Two Dallas girls are helping hundreds of people across the world gain access to clean water, and they’re doing it one sheet of paper at a time.
The sisters first learned origami from their father when they were young, and eventually came up the idea to sell origami ornaments and to raise money.
"So this project started as a one-month show at Starbucks," Isabelle Adams said. "Our goal was to raise $500 to partially fund a well in Ethiopia."
The first night they sold out, and raised more than $700.
From there they continued their efforts, and began donating money to fully fund clean water wells through an international organization that digs them, provides sanitation training and ministry in countries around the world.
The Paper for Water Project sells origami in stores across Dallas as well as online. They've also expanded to include table decorations, pictures frames and will soon sell earrings. And, they have 100 volunteers who have helped them fold origami to sell.
Now entering its fifth year, Paper for Water has raised $700,000 and funded more than 90 wells in Africa, India, Mexico and Peru.
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The girls have visited wells in India, and currently have plans to visit some of the wells they have helped fund in Africa in 2017.
"That was really an amazing experience because it showed us that we are actually making a huge impact on people's lives," Isabelle said.
"Makes you feel really blessed," Katherine Adams said.
In addition, Paper for Water is also contributing to Dig Deep, and working to help provide water tanks for 250 homes currently without a close source of water on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico.
Right now, Paper for Water is making Valentine's Day cards. If you sign up and make a donations to their "Well of the Month Club," the organization will mail a Valentine card made with an origami heart to someone for you.
Paper for Water has created a lot of buzz since its inception more than four years, and is also going to be featured on an upcoming episode of The HALO Effect on Nickelodeon.
MORE: Paper for Water online | Dig Deep online | Living Water International
