Magis for Maji: SJU Students Supporting Kenyans

Over the last couple months, we’ve teamed up with local schools to raise awareness about the water crisis in Kajiado County, Kenya. Today, we’ll highlight St. Joseph’s University to show how students are helping our Maasai friends live better lives.

“Magis” at Work

On March 22, Water is Life Kenya (WILK) celebrated World Water Day by participating in a water walk hosted by St. Joseph’s University and its Beautiful Social Research Collaborative (B:Social). The walk, called “Magis for Maji,” combines the SJU motto of “magis” (live greater) with the Swahili word “maji” (water).

Students who participated in the walk paid a $15 admission fee and, in return, received a handmade Kenyan bracelet featuring SJU colors. The walk raised over $1,000.00, and all of the money will be used for WILK’s projects in Kenya.

Dr. Cheryl McConnell, SJU’s president, also walked with us. She talked about how such an event supported the university’s mission:

The St. Joe’s community understands that it’s more than words, that actions matter. And this is an example of a student organization and a program and a major putting words into action. And I want to support that.

https://www.sjuhawknews.com/sju-magis-for-maji-walk/

B:Social, B:Giving

B:Social teams up with nonprofit organizations and makes a semester-long project plan for groups of students to work on. Since last year, WILK has worked with the B:Social group. This semester, B:Social organized “Magis for Maji” and sold bracelets in advance to help raise money for the event.

B:Social is part of the Communication and Media Studies department at SJU. Dr. Aimée Knight, who started B:Social 14 years ago, leads the students in this group. Kiera Donohue, SJU student and B:Social participant, helped plan the walk in which more than three dozen students participated:

We’re trying to raise awareness through the Saint Joe’s community… and then send the proceeds back to Kenya to benefit that community.

https://www.beautifulsocial.org/blog/4acw2af0yc1sme3h8bqqj7goaqex63

Together, We Can Do “Magis”

We had a great experience working with SJU and the B:Social students, and we look forward to continuing this partnership. These valuable connections, through SJU and other local schools, help us show others how much our Maasai friends need our help.

You, too, can be a WILK partner! If you’d like to volunteer, start a partnership, or schedule a talk, you can contact us for more information. We love sharing our message and our work with others!