Our girls, Alexi and Tennille of E.P.I.C. (Everyday People Initiating Change) recently set out on an adventure to  continue their mission to drill clean, sustainable water wells in communities that don’t have access to clean water. Inspired by our E.P.I.C women, Jen Barrios of Quiksilver, felt a desire to join in on the efforts and booked a ticket to join them in Africa.

Three women willing to give up their free time and comforts of home to make a difference – AMAZING! Over the next few days we will get to hear some of their stories and find out what they were feeling on this E.P.I.C. adventure.

Let’s tune in to their initial thoughts as they began their quest.

Jen

Alexi

“Our fourth year in Tanzania… I can’t believe that we’re here again.  It seems every year times goes a little faster, and the days in between trips grow shorter and shorter.  I have mixed feelings as we enter our “Africa home” in Kawe, Tanzania: anxious, excited, tired and (always) hungry.

We have a lot to do this trip: drill a well at Kibebe Village and hopefully one in Kibaha Village (if the hydro-geological test says we can find water!), conduct our hygiene and sanitation program with both the kids and adults of Mangalali Village (the site of our water well from last summer) AND scope out some new villages for next year!  (And I must add, I’m quite excited to bust out the “good teeth” – “bad teeth” sock puppets Tennille and I made during our hygiene program!)”

Tennille

“When we pulled into Kawe, feelings of excitement filled me as I anticipated seeing everyone again!  First there was Babu, sitting outside his shop, awaiting our arrival.  The children in the neighborhood all greeted us with enthusiastic cries of, “Wazungu! Wazungu!” which means, “white people” in Swahili!

In Tanzania, life is about love, and respect for the community.  It is about fulfilling basic needs, and coming together in order to survive.  We come here to help in whatever small ways we can, but each time we come, we remember that they do so much more for us than we could ever do for them.  I am forever indebted to them for opening my eyes up to what really matters in life, and I hope that I will never forget!”