I'm typing this blog in fairly comfortable conditions. My laptop is plugged in, my stomach is full, the kitchen and dining room lights are both on, the heater is gurgling comfortably next to me, music is playing and I have a bottle of fresh water mixed with lemon juice to ward of any colds. Of all these luxuries the last one is most on my mind. Almost a billion people worldwide don't have access to safe drinking water. A billion. Almost impossible to believe but tragically true evidenced by the number of people (overwhelmingly children under 5 lacking strong immune systems) that die from preventable diseases linked to dirty water and lack of basic sanitation. According to charity:water more people die from unsafe water than from violence and war each year. Water.org states that a child dies from a water related illness every 20 seconds. Communities lacking access to safe water and sanitation are at all sorts of risks. Women are vulnerable to harassment and attack as they walk long distances. The relentless daily weight of water leads to early back pain, and they are prevented from attending to their homes, children and any kind of economic activity. Children able to carry water miss school because of the basic need to survive thus ensuring the cycle of poverty, and in some cases private water distributors hold humans to ransom with exorbitant prices that further cripple struggling communities. Good News Campaign In cooperation with local partners charity:water has assisted over 2 500 000 people in 19 countries to have access to safe water. They don't give handouts - they empower communities to enrich their own lives. All donations are tax deductible and 100% of each contribution is directly invested in their projects. They have a tracking system that shows how each dollar is spent, as well as Google GPS coordinates to show proof of completed projects. Through drilling well points and setting up distribution points charity:water is helping to promote health for villages, schools and clinics, and creating a platform for economic growth too. The need to have fresh drinking water and proper sanitation is so fundamental to life that anyone can relate to it. I'd like to use my 40th birthday to help fund a project, and so I've set up the The Good News Campaign on charity:water's associated collection site to allow my friends and anyone else to join in. The target amount of 5000 USD will ensure that a village of 250 can begin taking steps towards health and prosperity. If this interests you, you can help invest in people through the link above. And please spread the word. Blessings and thanks. Grant Sources: charity:water water.org
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