"Paddle for water" - first ever dragonboat race in Strasbourg organized by 2009 ESSEC & MANNHEIM Modular Executive MBA class

Access to clean drinking water is critical for human survival and is an essential ingredient for improving the lives of those living in poverty in developing countries. And yet more than one billion people worldwide, most of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa, do not have access to clean water. In order to raise awareness of their need as well as money for the cause, the 2009 ESSEC & MANNHEIM Modular Executive MBA class organized "Paddle for water" – the first ever dragonboat race held in Strasbourg. The event took place on Saturday, September 13, 2008 and was a tremendous success - more than 20 teams from across Europe participated, with the winner coming all the way from the Czech republic. The teams were staffed and sponsored by international companies as well as other higher education institutions, although otherinterested individuals were also invited to participate.

The proceeds from the race will go to PlayPumps International, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing easy access to clean drinking water to people across Africa by means of an innovative pumping system in the form of a merry-go-around.