we are going to raise money to give food for those who need it

food for the needed

We are a small grassroots nonprofit based out of LA, known as the Natural Leaders Foundation,  and are now planting seeds with communities throughout Central & South America. 

We were welcomed into the Garifuna village of Viejo San Juan last year during travels for a independent docuseries we are developing. After a few days full of connecting with the children and community we knew without a doubt we had to come back. 

We are now headed back and will be rehabbing the communities local basketball/soccer court thank to Project Backboard and a small permaculture group based out of LA area as well, The Permaculture Revolution. Our goal is to Beautify their communal spaces and work with the local community to see that these areas exude life, creativity, connection and potential. 

This is the heart behind the Beautify our Lives initiative which all started back in 2010 in the inner city schools of Los Angeles. We go to ask the children and families what their needs are and create bridges to meet those needs. 

This small rural community off the Caribbean coast of northern Honduras is in need of many things from clean, sustainably sourced water to access to electricity- and much more in between. We see that water and power are the main foundations for this village for our first year building alongside their local community leaders, so we are reaching out for support.

We have just solidified a partnership with the Akon Lighting Africa project to support us in bringing in solar power and now looking for some aid with the water piece by incorporating W4W filters that will be accessible in the communal areas like school grounds & recreational parks.

 Thank you for joining the wave towards a better tomorrow through collective action! 
To check out more about us please visit:
Naturalleadersfoundation.org

Courts of Creation

Sailing along the coast of Central and South America and helping provide people and communities the ultimate gift of clean, potable water. 

Helping Along the Pacific 

Happy help

My wife and will be traveling for four months through SE Asia, Indian Ocean, Himalayas and Australia.  We’re hoping to volunteer our time if we find a situation that can use our help. We also intend to carry Waves for Water water filters to distribute to people and places that can benefit from them.

Temple of the Wet Paw

Providing lifesaving water filters to families and children in Puerto Rico

Clean Water Project

The country of Ethiopia, located in the Horn of Africa, faces issues of clean water access similar to other nations in the region. Environmental drought and political restrictions are examples of situational factors that lead to water scarcity or hardship in accessing clean water in Ethiopia. Waves for Water presents opportunity to reduce clean water poverty and empower communities. 

Aanne Atomssa returned home to Ethiopia (Oromia region) after building a life for her and her family in Minnesota. Though the joy of returning home filled her with happiness and rich memories of family, Aanne could not help but become increasingly worried about the limited access to clean water that she was observing everywhere she had the chance to visit. The water sanitation levels were so low that she was forced to purchase and use purified bottled water, not only for drinking, but also for everyday tasks like brushing her teeth. Though Aanne had the financial resources to purchase clean water, what could be said of the family and other community members who live there? Children? Nursing mothers? Those who are ill or have weakened immune systems? They are all left vulnerable to harmful bacteria and parasites that can live in water and cause dangerous bodily harm. As Aanne watched her children drink from bottled water, she recognized that the only difference between her beloved children and their cousins who live in the village was the opportunity given to them at birth. At that moment she knew she must do something to improve life for the community where she comes from. 

Aanne’s father’s homeland Ambo (Caliyaa) district sits in a stunning, yet geographically remote region in Oromia. In the past, the only way to access this land was by six hours on foot! Now, an access pathway has cut the walk down to two hours and Aanne intends to set out on that journey in a few weeks and will carry water filters as she goes. The impact of one portable, clean water filter on the communities will be significant and empowering—clean water will be accessible to families that were previously out of reach for boreholes and clean well construction for the first time.

Additionally, there is a nomadic Oromo ethnic group named the Karrayyu-Oromo in the region. The Karrayyu are one of the few remaining pastoral communities in Ethiopia preserving hundreds of years of traditional camel and cattle-rearing and colorful cultural practices. Due to the movement of the Karrayyu, and the frequent drought in the area  their water sources frequently change, leaving them exposed to varying degrees of water sanitation and pollution. In a region where the only guaranteed clean water is from maintained wells or commercial purchase, Aanne recognizes that a portable filter not only provides access to clean water and agency, but it profoundly supports the beautiful Karrayyu culture in an incredibly innovative, yet fitting way.

With Waves for Water, Aanne will be working alongside Oromo people in her homeland to reduce clean water poverty, preserve rich cultural traditions and lift up communities no matter how remote or unreachable they seemed to be. Water is life and life should be uplifted wherever in the world we may be.

Reducing clean water poverty - Oromia region 

CROIG is always looking for ways that we can use our network and connections to make a positive change in the world.

We’re happy to announce that CROIG is partnering with theIVYbrand and Honest Media to do just that. We will be heading north to Chiang Rai to help build a school kitchen and a workshop for vocational training in a village that will benefit greatly from these things. IVY is in contact with an organization called Project Justice that works in this village by creating ways for the people to support themselves rather than resorting to human and drug trafficking. 

Next, we'll be working with Little Farm, an organization that teaches locals new farming techniques that will help them grow healthy crops and new methods that will allow them to keep food in their homes year round. 

This village has one well and often times the people have to travel very far to find drinkable water otherwise they resort to drinking whatever they can find. We knew this was a problem that we could solve, so we’re raising funds to buy as many filters as we can fit into our suitcases!

By donating $25 or more, you'll also be entered into a raffle to win product from our sponsors.

• REV'IT! Prometheus or Luna Jacket
• Red Wing Heritage Boots
• The Ivy Brand Longboard
• SENA 10C Pro
• Biltwell Helmet
• CROIG $100 Gift Card
• Converse $250 Gift Card
• The Ivy Brand $100 Gift Card
• Go Fast Don't Die $100 Gift Card


M.A.D. (Make a Difference) by The IVY Brand + CROIG

During our trip to Eastern Uganda in January 2020, we plan to distribute as many water filters as we can. We'll be visiting the small village of Bumwalukani near Mt. Elgon on Uganda's Easter border. We'll be passing through Jinja and Mbale, as well. We chose our destination because I used to live and work in the area at a primary school through the Arlington Academy of Hope. I know the people there well, and I know they work very hard; they could still benefit from as much support as we can offer to keep building their community's capacity for clean drinking, improved education and healthcare services, and economic infrastructure. 

Clean Water for Bagisu Schoolchildren

I am traveling to Indochina Dec 2019 - Jan 2020. While traveling to various countries (for my own personal experience), I will be stopping at orphanages and rural areas that are in need of clean water. Your support in purchasing water filters will bring health and hope to communities. 
Bottled water is expensive in these countries and some communities don't even have access to bottled/filtered water. 
The compact, water filter systems are essential for aid in natural disasters. This system would eliminate the need to ship bottled water to areas that need immediate aid.
Community filters are $35 USD (not including shipping) and will provide enough clean water for 100 people per day. If maintained properly, they will last for many years.

These filters remove bacteria from water that may cause:
Cholera, Botulism, Typhoid, Amoebic Dysentery, E. coli, Coliform Bacteria, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, or Cyclospora
With a removal rate of 99.99999%.

Please take advantage of my trip by sponsoring a filter and bringing clean water to a community.

Soul Wanderful Trip: Vietnam, Thailand & Cambodia 

Traveling to locations in Indochina to explore, connect, and bring goodwill to others in need.

Soul Wanderful Indochina Adventure

PANAMA - provide water filters for Panama’s Los Lajones region.  Help provide filters to an area of Panama that is impoverished and underdevolped.

Couriers