Louisville, KY – Local non-profit WaterStep is expanding upon an existing partnership with SkillsUSA, a student organization that will hold its 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville on June 25-29, 2018. For the 4th year, SkillsUSA will host a shoe drive in conjunction with the Conference, where student attendees from all over the country are encouraged to bring used shoes to donate to WaterStep. The donated shoes are repurposed and sold to an exporter to provide affordable footwear in developing counties, and WaterStep uses the proceeds from the sale of the shoes to fund its safe water projects around the world. Click here to read more.
As part of the Conference, more than 18,000 students, teachers and business partners will attend educational seminars to learn more about career options across various technical industries and participate in hands-on competitions that demonstrate their skills. For the first time, the welding fabrication competition is partnering with WaterStep to bring a compassionate element to the event and create a positive impact on families in the developing world. The competitors will be required to weld rocket stoves, which are small, efficient and eco-friendly stoves used for individual cooking. After the competition, the stoves will be donated to developing communities to provide individuals with a cost-effective way to heat and cook food. WaterStep will use its network of international partners to determine where the rocket stoves would be most useful in the field and coordinate the distribution of the stoves.
WaterStep will also be represented at the GE Appliances MakerSpace booth at SkillsUSA, where students will assemble parts of the M-100 chlorine generator, which is portable water filtration system that can generate up to 10,000 gallons of safe drinking water each day.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 360,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships, designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and workplace credentials. For more information, go to www.SkillsUSA.org.
About WaterStep
WaterStep, headquartered in Louisville, KY, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that believes everyone should have access to safe water and that no one should suffer from waterborne illnesses. WaterStep implements water projects and equips people with tools and training in water purification, disaster relief, sanitation, health education, and well repair. Since its founding in 1995, WaterStep has brought safe water to people in over 40 countries. To learn more, call (502) 568-6342 or visit waterstep.org.