Living the Mission: Climbing Kilimanjaro
Goal: Water Awareness
Xylem Watermark’s mission—to provide and protect safe water resources for communities in need around the world, and to educate people about water issues—comes alive through the commitment of passionate Xylem employees such as Paul Raybould.
On February 7th, Paul showed his dedication to solving water by traveling to Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and interact with community members in the local area who lack access to clean water.
Prior to his six-day climb, Paul held a local fundraiser in which prizes were donated by local businesses to raise money for Xylem Watermark and an additional local charity. He also created an awareness campaign around the global water crisis in anticipation of his climb.
Paul notes that, “during the 10-12-hour treks he learned how the surrounding community’s landscape and living conditions had changed over the years,” allowing him to better understand “the ongoing challenges of the local communities.” To Paul, “the most memorable moments of the trip were hearing the stories of families obtaining clean drinking water in local towns and the changing landscapes. These were the only times the smiles left the faces of our local guide team.”
Paul was first inspired to get involved with Xylem Watermark after learning about the work we were undertaking globally. Since then, he has been an active volunteer. In total, for the Mount Kilimanjaro climb and the fundraising and awareness building efforts that Raybould put forth around the trip, Paul Raybould completed 300 hours of service.
