Take Action on Your Campus

ACCESS-RELATED ACTIONS

Walk for Water Access – Have people physically walk and carry water (or an equivalent weight) a representative distance on campus. To make it more fun and interactive, host a race and challenge people. See how long it takes them to make the trek and subtract points for water lost en route.

Water Source Poster Campaign – Post signs near drinking fountains, bathrooms, vending machines, etc. The posters should have compelling facts on them to make people realize how much we take easy access to water for granted. Do some research into the nearest water source to your campus or home and turn it into a campaign. Use FMF's sample posters. Some examples:

• The average woman walks 6-9 miles to get to water. And then has to carry it back.
• This water traveled __ miles to get here. What if you had to carry it?

Going the Distance – Physically mark the distance women walk for water (or a representation of that distance) on campus with chalk or tape. Write facts or questions along the route like

• How far would you walk for water?
• Imagine walking 5 times this distance daily just to get enough water to survive.

CONSERVATION-RELATED ACTIONS

On-Campus Conservation – Start a campaign on campus to conserve water and get your campus to “go green.” Meet with administrators and different offices on campus with specific goals, like using native plants that don’t need much water on the grounds, turning off fountains/water features on the grounds at non-key times (e.g., midnight to 6 a.m.), assess irrigation and water usage habits on campus, investing in water-conserving appliances during construction or remodeling of new buildings.

Water Bottle Campaign – Work with entities on campus to create incentives for reusing mugs and cups. Some techniques:

• Ask for donations of mugs, cups, or filters from local businesses to encourage students to use them.
• Invest in a water filter to use tap instead of buying bottles.
• Institute a trade-ins program for water bottles to be recycled. See if your bookstore or a local business will give you coupons or reusable mugs. Set up in a high traffic area, and when you see people with non-reusable bottles of water go by, ask them to trade it in for the coupon or mug and explain the damage that bottled water does to the environment!
• Create awareness pins with water bottle caps. See if you can get students and high-profile people on campus to wear them as a sign of a commitment to stop irresponsible water use.

Social Justice/Environmental Justice Carnival – Use the Walk for Water Access idea above, but jazz it up. Have an MC to rile the crowd up and get individuals (or if you have groups of people, turn it into a relay!) to take the challenge.

• Have booths doing fun, eco-friendly projects like a “found art” or “recycled art” project, plant potting parties, lightbulb exchanges, etc.
• Turn a traditional carnival game and use it to highlight a component of water access – bob for apples in “dirty” water or water with food coloring, a water-bottle toss into recycling bins, “guess the weight” of a big bucket of water, etc.

Photo Campaign Take photos of people holding signs that demand action regarding women and water. Use the photos to advertise your campaign as well as to show your administration that you have the support of students on campus! Use FMF's sample signs. Some examples:

I WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR IRRESPONSIBLE WATER USE
I WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR WATER PRIVITIZATION
MY NAME IS __________________ AND I WANT A GREEN CAMPUS
MY NAME IS _________________ AND I WILL STAND UP FOR WOMEN & THE ENVIRONMENT
MY NAME IS _________________ AND I PLEDGE TO ___________