Worldwide statistics show us that over 884 million people do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Also, 2 out of 5 people in our world do not have means of clean sanitation. Many of us take showers, and access to food or clean drinking water for granted every day. How can we live such happy lives when so many people in our world are suffering? In Africa alone, many countries have had to declare a "State of Emergency" due to the lack of clean drinking water.

Clean drinking water for the most part contributes to many health problems for children and adults in rural African countries. A lack of clean water also contributes to high mortality rates in newborns. Just this year in 2011, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) reported that the rates of infant mortality had dropped from 12 million to 7.6 billion since the year 1990. In Sub-Sahara Africa, around 21,000 children die everyday due to unknown causes. How would we feel if 21,000 American children were dying everyday due to unknown health issues? Take a look at the current facts and see for yourself just how much of a difference clean water can make for less fortunate children and families in other countries. The following facts were researched and collected from water.org:

-Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.

-Many women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources.

-At any given time, half of the worlds hospital beds are occupied with patients suffering from diseases associated with lack of safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. 

-Almost two in every three people who need safe drinking water survive on less than $2 a day and one in three on less than $1 a day.

Last but not least, almost one-tenth of the global disease burden could be prevented by improving water supply, sanitation, and hygiene and management of water sanitation. Such improvements reduce child mortality and improve health and nutritional status in a sustainable way.
As true human beings, we need to look at one another and ask ourselves, "would one or two dollars a day be so much?" You could be making a huge difference in the lives of TWO people for only $2 a day. Think of all the money you spend on things that you do not need. The money you spend eating out, or shopping for clothes you do not really need could be money that goes towards making a difference in the lives of children and their families. People of rural countries do not know any different and they are not educated enough on the importance of clean water and sanitation. By contributing a few dollars, you could help save the life of a total stranger. Think about it, what if you were one of those persons born into a rural country with no education on the importance of clean water? If we are fortunate enough to waste money on items that are irrelevant to our every day living needs, then we are also fortunate enough to donate a few dollars to helping save lives of the less fortunate. Make it a mission, make it your mission. You have the ability to make a change, will you accept the challenge or will you continue to live your life as if other human beings do not matter? I have set the goal at $1000 for the waterproject.org. Even if $1000 is not reached, any money is something that matters. After collections are done, the money will go towards a water project. The specific area in Africa of which our money is donated to will go towards educating children and their families about the importance of clean water. This money will also go towards construction of a new water system such as a well. While there are many steps to this process such as having a geological survey done and then obtaining a work permit, thewaterproject.org will keep us updated every step of the way. We will be able to view pictures of the construction in process and have various follow ups over time relating to the progress and differences our contributions have made. I will not beg for donations for this project, I will simply leave the decisions up to you as a human being. For more information, you can follow the links at the top of my page relating to thewaterproject.org You can also conduct further research about this project to be sure this is something you would like to support. I appreciate any time you have taken to read my article, and I truly hope that you too are inspired in some way to make a difference in the life of people in our world.