My name is Kelly and I'm pledging my 35th birthday to clean water. Why am I doing this? Well, it was this or have a mid-life crisis.
Plus this company is 100% legit and 100% of raised dollars goes directly to the clean water projects.
Really, though, I would rather do something to make someone's life better than focus on my shortcomings when turning 35. What shortcomings you ask? Oh I don't know, how about the usual, I wish I was just better, skinnier, wealthier, smarter. I sometimes feel inferior to my peers because I don't have kids yet, my clothes aren't as nice, my house not as big, my hobbies not as interesting. You know what my hobby is right now? Reading books and listening to podcasts. One of my favorite podcasts is called the Liturgists. And there is an episode about suffering from November 1st which is where I heard this story of a 13 year old girl, I will call her Leti. Her most important job, since she was 8 years old, was spending 4 days a week walking to get her families water supply from the closest spring or river. She carried the water in a clay pot, tied to her back with a rope. One hot day in May, on her walk home with a 40 lb. pot of water, she slipped and fell, smashing her pot into small pieces and watched the water spill into the dusty ground. She must have been overcome with shame. Her mother and sister were waiting at home for the water to cook dinner. And instead of returning home empty-handed, this 13 year old girl took the rope from the broken pot and hung herself from the nearest tree.
For water. This necessity that I have never been without because I can simply turn on one of several faucets in my home.
In the same May of 2000 that Leti was walking and waiting 10 hours a day to get water for her family, I was graduating high school and planning for college. Leti got to the third grade because her mother rented a donkey once a week to carry 4 pots of water back for them so that Leti could walk 3 hours to the nearest school 3 days a week. Most girls in her village had quit school by this age, but she was determined and insisted on continuing her education. She was bright, hopeful and wanted to make life better.
The concerns that I have pale in comparison to the worries of this young girl. I am privileged to have the issues I have BECAUSE I don't have to worry that I won't have water to live. Because I am so fortunate, I have luxurious problems. I can ponder philosophical mysteries and even work through a crisis of faith. But there is a crisis of water. 663 million people live without access to clean water.
Perspective is an incredible thing. Did you know that if you make over $30K a year, you are in the top 1 or 2% of wealth in the world?

I decided instead of dreading my 35th birthday, I want to turn it into a positive and give to children of communities that need their own clean water supply. So they can have health, instead of sickness from filthy water, so they can spend less time walking for water and more time going to school and learning. So here goes...if you will join me, please donate even the smallest amount. $1 is not too little. $30 gives 1 person access to clean water. I don't expect anyone to buy me a birthday gift, but for this cause, I am asking to give clean water to those who need it. My goal of $3500 will give 116 people clean water. And charity: water will track the project our money funds and show us where it goes!
Thank you for reading and even considering my request.
Love & Peace be with you always,
Kelly

inspired by Jesus
also inspired by #jenhatmaker #theliturgistspodcast & #sciencemike

Some facts from charity: water -
Every day, about 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

I started this fundraising campaign to help charity: water build these types of projects around the world.

There is a map on the website of all the countries being helped so far:
https://www.charitywater.org/projects/

100% of the money will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.

My goal is $3500 for 116 people to get clean water.