Documentary Explores Students Bringing Water to Kenyan Community

Prgram is a collaboration between OSU's College of Engineering and University Relations and Marketing.

The film documentary Kel Wer explores the journey of a group of Oregon State University students to help a village in Kenya gain access to safe water.

(CORVALLIS) - In July of 2012, a group of Oregon State University students traveled to the small village of Lela, Kenya, to help the community gain access to safe water.

The story of their journey will be told in Kel Wer ("to bring song" in the native Dholuo language), a documentary that will debut at Kearney Hall, Room 112 on the Oregon State University campus in a free public screening on Tuesday, April 30. It will explore the challenges the students faced and the welcoming and resilient people they met along the way.

Doors will open to the public at 6 p.m., a photography exhibit of the people of Lela will be available for viewing in the lobby, and the 30-minute documentary will start at 6:30 p.m.

Following the screening, members of Oregon State's chapter of Engineers Without Borders will share their personal experiences and answer questions. Seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.

EWB-USA is a non-profit humanitarian organization that works with developing communities world-wide to improve their quality of life through environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students.

More information about the project is available online at http://groups.engr.oregonstate.edu/ewb/projects/kenya_project. A Facebook event link is at https://www.facebook.com/events/187735174708820/, and the documentary trailer can be viewed at http://poweredbyorange.com/kelwer/.

The documentary was directed by Justin Smith. The project is a collaboration between the OSU College of Engineering and OSU University Relations and Marketing.

About the OSU College of Engineering: The OSU College of Engineering is among the nation’s largest and most productive engineering programs. Since 1999, the college has more than tripled its research expenditures to $37.2 million by emphasizing highly collaborative research that solves global problems, spins out new companies, and produces opportunity for students through hands-on learning.