By now you have likely read about, or seen Isabelle and Katherine Adams selling their origami fold Christmas ornaments at local craft fairs and retail shops.

Through their project, Paper for Water, the young sisters, ages ten and seven, respectively, along with the help of volunteers and their matching donor, Lemi Shine, have raised more than $350,000 for Living Water International, a Houston-based charity that drills water wells in developing countries.

“Every 20 seconds a child dies because they don’t have clean water,” Isabelle told BubbleLife in  December of 2012. 

Isabelle and Katherine learned about the need for clean water in these countries during the summer of 2011 when a family friend shared stories and videos about the perilous conditions brought about by unsafe drinking water. This made a big impression on the sisters and on their parents, Ken and Deborah Adams. 

This past Christmas, Isabelle and Katherine got to see firsthand the need for their work and the result of their efforts. Accompanied by mom and dad, their little sister and their maternal grandparents, the family spent two weeks during the Christmas holidays touring India.

Leaving Dallas on December 21, they flew to Delhi. Upon arrival in India, a driver and a mini-van became their transportation for an itinerary that took them to Agra, Lucknow in the Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, Jaipur and back to Delhi. They visited the Taj Mahal on Christmas Day.

Living Water International had arranged for the family to visit several schools and wells, so they could meet the children that were helped by the wells.

Both girls were surprised by many cultural differences between our country and India. Most of the schools they visited had no electricity. At one school, class was being held on the rooftop of the building.

When the Indian children were asked how many drank the water from the wells, they all raised their hands. School officials said that there are far fewer absentees due to illness than before because of the clean water provided by the wells.

Although the children come from hardworking parents, many of the families are living on less than $2 a day, and they can’t afford to build the wells from their own resources.

Other perceptions noted by the girls were the disparities throughout the country. They saw many beautiful well-maintained homes, as well as people living in tents, three-sided sheds and lean- tos along the side of the road.

But even in the face of such poverty, one thing is universal, the girls found: kids like to play.

The game of cricket was played everywhere, and the children used whatever they could find to use for a bat.

Katherine commented on the greenery of the landscape and the assortment of animals they encountered.

“Everything was so green,” she said. “We saw monkeys, cows, goats, water buffalo, dogs, camels and elephants.” And, of course, everyone got to take a turn atop an elephant for a ride.

“What about the food?” I asked.  Everyone agreed that it was good, but added that the hotels prepared an Americanized menu with less “spice” for the country’s visitors.

The travel through India was an exciting adventure and momentous learning experience. The family even got to meet U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell and Deputy Director for U.S. Agency for International Development, Kathryn Stevens.

Still, India remains one of the world’s poorest nations. Poverty, hunger and illness are widespread, especially among the rural areas.

“Education is the key to social change, especially education of the girls.  Clean water is necessary to keep students in school. Without clean water many kids are sick. Staying healthy and keeping kids in school are our main goals in what we are doing,” mom, Deborah Adams said.

What were some thoughts that Isabelle brought home about her trip?

“How privileged we are in our country. Many kids in India have needs we don’t even know or can’t even think about. We can drink from the faucet and we can turn on the lights. We are lucky to have a school to go to and be able to go to it,” she said.

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding that started in the 17th century and was popularized outside of Japan in the mid-1900s.  Intricate folds without the use of cuts or glue result in a sculpted object.  Isabelle and Katherine learned how to fold from their dad who learned from his mother.  The Adams brought back beautiful printed paper from India and new ornaments will be produced using those colorful prints. Learn more at www.paperforwater.org.