wine To Water became an official 501(c)3 non-profit. In 2009, Doc and the work of the Wine To Water team was recognized by the CNN Heroes program, launching the organization’s efforts globally. Doc’s dream, and the goal of Wine To Water, is to quench the thirst of those in need.
Meet the Wine To Water Team
Madi Barker
After interning as the Operations Intern during her final semester at Appalachian State University, Madi accepted the offer to come on board as the Development Manager. She works primarily to empower our professional chapters across the country to engage their communities in serving those in need. She is passionate about understanding others and finding ways to connect people’s strengths and skills to transform lives with clean water.
Katy Cook
Katy is a native to Boone, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Public Relations, Nonprofit Management. She first began volunteering with Wine To Water in high school and is one of our longest-serving supporters. With a passion to organize and create efficient systems, she came on staff in April 2015 as the Administrative Director.
David Cuthbert
David is a former Navy Special Operations Officer and currently serves as the CEO. He joined W|W in September 2014, inspired by its team and purpose to serve others. He loves to be a part of a team committed to doing something great.
Josh Elliott
Josh began volunteering with Wine To Water as a student in 2009. He started the first W|W student club at Appalachian State University. Today, he serves as the International Operations Director and insures that all of our projects are implemented in an empowering way. He is dedicated to building the Wine To Water community, sharing our story, helping folks in need, and riding his Harley as much as possible while doing it.
Jason English
Jason serves as the lead pastor of The Heart Church in Boone and is an instructor in Communications at Appalachian State University. He has a heart for people and reaching them right where they are while encouraging them to be who God created them to be. Aligning with his passions, Jason serves the staff of W|W with personal encouragement, biblical wisdom, and spiritual guidance.
Doc Hendley
As a student trying to find his calling, Doc learned about the global water crisis while balancing his studies with bar-tending in Raleigh, NC. Captured by the cause, he decided to take action the way he knew best: pouring drinks and playing music for a benefit event. After the surprisingly large success of his first event, Doc found himself in the heart of the Darfur war conflict in 2004 serving to provide water to those in desperate need.
Upon returning to the US, Wine To Water was born in Boone, NC. Since his initial efforts, Doc has traveled around the world helping combat the water crisis, impacting both our local communities and those abroad. He is relentless in his pursuit to ensure clean water to those in need.
Emma Henry
Emma started with Wine to Water in July of 2017 as the Volunteer Program Manager. She is originally from New Hampshire and moved to Boone in 2014 with her husband, Tom. For the past 7 years Emma has worked in both the corporate and non-profit world developing and implementing staff and volunteer trainings. She has experience in traveling both domestically and internationally to train staff and lead volunteer programs. Emma is very passionate about living in community and caring for the needs of others.
Shane Hillman
Shane started working with Wine To Water in the fall of 2015 as the Program Development Manager. In addition to helping maintain international operations, Shane is our personal chocolatier and loves making healthy, organic Community Well chocolate to raise funds for water projects.
Eric Huxley
Eric serves as the Director of Operations. Originally from California, Eric has lived and worked extensively throughout Central and South American and the Caribbean on various development and relief projects. He studied Geography and Development as an undergrad at the University of California at San Diego and later as a graduate student at the University of Arizona. He is passionate about serving in community to practically meet the needs of people throughout the world. Eric currently lives in Boone with his wife and two young daughters.
Courtney Mattar
While a student at Appalachian State University, Courtney began hosting small fundraisers for Wine To Water after witnessing the water crisis first hand in Ghana. Her passion to serve and help fight the water crisis led Courtney to start the W|W High Country Chapter in 2015 and now he serves as the Donor Relations Coordinator. Courtney resides in Boone with her husband and daughter.
Lisa Merritt
Lisa currently lives in Raleigh, NC and serves as the Director of Volunteer Programs. She has been coordinating volunteers internationally since 2005 and is passionate about connecting people to service opportunities around the world, while exposing them to the global water crisis.
Tina Owen
Tina has worked with incredible non-profits around the globe and in North Carolina. She recently volunteered in the Dominican Republic with Wine To Water for five months as part of a family sabbatical with her husband and three teenage children. Having lived in rural Africa, Central America, and the Dominican Republic; she is passionate about building partnerships and leveraging resources so together we can be part of community transformation in our own neighborhoods and around the world. She now serves as the Director of Grants and Fund Development for Wine To Water.
Matt Wagoner
Matt is originally from South Carolina, but moved to Boone after falling in love with his wife, Ashley. He loves outdoor activities, good food, and creating new things. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his new baby girl. He is the owner of Fire Tower Creative and came to Wine To Water to help capture stories that motivate change in the world.
The Global Water Crisis
Out of the 67.3 billion people on earth, 2.5 billion lack access to basic sanitation and 783 million lack access to clean water. Every 20 seconds a child dies of a waterborne illness and 443 million school days are lost each year from water related illnesses.
Since 2004, Wine To Water has provided over 600,000 people with access to clean water.
Geographic Info: Ethiopia
Capital: Addis Ababa
Population: approx. 100 million
Currency: Birr
Religion: Predominantly Islam and Ethiopian Orthodox
Government Structure: Parliamentary Republic
Total GDP: $47.53 billion
Per Capita: $505.05
Official Language: Amharic
Popular Sports: Soccer (Football)
Staple Foods: Injera (beef, goat, lamb, fish or hard-boiled eggs, and vegetable stew)
Major Exports: coffee, oily seeds
Major Imports: Petroleum
Meet the Water Is Life Team:
Kebede Fekede, Chief Hydrogeologist
Kebby earned his geology degree from Addis Ababa University. He is a highly respected hydrogeologist and coordinates all the technical work for WiLi. He lives in Addis with his wife and three children.
Ashenafi Sruwa, Sustainable Living Team Coordinator
Ashenafi was the first community facilitator starting in 2002 for the Sustainable Living Team (SLT) movement. He coordinates all SLT training and implementation as well as the Disaster Risk Reduction program for WiLi. He resides in Addis with his wife and three children.
Yared Sisay, Chief Driller
Yared has been with WiLi since the beginning in 2006. Yared is responsible for well construction and rehabilitations. He lives with his wife and daughter in Awassa.
Merrie and David Harding, Co-Founders of Water is Life International
Merrie is a physical and occupational therapist and David is a water engineer. They lived in Jordan for five years before beginning work in Ethiopia in 2002.
Typical Schedule
Day 1
PM: Arrive and Team Orientation
Day 2
AM: Travel to Langano
PM: Meet Sustainable Living Team and well sites
Day 3
AM:Travel to Awassa
PM: Drill in Wando
Day 4
AM: Work at Drill Site 1
PM: Construct Pad Site
Day 5
AM: More work at Drill Site 1
PM: Work at Rehab Well, Travel to Yirgalem to feed Hyenas and partake in a coffee ceremony
Day 6
AM: Orphanage, More Well Rehab
PM: Travel to Lake Langano
Day 7
AM: Debrief
PM: Return to Addis Ababa
Day 8
AM: Shopping and Sightseeing
PM: Depart
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a team pack?
Light jacket, work clothes, and shoes that will get very muddy. Shorts, works gloves, casual clothes, a swimsuit, insect repellent, sunscreen, hat, passport, snacks, and a flashlight. Anti malarial medication is also recommended. All bedding and towels are provided.
What airport should we fly into?
Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa (ADD)
Is there a dress code?
For women: No shorts, pants, or sleeveless tops in villages. For men: No shorts in villages
Is there an age requirement?
You are required to be age 18 or older to go to Ethiopia.
Will a children’s program need to be prepared?
No formal children’s program- just play soccer, volleyball, jump rope, polish nails. Can bring small quantities of stickers, balls, etc to leave with village leaders. We do not give handouts personally.
Do we need a visa to enter your country?
Tourists visas can be obtained on arrival for $50USD - cash only.
What is the recommended group size?
The recommended group size is 5.
What are the living conditions like?
There will be comfortably sized shared rooms with beds and shared toilets. There is electricity in Langano or Yirgalem, but no internet.
What vaccinations and medications are needed?
We recommend that you check the CDC.gov website and check with your doctor (ideally 4–6 weeks before departure) for any personal medications, letting them know where and when you will be traveling.
Required Vaccinations and Medications:
-Yellow Fever - bring record of vaccination
Recommendations for other medications:
-Diarrhea/Stomach medication
-Anything for dehydration
What is the weather like?
We encourage all volunteers to check the weather before departing, however, Ethiopia is in a tropical zone, and in the lowlands it can get really hot with humidity. It should be the dry season but with El Niño the weather can be unpredictable. The early morning and late evenings are cooler so bring a light jacket.
What will meals be like?
Ethiopian food is generally spicy. There will be a lot of vegetables at meals and the traditional food Injera.
Will there be snacks to purchase?
There will be peanuts, candy bars, and grain snacks for purchase.
Is there a way to contact the US?
We encourage all volunteers to “unplug” as much as possible while serving on trips. Even if internet is available, we ask that you limit the amount of time you spend online in order to fully engage in the experience. There is internet available in parts of Ethiopia. The site leaders will have cell-phones for any emergencies.
Are the electrical outlets the same as they are in the US?
The outlets used are 220V with two round plugs, so an adapter and converter is required. In order to conserve the amount of electricity used, we ask that volunteers leave hair dryers, straightening irons, etc. at home.
What type of payment are accepted in country?
Bring cash in newer bills (year 2000 and newer). Cash is the best form of payment as there will be limited credited card use, with a credit card fee. The currency in Ethiopia is the Birr, and the exchange rate is 22 Birr for one US dollar.
What can a team bring to donate?
The ground team will send a wish list to Wine To Water periodically. Please send an email volunteer@winetowater.org for an updated list. WTW Ethiopia normally does not distribute donations, but anything left over can be given to a third party organization that will then distribute the donations.
Are there any restrictions?
We ask that you refrain from drinking and smoking in the villages. And we discourage sharing emails and phone numbers with villagers.
Volunteer Opportunities
When you sign up as a volunteer in Ethiopia, you will get to participate in hand percussion well drilling, pump installation and broken pump repair. In addition to that you will visit an orphanage and get to play soccer with the kids. This is a life changing experience you, as well as the communities you serve. We hope you will join us as in this amazing opportunity.
Contact Info
Wine To Water
747 West King Street, Suite #200
Boone, NC 28607 USA
Lisa Merritt
Volunteer Programs Director
lisa@winetowater.org
770.851.4132 (US Cell)
Emma Henry
Volunteer Programs Manager
emma@winetowater.org
603.667.7223 (US Cell)
Water is Life: Ethiopia
David Harding
Co-founder, Water is Life: Ethiopia
1.407.435.2112(US)
+251.989989650 (Ethiopia)
Address:
SIM Guesthouse, opposite Black Lion Hospital
