Friday, April 11, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
WHAT?
What? This may be what you are thinking!!
The Challenge: DRINK, free clean water when you go out this week! Then, take that money ($2 for a typical soda and $5+ for alcohol) and donate it BECAUSE YOU CARE to build wells that will provide clean water to African Villages where people are dying without it!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Why?
Clean Water Crisis. . .we've heard those words and don't doubt that people need access to clean water, but let's get real here. . .(and this is just a taste!. . if you want more, just google "clean water access")
Water problems affect half of humanity:
Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day.
More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day.
Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%.
1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometre, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 litres of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.)
Some 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhoea
The loss of 443 million school days each year from water-related illness.
Close to half of all people in developing countries suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits.
Millions of women spending several hours a day collecting water.
To these human costs can be added the massive economic waste associated with the water and sanitation deficit.… The costs associated with health spending, productivity losses and labour diversions … are greatest in some of the poorest countries. Sub-Saharan Africa loses about 5% of GDP, or some $28.4 billion annually, a figure that exceeds total aid flows and debt relief to the region in 2003.
From: 2006 United Nations Human Development Report, pp.6, 7, 35
Water problems affect half of humanity:
Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day.
More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day.
Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%.
1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometre, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 litres of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.)
Some 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhoea
The loss of 443 million school days each year from water-related illness.
Close to half of all people in developing countries suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits.
Millions of women spending several hours a day collecting water.
To these human costs can be added the massive economic waste associated with the water and sanitation deficit.… The costs associated with health spending, productivity losses and labour diversions … are greatest in some of the poorest countries. Sub-Saharan Africa loses about 5% of GDP, or some $28.4 billion annually, a figure that exceeds total aid flows and debt relief to the region in 2003.
From: 2006 United Nations Human Development Report, pp.6, 7, 35
Monday, March 10, 2008
How? and Who?
I Drink Because I Care is starting with a goal of raising the money to build 10 wells throughout Liberia, West Africa. For this first project, we are working with Spirit Liberia. This organization will work with churches in some of the hardest hit areas and most rural areas of "the Bush" (think what first comes to your mind when you picture Africa) and place wells on these church properties. They will then work with those villages to use the church buildings to house schools for children during the day and vocational or literacy training for adults at night. This way, the school children can bring home clean water after school and the parents can pick more up at night!
Once these wells are built, we will move on to more clean water projects with other organizations. Each organization will be thoroughly researched to make sure that they do what they claim and they have good "checks and balances" in place for accountability sake. Transparency is key! We are researching possibilities in Uganda, Zambia and other African Nations.
Accountability: We will have the exact quotes by the water company, Eden Waters, posted on this blog. I also have direct access to their paypal account and am the only one raising money for this purpose, so will know what money is going out and the exact amounts that are raised for that purpose. More information is available upon request. We will also be requesting pictures and updates during each well building process and welcome any group or individual to visit Spirit Liberia and the well sites for "opening day"! We will also have a thermometer on this site displaying the amount of money raised with how much is being spent. I DRINK BECAUSE I CARE does not collect or keep any money, 100% of the proceeds go to funding clean water BECAUSE WE CARE.
(note: paypal does keep a small % as well, which will be noted in accounting)
Once these wells are built, we will move on to more clean water projects with other organizations. Each organization will be thoroughly researched to make sure that they do what they claim and they have good "checks and balances" in place for accountability sake. Transparency is key! We are researching possibilities in Uganda, Zambia and other African Nations.
Accountability: We will have the exact quotes by the water company, Eden Waters, posted on this blog. I also have direct access to their paypal account and am the only one raising money for this purpose, so will know what money is going out and the exact amounts that are raised for that purpose. More information is available upon request. We will also be requesting pictures and updates during each well building process and welcome any group or individual to visit Spirit Liberia and the well sites for "opening day"! We will also have a thermometer on this site displaying the amount of money raised with how much is being spent. I DRINK BECAUSE I CARE does not collect or keep any money, 100% of the proceeds go to funding clean water BECAUSE WE CARE.
(note: paypal does keep a small % as well, which will be noted in accounting)
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