Leadership Rice Envision Grant Recipient Brings Ceramic Water Filters to Nicaragua


Rice University has recently awarded its Leadership Rice Envision Grants. Each grant provides the recipient with up to $2,500 to carry out a project that will enrich a community in some way. Thirteen students applied and six were selected. Applicants were accepted based on how well they lived up to the grant's four Es: Envision, Engage, Execute, and Embed.

Baker College senior Matt Wesley received an Envision Grant to fund a trip to Nicaragua during the winter break. Nicaraguans face outrageous sickness and mortality rates due to E. Coli-contaminated rivers. A lack of sanitation means that much of the Nicaraguans' water becomes contaminated by human and animal waste. Wesley used his Envision Grant to bring sixty ceramic water filters to the country distributing them to Nicaraguans in need. He hopes to provide more than 1,100 water filters eventually. The filters consist of a ceramic material that is connected to a 30L container, which provides a family with enough water for one day. The filter is made with ceramic and sawdust. As the ceramic is fired, the sawdust burns away, which creates porosity in the filter.

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