It started just as a research assignment. We were to pick a global challenge and find out as much as we can about it. To become an "expert" she said. I decided I wanted to pick a challenge that was an obvious issue, but somehow lay outside our reality. Water. It felt unreal when I learned different facts about water, the harsh statistics and the truth about it's scarcity and sanitation. I started to think about people. People who where like me, small in some areas but hold all the right intentions, and people the opposite of me, big personalities and wide smiles. I thought about my little sister and how she connected with the little girl in Uganda, my older brother to an elderly man in Sierra Leone and myself to just about anybody without water, a life resource, struggling to find it, obtain it and survive. My Professor, Lisa Anderson, highly encouraged us to believe that we can make a difference, but even more earnestly, to actually stand up and make that difference.

And that's when I noticed a pattern.

I looked up as much as I could about water, becoming consumed in the information that I was receiving. The global issue of water, water and poverty, water and health, the walk for water, everything that I researched, there was The Water Project. No matter which direction I researched about water, there it was, confessing bold and true facts about water. And not just facts, but a way to help, providing life, helping life through water. I went deep in my studies, encountering statistics that said 783 million people world wide don't have access to safe, clean drinking water. We, as humans, don't feel in numbers, if we did I'm pretty sure that 783 wouldn't be allowed. The Water Project found people, not numbers and made their help real, giving a well and an education to keep it thriving. I knew this was going to be the organization I was going to help, whether I helped donate one dollar or five hundred, The Water Project was going to be my Make a Difference Project.

I think the best donation is visual. I've read articles painting this picture of surrounding villagers around a newly built well. It was like hearing this cry of joy when the water ran hard, powerful cheers and shouts of thankfulness bombing from everyone's lips. Bodies parading about, dancing and smiles amongst all, tears and laughter growing and spilling over. It was there, in those moments of complete thrill, where each donation came together. There was no shame in the one dollar donation, or more praise in the fifty, they all came out in one well. I pray that anyone who donates pictures those who will feel the huge change in their lives from having the access to water. I hope they hear the cheers from a distances (Ezra 3: 13).

So, those of you who read my page, thank you. Being a college student, I understand donating financially can be really hard. There are more ways to donate, a huge way to giving back is becoming informed and spreading awareness. There are going to be stories and hard facts through a set up instagram account, my Facebook page with videos and truths about the scarcity of water: https://www.facebook.com/MyWaterCampaign/

and youtube with my personal videos of how I'm spreading awareness. That being said thank you for reading this, it's where I started and where anyone can help. The Water Project, unlocking potential through water.

Follow the links! Become aware and share!