African Well Fund is thrilled to announce that due to the incredible generosity of our donor community, we are able to fund a second project with funds raised in 2023. The project will be dedicated to the memory of Elsha Stockseth, a longtime supporter of AWF who passed away in 2021. Known as “the world’s biggest little U2 fan,” Elsha designed Christmas cards that she sold online and donated a portion of the proceeds  to AWF for many years. As her dad, Joel Stockseth, recently shared, “When she found out about the African Well Fund’s efforts to build water wells in honor of Bono’s birthday, she couldn’t resist. She did what she could to help out.  Bono and the band U2 were so important in her life. Having met them on numerous occasions and listening to the lyrics of their songs only encouraged her to do what she could to help other people who were less fortunate than her. She was an amazing young woman.”

Elsha’s project will be a rainwater harvesting initiative that will provide 50 rainwater tanks for Rwankuba, a community in southwestern Uganda. Currently, community members must currently travel 3 to 4 kilometers across steep terrain to carry water from valley sources. Rainwater harvesting has been identified as a suitable method to boost access to clean water for this community. Work on the project will begin in April 2024, and we can’t wait to share updates as we receive them.

We are incredibly grateful to our donors for making this project possible and also to allow us to honor Elsha’s memory.