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Other Paths was founded in 2005 by Christina (Alexander) Berlin as an experiential education organization. As a high school teacher in Oakland, California, she created Other Paths as a means to get her students out of their day-to-day routines and provide them with experiences that allowed them to see Life from new perspectives.
Through hiking & camping trips, conservation projects, and working with local service organizations, Other Paths participants discovered how they could make a positive impact on others and the world around them without having to be wealthy or famous. Over the first 18 months of its existence, Other Paths built a solid core of enthusiastic participants and adult volunteers, all of whom credit Other Paths with providing them opportunities to build confidence, learn teamwork, and broaden the range of possibilities in their lives.
In Spring 2006, we were invited to participate in the construction of an addition to a pre-school in a small village in rural Kenya. Our student participants immediately launched a 10-month series of fundraisers, planning sessions, and workshops. By April 2007, the team of six students from the Fruitvale District of Oakland had raised over$35,000 to fund a two-week service project to the Kiima Kimwe region of Kenya, where the six students and four Other Paths adult volunteers assisted in construction activities and implemented clean water systems for two village schools.
Since 2007, we have been expanding our projects around Kiima Kimwe. We have established a solid working relationship with the regional and local governments and have the full support, trust, and friendship of the communities that we serve.
To date, we have successfully executed the following projects:
- implementation of 5,000 liter water storage tanks and rainwater collection system in Makakoi, Makilu, and Kiima Kimwe villages
- implementation of solar power in Makilu village
- implementation of ozone water purifier for water storage tank at Makilu village
- implementation of sales and training for Procter & Gamble's PuR Purifier of Water purification product
- Construction of healthcare clinic at Kiima Kimwe village (scheduled to complete in Fall 2011)
We are now expanding Other Paths' programs to include service vacations for civic & educational groups, companies, and families. We are also accelerating our partner and organizational sponsorship efforts to build linkages with international non-profits, NGOs, and companies interested in addressing issues like clean water, malaria prevention, HIV/AIDS, and creating sustainable local economies.
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 Christina Berlin: Founder & Executive Director
 Matt Berlin: Director, Kenya Programs
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