Growing Global Communities
College students find inspiration
from a variety of sources – professors, parents, friends, authors, or maybe a
moment in time. For Master of Science in Human and Community Resources student
Sam Dinga, motivation to make a difference came from the tragic
loss of his sister.
Dinga established the Ma-Kah Water for All project through the Community
Foundation of Central Wisconsin. Named after his sister Ma Kah Rosemary
Dinga who died from complications due to unclean water in 2009, the
project aims to raise money to build wells in rural areas of Dingaʼs home
country of Cameroon in West Africa.
Dinga, who earned the prestigious UWSP James H. Albertson Chancellor’s
Leadership Award this year, is able to translate what he learned during his
master’s courses into a successful role developing communities. While
fundraising on his own, Dinga leads a delegation of donors and volunteers who
work alongside villagers to dig and build each well.
"Villages that have benefited from our wells are happy and thankful," said
Dinga. "I am surprised how $5,000, the cost per well, can make such a huge
difference."
The first well was finished in December 2009 in Bamumbu. Two more were
completed at the Bosa Orphanage and the Naka Village in December 2010 while
Mbelluh Village was the site for the fourth well. The goal is to complete 40
wells.
Future plans for two wells to be completed in December 2011 are in the
works when Dinga will travel to Bafut Village, which recently suffered a cholera
outbreak. He will travel with seven students from UWSP, St. Louis University,
and Stevens Point Area Senior High along with community members from Madison and
Milwaukee.
Dinga’s drive to make an impact doesn’t affect only the villages in
Cameroon. As an adjunct faculty member in the School of Health Promotion and
Human Development (HPHD), he is currently working to establish a service
learning study abroad trip to allow other students to have this type of
opportunity.
"I am proud of those who believe in what we are doing and I am thankful to
all the donors and volunteers," he said.