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Student Surf Vacation Leads to New Non-Profit Organization
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“Where’s the best place on earth to surf?”
In 2006 SDSU undergraduate student, Zack Parker, asked this question of the local population while he was vacationing in Australia. Parker was told about a place in nearby Papua New Guinea that got rave reviews from the surfing community, but he was told “You don’t want to go there.”
But in his quest for the perfect wave, Parker went anyway and soon understood why he was issued the warning: a lack of any type of running water made living conditions incredibly unsanitary.
Those terrific surfing beaches Parker heard about in Lido, Papua New Guinea are also used as toilets by the villagers. It is these same beaches used by local children and families as playgrounds and picnic areas.
Not surprisingly, the rate of death from dysentery, cholera and other waterborne diseases are rampant in the area and throughout the country. And while Parker was horrified at the conditions, he also realized that with some help, conditions in the area could improve.
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Currently an SDSU MBA student, Parker and a team of students from his Management 743 (fall 2009) class were given the task of creating a sustainable business plan as a class project. The group took Parker’s experience and wrote a business plan for a non-profit organization called Walu International. Then they took it a step further.
The stated mission of Walu International’s business plan is to improve conditions in Lido, specifically by installing working water purification systems and compostable toilets in the community. However, the team decided it wasn’t enough just submit the business plan for a grade - they decided to take the plan to the next level and make it a reality.
On November 18, 2009, the group held a fund raiser at JRDN restaurant to secure the necessary funds for three water purification systems and four compostable toilets to be used at Lido’s elementary school. The funds will also be necessary to help the group cover travel expenses to the region. The fund raiser brought nearly $7000.
The Walu team plans to implement their business plan/organizational strategy during the SDSU semester break, with the group leaving for Paupa New Guinea on December 28, 2009 and returning on January 19, 2010. Upon reaching Lido, they will begin the process of installing the necessary equipment and then teaching the local population on how to properly maintain them.
Walu International plans to continue its work with the installation of toilets and water purification systems as additional funds are raised.
For more information on Walu International or to inquire about their progress, visit www.waluinternational.org.