“Water really changes everything. Clean water brings hope into communities; it brings life; it restores dignity to women, to kids, to teenage girls; it puts so much time back in the community; and health-disease rates start plummeting when clean water is brought into a community.”
—Scott Harrison, charity: water founder
Hey, Kayla here. It’s afternoon, but I’ve been snuggling with a fuzzy blanket on the couch all day, gripping the blanket for comfort as my heart gets broken over and over viewing stories from charity: water’s website.
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water solutions for people with the most desperate need. All operational costs, like paying staff and buying equipment—down to light bulbs for the charity: water office—are funded separately by private donors. Through charity: water, $20 can get one person clean water.
According to charity: water, kids are more likely to get sick or die from contaminated water than adults. In a video describing his story, charity: water founder Scott Harrison said he saw kids growing up with bent spines because they’ve been carrying water since they were five. He described a little Kenyan girl who would drink murky water from a river and then vomit on herself, then drink again and vomit more. But it was the only water she had. Story after story, picture after picture, I realize just how grave the need for clean water is and just how glad I am that charity: water exists. We can help.
Click here for stories from the field.
charity: water
charity: water works with communities to evaluate what type of water project is most appropriate. When fresh water is close to the ground, hand-dug wells are created. When the water is deeper, they drill wells. Sometimes, other solutions like rainwater catchments, pond sand filters, spring protection systems, or bio-sand filters are more beneficial. No matter the project, charity: water staff make sure to train members of the community on sustainability and sanitation practices, so if they went back in 20 years, these projects would still be there.
charity: water shows proof of its work and documents results for everyone to see using pictures, videos, and GPS coordinates on Google Earth.
“88% of disease on this planet is directly related to unsafe water and a lack of sanitation.” —Scott Harrison
Questions/Comments/Concerns?
For more information on charity: water, visit www.charitywater.org. If you have time, explore the site’s photos, videos, stories, and more, You’ll learn a lot.
Don’t hesitate to email me at
kaylakfrost@gmail.com
