Water For All! event inspires two campuses to combine efforts to make clean water accessible

What cause is so significant it has united the three Saint Michael’s College Institutes – environment, global engagement, and equity & justice – plus the College’s service organization, MOVE, and the students at a local Catholic school with alumni ties? The answer is humanity’s most basic need: water. 

Saint Michael’s College and Saint Francis Xavier School are partners in a day-long event on Wednesday, April 9 promoting awareness and action around providing clean water access to communities in need. 

Kristyn Achilich ’05

The event, which will occur at St. Mike’s, is called Water For All! It’s the first of its kind, and perhaps the first to unite all of the College’s institutes and Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (MOVE) because of a convergence of shared missions.  

Kristyn Achilich, Director of the Institute for the Environment, said she and her colleagues in the other to two institutes and MOVE, “saw an opportunity to begin more intentional and public facing work on this big idea of the three institutes representing much of the core mission of SMC,” she wrote.  

The groups collectively seek to apply classroom learning and service opportunities toward addressing today’s most pressing challenges.  

“The platform of awareness and education for clean water on a national and global scale so perfectly aligned with the missions of the 3 institutes and a number of key initiatives/timelines for our programming and that of our partners,” Achilich said. 

April happens to be Earth Month and National Volunteer Awareness Month. 

Community partnership: How a drop of water combined with others fills a pail 

The inspiration for the event expands the work of an alumnus supporting this cause. 

Fr. Yvon Royer ’85, who is a pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish, first connected with the organization Healing Waters International three years ago to bring water to San José Monteverde, México. Healing Waters assesses a community’s water needs and water source and then designs a sustainable clean water solution for them, supported by funds raised by donors. 

This year, SFX broadened their reach with Healing Waters to funnel resources to three additional Mexican communities in the Chiapas region: Rosarito, Alianza and Albores.  

Saint Michael’s College saw an opportunity to double-down on the potential impact by combining forces.  

Water For All! graphic logo for 2025 event.

What’s happening at Water For All! event? 

During the morning, Saint Michael’s College Education students will deliver STEM-based lessons to SFX students. The guests will also be able to spend time creating in the MakerSpace. 

A highlight activity will be a one-hour educational panel at noon in the McCarthy Arts Center featuring three guest speakers. Healing Waters International Director, Walter Nonemaker, will speak about his organization’s projects and the water needs that exist in South America. Saint Michael’s College international student, Olivier Niyonshuti, will share his personal experience with a lack of clean water in his native Rwanda. And, Judy Dow who is an Abenaki elder as well as indigenous scholar, educator, and advocate will share work being done to bolster indigenous communities in the northeast. 

The day’s activities will wrap with a walk-a-thon at 1 p.m.in which both school communities are invited to walk through two loops, culminating in a check presentation showing the amount of local money raised for Healing Waters so far this school year. 

Saint Michael’s College students, faculty and staff are invited to get involved by taking part in the Walk-a-thon, attending the panel, watching the check presentation, and donating to the cause via QR code. 

Having an impact 

Achilich said she hopes this event will “leverage the relevance and power of the three institutes at SMC to bring awareness, innovation, and education to expand water for all around the world,” and that it will bring “light to the idea that small acts locally make a lasting impact slowly and globally.” 

Omara Rivera- Vázquez

For Omara Rivera- Vázquez, director of Institute for Equity and Justice, this initiative taps into the Institute’s efforts in multisystemic transformation at the institutional, societal, and individual levels. 

“Ensuring that everyone has access to safe and affordable drinking water has been recognized as a human right by the United Nations,” she said. “In my view, the broader ramifications are for SMC to live up to its mission while strengthening local community outreach and partnerships.” 

The collaboration helps to instill values of service, social impact, and awareness, said Rosemary Yargici, in the Office of International Student & Scholar Services who works closely with the Institute for Global Engagement.  

“This effort also serves as a good example for our students of the importance of community involvement in order to make a difference in the lives of others who may not have equitable access to vital resources,” Yargici said. “Awareness is the beginning of transformation, and in events such as this one, transformation happens – even if it’s in small steps.” 

 Register for the walk-a-thon and/or donate to Healing Waters here. 

Find out more information about the event here. >>