by Imagine a world with out access to the internet or a smartphone… no Facebook, no blogging, no Instagram, no easy access to information and networks. In these technologically advanced times that sounds kind of awful, right? Now imagine waking up every morning without access to one of the most basic of human needs, clean and safe drinking water, a fate far more cruel.
Most of us living in Western Civilization have never really been thirsty. We’ve never had to walk miles upon miles to fetch water. It’s simple for us. We turn on the tap, and water comes out. Clean. But that’s not the case for many others. Every year, millions of people contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 30,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won’t, but still have to face incredible dangers walking hours each day to get dirty water for their families.
Women in sub-Saharan Africa spend more time collecting dirty water for their family than any other activity they do in a day. About every 19 seconds those same mothers lose one of her children to a water related illness. And each day almost a billion people are living this way.
A billion people; 1 in 9 people in our world doesn’t have access to the most basic of human needs. Something we can’t imagine going 12 hours without. Can you imagine that? I sure can’t.
It’s time to make a change.
charity:water is a non-profit, founded in 2006 by Scott Harrison, bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. “This is one of my favorite groups, working tirelessly to bring a basic human need to those who need it most,” states Sophia Bush, activist and actress. The organization’s efforts provides more than safe drinking water to women and children in developing nations because having access to safe water means time, freedom and incentive to change their communities.
Since it’s inception, celebrities and communities have been working hard to raise money for charity:water through fundraising events, charity balls, and even giving up their birthday’s, asking for donations instead of gifts. Now, it’s your turn!
We’ve partnered with charity:water to give designers and artists, from all around the world, the opportunity to help provide clean water to those who need it most. All you have to do is submit a creative design that reflects the water crisis and how we can turn it all around.
The winning design will be chosen by the charity: water team and guest judge John Vechey, printed on a T-shirt and featured on their blog. Additionally, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the t-shirt with the winning design will go directly to charity: water, who use 100% of the money to fund water projects in developing countries.
I believe it is innately within us, as warriors of the human spirit, to give to those less fortunate. Sometimes, we just don’t know how to go about doing it. ― Alyssa Milano
