About:
Name: Yordanose Moges
Location: United States
African country with which you identify: Ethiopia
MM: Hi Yordy! Please introduce yourself:
Hi! I’m Yordanose, but I also go by Yordy and I’m a freshman in high school.
MM: What is the Thirst Project and what inspired you to join?
The Thirst Project is a nonprofit that works to stop the global water crisis by building freshwater wells in developing communities. Clean water isn’t just something that is needed for drinking though. It is also vital for health and sanitation. Annually, there are more preventable young deaths caused by waterborne diseases than HIV, Malaria, and all world violence combined. By working to end the water crisis, the Thirst Project is greatly improving the lives of the people in the communities who receive clean water.
When I first heard about the Thirst Project I found it interesting, so I looked into it more and saw that it had done work in Ethiopia. Although it didn’t directly affect my family or me, knowing that the Thirst Project had helped improve the lives of other Ethiopians made me want to help them do the same in other communities. I would have joined even if they hadn’t done any work in Ethiopia, but it was the cherry on top for me. A donation of $25 gives one person clean water for life, and if we can raise $12,000, it will fund a freshwater well for a community. The Alexandria Thirst Project sector has already raised over $2,000 since we’ve started, and we’re still raising more money now.
MM: Could you tell us why the water crisis is so important– how does it affect women and girls?
There are 785 million people on our planet who do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. Because of this, women and children get tasked with collecting water. The average amount they need to walk to get water is 3.75 miles. The need for the women and children of developing communities to travel these long distances hinders their ability to get jobs, contribute financially to their families, or get education. Clean, easily accessible water is a necessity. The Thirst Project works to make sure that it gets given to those who need it. When these communities have water, it not only drops the rate of disease and the mortality rate, but it also makes sure that women and children have more time on their hands. They can use this time for school or a job. Freshwater wells provide economic productivity, food security, and educational opportunities that would be much harder to find without them.
MM: What has surprised you the most so far while volunteering?
There is this image of volunteer work — people think it’s hard, but it isn’t. Even if you’re busy, any time you can use out of your day, sending emails or advertising the donation page makes a huge difference in someone’s life. When I went to the interest meeting for the Thirst Club, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it, but I wanted to check it out anyway. The things that were talked about didn’t seem like they would be too hard for me to do, so I decided to try them out. It hasn’t been difficult, and if there were ever days where I had something conflicting with a meeting, I would be able to catch up on everything that happened the next time we met.
MM: You are currently in high school– what does a typical week look like for you (and how do you balance everything?!)
Mondays are asynchronous this year, which has given me a catch-up day if I’m ever falling behind. My classes haven’t been that difficult this year, so I focus on getting my work done on time. Other than the Thirst Project Club, I’ve also been involved in activities after school like the Debate Team, the Ethics Bowl Team, and tutoring elementary schoolers. Being organized has become a top priority. I’ve been using Notion to keep track of new assignments and any important dates coming up, which is a lifesaver when you have so many things that you’re juggling. Time management is another thing that has played a crucial role in me being able to balance everything. I try to make sure that I set aside at least 30 minutes for each class that I have an assignment for. That helps me avoid procrastinating or running out of time on anything.
MM: What advice would you give to other girls interested in pursuing your path?
There are so many ways to volunteer, so it’s important to make sure you’re doing something you’re passionate about. If you care enough about a cause, it will motivate you to make sure you can do something about it. Find the causes you care about and find the form that works for you. That may mean posting about [the cause] on social media to raise awareness or raising money by going door to door. You shouldn’t get discouraged if you don’t get any donations at first.
MM: And some quick questions:
Favorite school subject: A bit of an unpopular opinion, but my favorite subject is math.
Favorite color: My favorite colors are lilac and sky blue.
Song you have playing on repeat: I’ve had Olivia Rodrigo’s entire album on repeat since it came out.
If we saw your locker, we would be surprised to find…: My locker is completely bare. I actually haven’t had any classes in my school yet because of the pandemic, so that’s something I have to look forward to for next year.
and lastly, your go-to mantra: Stand up for what you believe in, even if you stand alone.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity
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