Creative Campaigns for Children and Clean Water

Many of my friends have children. 1,2,3 + I'm talking, and I want to give creative opportunities for them to love friends all over the world.

In the last few days I've tried to give some practical ways to help end poverty through letters and petitions that can be mailed to governments. Poverty will never end unless there are real solutions to end it; solutions based on economic justice and political changes.

I am going to step aside, for a short time, from the BIG issue of poverty and focus on clean water.



Blood:Water Mission is a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa. What I love about this organization is the creativity they use/share to raise money for clean water efforts. They are easy and fun!

Campaigns started:

Lemon:Aid
Summertime - a time to make memories, spend time outdoors and get re-acquainted with new friends and neighbors. This summer, Blood:Water Mission invites you to not only make memories but make a difference, too.

Build a Lemon:Aid stand in your community to quench the thirst of someone in your neighborhood, then donate the funds to Blood:Water Mission to quench the thirst of someone half way around the world in Africa with clean, safe water. Over 320 million Africans lack access to clean, safe water - people like you and me - smart, talented, hopeful people - and we can partner with them to make a difference in their lives as well as ours.

Water Walk
Bring a group together and join in solidarity with people in Africa by walking the distance to your nearest natural water source (like a pond or stream) and back to bring back water. A water walk can be a very literal and impactful way to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes."

Every day, thousands of young Africans must hike miles a day just for access to water. Furthermore, children whose daily chore it is to collect water are often left with no time to attend school. On top of the heavy loads and certain risk of illness from drinking contaminated water, it is estimated that over 40 billion work and school hours are lost every year in Africa to the act of fetching clean drinking water. However small a gesture our own walks may be, for many it has been a galvanizing and implicating experience. Get resources and more info for organizing your own Water Walk. Walk for Water so they don't have to.

2 Weeks of Sacrifice
By giving up what you'd normally drink in exchange for the water from your tap you can save that money to help build clean water projects for African communities in need. Make water your only beverage for 2 weeks. Save the money you would usually spend on beverages. After 2 weeks, donate the money you saved by making such a simple choice and give someone clean water for a lifetime.

So ditch the morning coffee and o.j., leave out the lunchtime soda, and cancel the evening beverage. With $1 providing clean water for 1 person for an entire year, imagine the impact you can make! You'll need a little self-discipline. But we know you can do it, because you know who you're doing it for. Make the choice. We've provided the resources for you to organize your friends and family to get the word out and help you keep track of what you're saving.

Create Your Own Campaign
We're looking for creative people who have a passion to share a message and bring their communities along with them. Artists are raising funds for Blood:Water Mission during their concerts. Kids are hosting car washes and garage sales. Elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities are organizing fund-raising events. Students are running prom fashion shows for the cause. Churches are setting up the Lenten and Christmas seasons as a time of sacrifice to give up spending money on other things and donating the saved funds to Blood:Water Mission. Corporations are giving matching grants to the dollars raised during the campaign period. Everyone has something to give. Consider ways you can get involved. Use our resources and sign up your own campaign today.

If You end up doing a campaign, please email me with details and photos. something to give. I'd love to feature your event on my blog sit.

If you end up doing a campaign, please email me with details and photos. I'd love to feature your event on my blog site.

Visit Blood: Water Mission to read more about our process in creatively partnering with communities to fight the HIV/AIDS and water crises.

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