It’s been 41 years since Joyce Tannian graduated from Saint Mark’s High School, but she is still living the mission of her alma mater … to make the world a better place, one more pleasing to God and more helpful to others.
Tannian is the founder of “Water is Life Kenya,” a nonprofit whose mission is to spark personal, economic, and community development in marginalized communities in Kenya in accordance with existing customs and culture.
She said the organization works to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene to villages in and around Kenya. The focus includes empowering women by developing sources of income through improved resource management.
Tannian’s passion for providing assistance to the Kenyan population was evident as she hosted a presentation about Water is Life Kenya for Saint Mark’s students last school year. Saint Mark’s “Students In Action Club” hosted a fundraiser to help support her efforts.
Students In Action is a youth service, leadership and recognition program that supports, trains and empowers young people to be leaders, problem solvers, entrepreneurs and impactful global citizens.
Club moderator Sirama Adzalla said Tannian’s speech last year “touched many lives.”
The club organized a fundraiser that included a five-day trivia contest focused on educating the Saint Mark’s student body about Kenyan culture. They also organized a dress-down day which gave students the opportunity to dress out-of-uniform in exchange for a donation. Their efforts raised more than $2,200 for Water is Life Kenya.
Tannian said students turned it into a FUN-raiser. “I heard about the daily quizzes where they learned facts about Kenya and what Water is Life Kenya does there to ‘help Kenyans bloom with love and water,’’’ she said.
