Hey! Thanks for checking out our web site. My name is Kelly Forsha and I am 14 years old. In 2010 when I was 12, I became the founder of this nonprofit organization we call Digging Wells For Hope, Inc. (DW4H). I attend middle school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and attend church at LCBC, a non-denominational Christian church. I am just a normal kid who loves cheerleading, KidWorship, and definitely hanging out with my friends.

My mom said, "When we don't know anything, we can cry ignorance, but once we know, we should do something about it. If it makes you angry, do something." So, my parents and I came up with the idea of selling pencils and calling it Pencils against Poverty. Who can't use a pencil, right? They encouraged me to write my vision and mission statement.

Mission and Vision

Mission: To build deep water wells to ensure that all people have access to fresh clean water, to enhance their quality of life.

I still didn't know where I wanted to build a well, but while we were putting this project together, a major earthquake shook Haiti. I learned that Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world and that less than 1/3 of Haitians have access to fresh water, so I chose Haiti as the location of my first well. I didn't want to give temporary water in the form of bottles (although that is also needed), but to provide a lifetime of fresh drinking water for generations to come.

I believe that kids, such as me, can change the world, but to help make our dreams a reality, we also need adults to give us a voice. Many adults have come forward to support this project and I am extremely thankful to them. Without their guidance and support, none of this would be possible.