Are you D.I.R.T? MotorWorld’s Josh Salvaterra is!

Pictured left to right: Josh’s stepdaughter Makayla, Josh’s mom Pedra, Josh Salvaterra and Director of Kings for the Kingdom Tim Dabel standing in the middle of D.I.R.Ts first water integration system in Kenya.

Josh Salvaterra is one of MotorWorld’s top sales associates. He’s been featured in the company newsletters for having won prestigious awards from Honda, including being honored by American Honda Motor Co. for achieving Platinum Membership for the second year in a row this year. However, there is more to Josh than being a leader on the sale floor. He is also a leader in his community and church, and started his own charity to help those struggling in third world countries.

Josh has been working with underprivileged children since the age of 12. His parents ran a small nonprofit in their local Pennsylvania community in which Josh frequently volunteered. Josh took what he learned from his parent’s tutelage, and in March 2018 the D.I.R.T project was born.

The D.I.R.T Project’s (Deeply Invested in Reaching the Third World) mission is to raise funds and give 100% of the proceeds to create water irrigation systems in underdeveloped communities in third world countries. This will provide neighborhoods  clean water and a way to work their own land and grow their own food in order to become more self-sustaining.

To raise funds for the initial kick-off, Josh and his family of 5 (wife and four children) started a clothing company with the slogan “I’m D.I.R.T” on the front. For every shirt sold, between $5 and $10 went directly to funding a water irrigation system. Josh then partnered D.I.R.T with Kids for the Kingdom, a non-profit ministry that partners with indigenous local teams in 16 countries around the world.

Josh recently returned from a trip to Kenya with his mother and 17-year old stepdaughter MaKayla to coordinate with Kids for the Kingdom to personally jump start D.I.R.Ts first water irrigation system.

“We provided two water towers in the village of Nakuru in northern Kenya, very close to Somalia,” Josh said. “One provided the irrigation for the vegetation in a school garden – these vegetables feed all the kids in the school and are also a form of income for the school. The second tower will be available for anyone in the community to come, fill up jugs, and bring back the water to use in their homes for cooking, cleaning, drinking, etc.”

   

This was Josh’s first trip to the African continent, but he was in good hands with the director of Kids for the Kingdom as their guide. As they visited different communities, there were certain stories that stood out to Josh.

“I took a picture of these three little kids walking home barefoot on a dirt road, kicking their jug of water. I’m the father of three little kids who hardly lets them even play in the front yard by themselves, and here were 3 children – all probably under the age of 7 – on a random road coming back from the water hole to assist their family’s daily needs. I ended up questioning them about everything - how often do they do this - every day, every other day? How far do they walk - a mile, 2, 10? It’s unbelievable.”

Josh took this opportunity to also visit a school that boasted a water irrigation system that he had helped fund almost 7 years ago through Kids for the Kingdom. He also stopped by a school to bring them a goat that he and other MotorWorld coworkers had donated. This goat will provide the school a much needed source of milk and cheese.

If you are interested in helping Josh and his cause, check out the D.I.R.T website at https://thedirtproject.org