How to Raise Money to Help Build Wells in Africa
Shockingly, 1.1 billion people on the planet right now don't have clean water to drink and 4,500 children will die today because of bad water. The average lifespan in Africa is 48. As crazy as it might sound, you are rich. If you have a car, house and food, you are in the top five percent of the richest people in the world. But what can you do to help? There are many ways for your church, organization, or even you alone to raise money that can help build life giving, clean water wells in Africa.
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Things You'll Need
- "Jerry cans" - empty gasoline jugs
- Small jugs (laundry detergent jugs suffice)
Instructions
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Organize a “water walk.” Women in Africa walk three miles a day carrying dirty water to their families in big “Jerry cans” (gasoline jugs) weighing 40 pounds each when full. Throw a fund raising party where people will get to experience what this is like. Set up a walkway (about 30 feet long, not three miles), and have Jerry Cans filled up for people to do the “water walk.” Have smaller jugs for kids to get in on the act as well. Have your church, business, or oganization sponsor the water walk; for every person that walks, the organization gives $20 to the cause. Charitywater (see Resources) is a great organization that builds wells in Africa. They would be happy to help you set up your “water walk.” Make the event a big party with live music, cotton candy, and stuff for kids, like inflatable jump houses, or basketball games. $20 provides clean water for one person for 20 years.
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Set up a web page where people can donate to the cause in honor of your birthday, wedding anniversary, or even Christmas. Let’s face it, everybody gets gifts they either don’t need or want. Why not suggest that your friends and family spend their money saving lives, and providing healthy drinking water, instead of giving you a gift. See resources for ways to set up charitable web pages.
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Use social networking sites, such as Facebook or Myspace, to promote the cause. Your page can alert thousands of people to the need for clean water wells in Africa. Even if you only have a few “friends,” those friends have friends, and those friends have friends. These sites are great places to spread the word quickly.
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Have a yard sale. Everybody has stuff that they don’t need or want, but year after year the stuff just sits. Get rid of it, and raise some money for those in need in the process. You may even have something that is not worth much to you, but is a treasure to someone else. Advertise the fact that the sale is supporting the building of wells in Africa. You’ll be surprised how much people want to help, and how much more they will be willing to give for your “junk,” when they know the money is going to help people survive.
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Sponsor a child. Organizations such as World Vision (see Resources) incorporate building wells into their programs to help children. Not only will you be giving a child hope for a better future, and a pen pal that cares about them, but you’ll be helping the organization build wells for your sponsored child to have fresh water as well.
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Tips & Warnings
Be creative. charitywater's website has other ideas to help the cause. Check it out!
Eighty pounds is heavy. Be careful lifting the jugs for the water walk!
