We had the good fortune of connecting with Georgia Evans and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Georgia, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“One village at a time” is my go to affirmation. There is so much going on in the world and so many people who need help that it can be overwhelming. For me, I have to think about smaller ways to have an impact. Several years ago I went on an African photo safari and one of the places we were going to stop and visit was a Massai village. I decided to take 2 large community size water filters and 50 individual water straws with me to help the villagers. I had seen and heard a good bit about people in Africa who have no access to clean safe drinking water. Women and girls often go long distances to collect water from ponds, streams, etc. and haul it back to their villages. It is almost always full of pathogens and bacteria that makes people chronically ill and unproductive. People cannot take care of their kids, go to work or school when they are sick. Some people also die.
I knew I wasn’t saving the world but to the hundred or so people in that village these water filters were an amazing gift. They\ chief and villagers made it clear to me how amazed and grateful they were. I left feeling overwhelmed by their reaction. As such I came home determined to do more.
The following year I went back by myself, hired a guide and drivers in the same region. I had 4 more of these big filters shipped in plus bought 250 mosquito bed nets locally that prevent malaria. We assembled and demonstrated usage to four more remote native African villages in Tanzania. Once again I realized that this was something incredible for these people who have such limited resources.
The following year I created the Village Care Project non profit to take this personal project to the next level. Before Covid really hit we returned Jan 2020 with 3 volunteers to go to 5 more remote semi nomadic villages with 5 water filters and 400 mosquito bed nets. Like I said we are making a difference, providing life saving water filters and mosquito nets to hundreds of people “One Village at a Time”.
What should our readers know about your business?
For over 25 years I have owned a graphics and print shop. Owning your own business requires that you wear a lot of hats much of the time. You become very competent at everything from marketing and employee relations to production and customer service or you do not succeed and stay in business. I suppose that helped me create a non profit that operates in a developing country. When I do presentations about this project in Africa many people ask me about going over there alone and I guess I just focus on how much need these people have and that these water filters and nets can really be a big help to them staying healthy. Until the pandemic hit I really was not afraid. My only worries are with getting in and out of planes and airports safely. Hope to continue to gather the funding to return to Africa when this virus settles down and international travel is safe again.
I also hired 2 local translators on the last two trips to make sure the villagers understood how to use the filters and mosquito nets. They could ask questions to make sure that they knew how to use these lifesaving tools.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Loveland, Co so my friends get to explore the mountains, take a hike and see a lot of wildlife when they visit. We also have amazing artists and sculptors with a sculpture park and other art spread all over our city.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
From an early age my parents always said, “You can do whatever you set your mind to”. This instilled me with courage to accept risks and believe in myself.
Website: https://villagecareproject.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/VillageCareProject-95b093196/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VillageCarePro1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessagetoVillageCareProject
Image Credits
Photos by Jackson Mshana and Georgia Evans