A faith-inspired nonprofit organization is sponsoring a run to promote sustainability efforts abroad.
Run to the Well, held by Kibo Group International will be held in Jenks, OK, to fund a water, sanitation and hygiene project in Uganda, East Africa.
According to its website, the goal of Kibo Group is to provide sustainable, practical solutions for challenges Ugandan communities face — supplying clean water is just one of many solutions.
Ben Langford, director of Oklahoma Christian University’s Center for Global Missions, said he was first involved in Kibo group during his time as a missionary in Uganda. He said the organization recognizes the need to address immediate, physical needs of the Ugandan people as well as their spiritual needs.
“When we were engaged in church planting, all kinds of other issues — poverty, health and sanitation, clean water, issues particular to women in rural areas, education — came up,” Langford said. “Really what Ugandans taught us is that the work of God in the Gospel is more than just about planting churches — it’s that the Gospel reconciles people, and that we should care about clean water because we care about peoples’ bodies and peoples’ lives.”
Langford said the organization knew it needed to create a solution to continue after Kibo Group left the village. He said the solution must be realistically sustainable through local resources available to Ugandans.
“We thought, ‘Man, how do we do this? How do we do this better?’” Langford said. “Not just better, but do it in ways that are sustainable and that are partnering for local solutions. Not just international, like money coming in, but real, local solutions.”
According to Langford, Kibo Group focuses on teaching Ugandans to service the wells and live a sanitary lifestyle. He said this education makes a huge difference in the long-term success of the program. Because of this approach, Langford said the churches and communities learn to work together to accomplish their goals.
“Before they get a well, they spend a year in community-led health and sanitation,” Langford said. “That literally transforms a village — things that actually make a difference in health and sanitation.”
Junior Rett Parker said he spent a month in Uganda last summer as an intern learning about the work and mission of Kibo Group. He said Run to the Well is an opportunity for Kibo Group to host an event in the United States to fund ministry efforts in East Africa.
Parker said his favorite aspect of Kibo Group is the sustainability organization offers. He said the organization equips and teaches the Ugandans, so the changes are effective and long term.
“They don’t try to come in and just build a well, because that often leads to just broken-down wells,” Parker said. “They try to come and teach the villages to work for themselves, to stand up for themselves, to improve their own living conditions in ways that the villagers can do themselves — they don’t need other people coming in to do it for them, they can accomplish it.”
Senior Jami Adams also interned with Kibo Group in Uganda last summer. She said the organization approaches mission work with the goal of empowering communities and showing them how to create a better life. She said she appreciates the emphasis Kibo Group puts on maintaining the Ugandans’ pride and self-respect.
“What Kibo does is not about doing things for others,” Adams said. “It’s about helping others help themselves. It’s a really special way to help others while still maintaining their dignity. You want them to be able to take ownership and say, ‘I did this for myself,’ and have that positivity.”
Adams said people should get involved in Run to the Well and Kibo Group because it is an opportunity for participants and volunteers to grow alongside those they are helping. She said after being in East Africa, she learned to help others more effectively.
“Being involved with Kibo you almost learn more than you help,” Adams said.
Run to the Well is taking place on March 25 at the River Walk Crossing in Jenks, OK. Participants can choose to run a 5K, 15K or fun run. Those who wish to participate should register at their website.
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