World Water Day

 World Water Day

Today is March 22, 2011 World Water Day and I see no better moment to start my blog in relation to water related issues. For the year 2011 the focus will be on Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge (http://www.worldwaterday2011.org/) an event and awareness campaign coordinated by UN Water, UNEP and UN Habitat in coordination with academics, municipalities, governments, and NGO’s that are trying to solve the myriad of problems that come from having a scarce but vital resource with an ever increasing demand.

I could cite statistics, figures, journal and magazine articles, provide charts and figures, but instead I’ll focus on one organization that is trying to make a difference in this global problem. This organization is called the African Well Fund and true to their motto, “Building hope…one well at a time” they have affected the lives of thousands in Africa (http://www.africanwellfund.org/)..

The African Well Fund started because of rock and roll. Yeah, simply put a bunch of fans of a certain Irish rock band who have been inspired by their music went to see the lead sing, a very Irish, very big (in ego and yes, in presence) sunglass wearing blarney speaker talk about Africa. Simple as that.

So what happened? Well, in 2002 there was a speaking tour in the U.S. Midwest, which piggybacked on an awareness tour of Africa for various US government officials. At some of these speaking engagements, some fans attended and were inspired…to do something. Now this is where the fun begins. Thanks to the Internet many of these fans had met at shows, and kept in touch (some even when keeping in touch when it meant phoning and writing on pen & paper). So, they decided to gather money and build a well somewhere in Africa, and the Arican Well Fund (AWF) came to be.

Now, almost 10 years later, AWF which directs 100% of donations to the projects has collected over $780,000 (US) and help build almost 250 projects in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda Zambia and Zimbabwe. Partnered with Africare, (http://www.africare.org/ ) one of the most respected U.S. charities, it has positively affected the lives of almost 290,000 individuals.

And I am very proud to support them, and in case you are wondering the rock and roll band is U2, and yes, the ubiquitous Bono the lead sing. And one day, we will be able to turn to them and say “All because of you” A small group of inspired individuals, that wanted to affect change in the world, and had a small idea that has grown over time. True to its core principles, they build hope…one well at a time.

And so the time is upon us, when the 9^th annual Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday Fundraiser which runs from March 22^nd though May 10^th. This year's campaign will go to benefit water and sanitation projects that will be implemented by AWF partner Africare at girls schools in Benin that have been built by Angelique Kidjo's Batonga Foundation. For more information, please go to the "Because we can, we must" campaign   http://www.africanwellfund.org/Bono-Well-2011.html