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This WAPI work day took place on Thursday, Jan. 26 during school. Students had to have authorized teacher and parent signatures in order to participate in the event.

The 205-206 building was once again filled with Rotary Interact club members in order to participate in the ongoing effort to help make Water Pasteurization Indicators for people in Rwanda, Africa.

Granite Hills Rotary Interact club members, along with Walter Parrish, Rotary Club member from Fresno, CA, managed to make 586 WAPI’s for people in Rwanda Africa.

“It is because of [the kids] that we are able to be so successful and make all of these WAPI’s,” stated Parrish. “This year’s group of kids was one of the best groups that I have had in a while.”

WAPI’s are made up of sealed tubing, special wax, a washer, a metal hook, and fishing line.

“The event is for a great cause and you have fun doing it with some really great people,” stated GHHS Rotary Interact member Andres Andrade. “I had a warm feeling inside after the event because I know that someone in Rwanda is going to be really grateful.”

The finished product is a simple, yet effective invention that allows people to determine when their water is potable. The wax in the WAPI melts to a liquid when it is hot enough. At this point, all forms of bacteria and insects will be killed off, thus alerting the people when their water is safe to drink.

“I really recommend others to take part in this event because it’s fun doing it and your help could possibly save someone’s life,” stated Andrade.

The WAPI’s are expected to ship sometime this week.

“This event affected me because I realized that we created many WAPIs, which meant that there are so many people around the world who do not have the resources that we as a community take for granted,” stated GHHS Rotary Interact member Isabel Perez. “Overall, it made me appreciate what I have and it made me understand that giving aid is essential.”

It is extremely cost efficient to actually make a WAPI instead of buy one from a commercial vendor. Making a WAPI costs a mere 34 cents as opposed to the six dollars that it takes to buy one.

The special wax is all donated to Parrish. Other than that, Parrish provides the majority of the funds from his own pocket in order to buy the materials essential in creating WAPI’s.

This is the sixth year that Granite Hill’s Rotary Interact club teamed up with Parrish to make WAPI’s.

“I went to the WAPI work day because it would be a great way to give back to other in need and also a great project,” stated GHHS Rotary Interact member Sonya Lopez. “My favorite part was being able to see my peers risk a day in class just to help with the project. It was really neat to see how we all worked together to make all the WAPI’s.”

Unfortunately, Granite Hills’ Rotary Interact club made 230 less WAPI’s than last year’s 816 WAPI’s. This was due to the large difference in the amount of students who participated with this event last year as opposed to this year.

This year’s group of students was, however, able to create a better quality product being that less WAPI’s were rejected this year compared to last year.

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To learn more: WAPI information