The Future Problem Solvers of Mahwah High School in New Jersey are using their problem solving skills to help solve a CURRENT global issue, instead of just a future one.

16 MHS students in grades 9-11 have started the "Mahwater" project. They've been studying the global issue of clean water access, identifying challenges for people in this situation, and brainstorming solutions to help raise awareness and funds. Then, they've been implementing many of the solutions around the school. They've made fliers, created a video commercial for the morning announcements, organized a Teacher Jeans Day, and are holding bake sale soon. They've also used the power of social media to help spread the word, and they've partnered with other student groups in the school to get more students involved.

The following is an "area of concern" written by one of the students. Please help us to make as much of an impact as possible in solving this global issue!

--The Future Problem Solvers of Mahwah HIgh School

Many inhabitants in developing nations are facing a water crisis because they live in very dry regions that are lacking fresh water bodies. In many places, people have no access to clean water via pipes running into their house, and therefore do not have faucets, flowing toilets, washing machines, and anything else where water is a key component. For many people, the source of water may only be a pool of filthy, stagnant rainwater that provides them with water to wash clothing, clean themselves, and most importantly, to drink. These sources are the result of what little rainwater a region receives, and may disappear at any moment, leaving those who rely on it for water with none.

To reach these small pools, the women (wives, children) of a family must walk long distances from their house to the water source, and back again. While this does not seem all that difficult, these women and children have to sometimes walk miles just to reach water. Also, on the return trip, they have to carry jugs filled with 40 pounds, or even more, or water. This intense labor is done by the female children of the family, while the men go to school or work, who are sometimes very young, and have to carry such a heavy load.

The conditions that people have to deal with in regards to the water crisis come with lots of issues. To start off, the process of gathering water is extremely time consuming, labor intensive, and dangerous. On the miles-long trip to gather water, women and children are susceptible to attacks from wild animals, and even other people. Additionally, the returning trip from a water source is extremely labor-intensive. Women and small children must walk multiple miles while carrying heavy jugs of water. This task is extremely tiring and difficult to complete. However, it must be done, as without water, the only alternative is death. The journey to and from a water source takes up many hours of the day. These precious hours can be spent doing other things, such as preparing food, getting food, or working. However, this is time gone to waste, as it can only be used to get water. The water received from the pools is often stagnant, and riddled with dirt and disease. However, families must drink the water that they know is going to make them sick, as it is the only water available to them. This impacts education, as if members of a family are occupied for many hours a day getting water, then they will not be able to get a substantial education, and therefore will not get good jobs in the future. Also, child mortality rates are high in these regions, as the water is contaminated with deadly diseases that often claim the lives of young children and infants.

Mahwah students should care about the water crisis in underdeveloped countries because we often take for granted our abundance of water. Americans use over a hundred gallons of water a day, while people in Kenya use only around 13. We as students should imagine living the life that people of underdeveloped countries do, and consider their hardships in receiving water. When Mahwah students realize how difficult life is without an abundance of water, they will care about this horror that is a reality for almost 1 billion people.