Five Frostburg State University (FSU) students travelled to Uganda last March to teach remote villagers about how to create safe drinking water and to teach sanitation techniques.
"It's heartbreaking to think that they (Ugandans) don't have clean drinking water," said Sheena Willison, a senior at FSU and part of the five-member group.
It was as 15- day trip and was part of President Jonathan Gibralter's President's Leadership Circle (PLC ).
"It's a defining moment in their lives," said Gilbralter. "The PLC lets students have the opportunity to get exposure to leadership opportunities. Everyone who has gone (on the international trips) has said that it's an experience that has changed their lives."
Gilbralter said that the students also get to meet business leaders from across the country.
Doug Baer, who led this five member group, said that they worked with villagers and children in the Nebbi and Soroti districts among others.
Even though the country faced a long-drawn civil war and serious terror threat by its notorious warlord Joseph Kony, who has still not been caught, the people of Uganda show great spirit and enthusiasm, said Baer
"They are the most joyous, happy people you've ever met," Baer said.
'Water School', a non-governmental organization based in the U.S. and Canada helps in bringing water purification methods to third world countries affected with health issues from unsafe drinking water.
The method adopted by Water School requires low technology that is easily understood by the villagers.
It requires 1-liter plastic bottles with a screw top and filled with water to be placed in the sun. These bottles are supplied by the volunteers such as FSU. The ultraviolet rays from the sun fall on the bottle causing any harmful bacteria in the water to be broken-down and destroyed.
It takes one day to purify the water on sunny days and two days on cloudy and rainy days.
Baer said that this method is sustainable and eco-friendly as boiling water results in constant felling of trees as a source of fuel.
He said that they do have a sanitation plant, but the villagers can't depend on them as the pipes are corroded and broken.
Among other social activities, the group fenced the water purification area and built wood racks to hold more than 100 bottles and demonstrated ways to construct and use clean hand washing stations, safe rubbish disposal pits and sanitary waste management.
"I'm so grateful for having gone. You're empowering people and the work you do truly changes lives," said Willison.
