Joanna Schneider '13
Student Director forBig Brother, Big Sister
Major: Sociology modified with Psychology; Minor in Chemistry
Other Campus Involvements: DOC; General Manager of Big Green Bus
Fun fact: She got involved in Big Brother, Big Sister in high school, over 7 years ago!
Home Town: San Diego, California
Major: Biology with a minor in international studies
Tucker Program Spotlight: Dartmouth For Clean Water
History with Tucker: Founder and President of Dartmouth For Clean Water and Program Chair of Haven Adult Shelter
What Tucker Means To Me: I was looking to do a clean water project at Dartmouth, and my group was looking for an umbrella organization to support us and give us guidance. Tucker's mission of Service and Social Justice aligned well with what we wanted, and the Foundation has truly been an invaluable resource.
How did you become involved with Tucker?
I was very eager to start a clean water project at Dartmouth, and I began looking for an umbrella organization that could help, support, and guide us. Tucker's mission seemed to align well with what we wanted to achieve, and sure enough, not only were they supportive of our cause, but they also helped network us with organizations at Dartmouth who had similar goals.
What does Dartmouth for Clean Water do?
We design clean water filtration projects for villages outside Port-au-Prince. Our models incorporate everything from filter assembly to distribution and installation in Haiti to education and maintenance on the ground. Currently, our projects deliver clean water to over 7000 individuals in Haiti every single day.
Why Haiti?
Haiti has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere, a lot of which can be attributed to unclean water. Further, much of rural Haiti lacks sanitation, and an overwhelming number of individuals lack access to clean water.
What has this meant to you?
Everyone knows unclean water causes illness. But what really got to me was learning about the impacts of these illnesses. For example, in places that lack access to clean water, children often get sick repeatedly and have to miss days and days of school. Eventually, these individuals simply drop out of school altogether, creating a large social cost. The problem is not limited to children alone, of course. Illness in adults causes them to not be able to attend their jobs and contribute to their economies. Clean water does much more than just save lives—it saves entire societies. I have a strong passion for medicine and public health, and that's probably one of the main reasons I'm so drawn to the clean water issue.
What would you say to a student who's thinking about getting involved with Tucker?
Don't get boggled down if you hit roadblocks or challenges along your journey. Even the smallest things can sometimes become huge burdens, and it's always important to keep the bigger picture in mind. I thought this project would be done in 6 months, but here we are 3 years later. Also don't be afraid to let your program or ideas change over time. The image that I had of the project in the beginning was much different than it is now.
