They are a dry lot at Narrabundah College these days. Nothing has passed the lips of many of the students except maybe a sip of water.
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Indonesian students at the college have joined ‘Beat the Dry’, a fundraiser to bring a lifetime supply of clean water to one of the poorest and driest regions of Indonesia.
The challenge from August 18 to August 31, is to give up luxury drinks. That means no booze. Coffee's out too. Only water is allowed and participants get sponsors.
In Canberra, Narrabundah College is at the top of the leader-board, with $350.
Money raised is going to the Nusa Tenggara Association, a group of volunteers run from board members in Canberra who want to improve the livelihoods of people in the Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur.
The NTA sponsors small-scale economic and social development activities ranging from building water tanks and wells, providing farming equipment and training, to supplying books and furniture for schools. This helps local communities to control development in sustainable, long-term ways.
One of the organisers, Penny Godwin, says this is the third fund-raiser in Canberra. The previous one raised about $16,000 and the current one has 60 people and organisations participating.
Godwin, who spent a year on one of the province’s islands, Sumba, on a volunteer program observing catchment management, admits to struggling at the beginning of her dry efforts..
“I do like my coffee and tea,’’ she says. “I expect it will get easier, withdrawal symptoms will ease.’’
She's consoling herself with the fact that just $550 can bring a year-round water supply to 75 people.