Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin teenagers participated in a campaign to help raise money and awareness for clean water projects in East Africa on Tuesday.

Austin-based nonprofit Well Aware partnered with Matthew McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin Foundation to host a “Water Walk” fundraiser at Juan Navarro High School Tuesday evening. Students from three local schools participated in the walk.

  • Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
    Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
  • Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
    Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
  • Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
    Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
  • Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
    Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
  • Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)
    Austin teenagers help raise money, awareness for clean water projects in East Africa (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)

The water walk was part of Well Aware’s 15th annual Shower Strike campaign, where participants skip showers or go on “water walks” to raise awareness and funds to bring clean water to communities that don’t have it.

Jeff McElven, a high school student who participated, said it helps show what people have to go through for clean water. “It shows what they got to do on a daily basis, and the program helps them get drinking water. They have to walk miles just to get drinking water, every day, too.”

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