I-ImpactNow

Implementing sustainable solutions to agricultural issues in Ethiopia

I-ImpactNow is a growing non-profit organisation which works to alleviate the plight of farmers in the Datu Wereda region of Ethiopia. 90% of the population of Datu Wereda are agriculturalists who struggle year to year with droughts. It is run by UWC Red Cross Nordic alumnus William Montoya in collaboration with peers from Luther College.

By implementing an innovative irrigation system to draw water from the nearby Lake Awassa and River Tikur-Wuha, I-ImpactNow will bring the gift of water to Datu Wereda.

In addition, the organisation is helping to form a cooperative of 50 farmers to unify communities and harness the power of collaboration. These two goals will help develop an irrigation-based farming cooperative, an initiative which will promote the values of self-empowerment and sustainability in Datu Wereda while instilling a sense of confidence in its neighbours.

The organisation started life as the project 'Collaborating on Irrigation to Fight Hunger' which took place in Ethiopia in the summer of 2009 with the generous financial support of the Davis Projects for Peace and the Dan Rukavina Family Foundation. The project focused on creating less dependence on seasonal rainfall by encouraging Ethiopian farmers to establish sustainable food security in Datu Wereda through the establishment of an irrigation-based, organised farming model for the region.

"The values I learned at UWC (a dedication to a world of international understanding, personal growth through others and connecting problems with sustainable solutions) have all played a central role in my international development efforts in the past four years and they will continue to do so in my future" says William. "I'm dedicated to I-ImpactNow because I believe the purpose of education is to produce leaders who take advantage of knowledge to find ways to develop an environmentally sustainable and fairer world."

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