Our Purpose

WaterSphere is an initiative that I started while studying at Rishi Valley School, a boarding school in rural south India.

During a class hike in my 8th grade, I met G Nandakumar, a young farmer from a nearby village called Diguvapalem. Meeting Nandu, as he is known, was one of the most valuable experiences during my time in Rishi Valley. Nandu is constantly exploring ways to benefit the lives of his fellow villagers, using conservation techniques centered around local, natural resources.

After meeting Nandu, I decided to work more closely with him and support his efforts, particularly in the area of water conservation. I also recruited a few of my classmates to support some of these projects. Through WaterSphere we worked on multiple projects, including building a learning center for children, planting native trees in the surrounding hills and coordinating the construction of the first public toilet in Diguvapalem. Starting in my 9th grade, I raised funds, mobilized volunteers and helped with getting resources for these projects.

Working with the local community really inspires me, and shows me the power of small, local initiatives to conserve water and other natural resources. The area surrounding the school where I studied in India is highly drought-prone. Climate change and unsuitable farming techniques have led to the water table falling hundreds of feet. I saw the direct impact that water scarcity has on the local community, and this motivated me to focus on water conservation projects and to create WaterSphere.

I believe that combining science and local eco-friendly materials in creative ways, even on a small scale, can ultimately make a big difference.